The Washington times., 1937-02-16
COURT CHANGE
CONSIDERED BY
MD. HOUSE

Maryland's legislature began the
second half of its 90-day session
today with the question of whether
the house will consider resolutions
for and against increasing the Su-
preme Court still argued.
Both resolutions were in the
House. Some legislators came
back from the weekend recess
with their ardor for supporting
the court move dampened. Others
we're ready to push fight to have
the house consider the pro-increase
resolution instead of sending 1t to
committee for a quiet death.
Reports had it State Democratic
leaders decided over the weekend
to oppose any action on either
resolution by the State Legislature.
Delegate Leon Abramson, Balti-
more Democrat and sponsor of the
resolution favoring the court in
crease, said he would fight for
floor consideration. Delegate
James Broumel, Hartford Demo
crat, joined AbramSon.
Senate Uncertain
Neither was the senate certain
whether it would pursue its in
tentions of last week and sit as a
committee of the whole to probe
unrest" and factionalism in the
State police department. Last
week it adopted such resolution.
Last night Senator John Dun
can, Baltimore county Democrat,
sponsor of the resolution, said he
would not push for such a probe
and would bow to wishes of his
colleagues. Some senators said
they felt Lieut.. Col. Elmer F. Mum
shower, appointed to succeed
Major Enoch B. Carey as police
head. should be allowed to
straighten out pickering and fac
tionalism in his department.
And, in the House, Delegate JOS
eph Griesacker, Baltimore Demo
crat, pointed out that the State
constitution provided that the
House should investigate State de-
partments.
Revenue Faces Cut
Fourteen Senators-one short
of a majority in that body-ino
troduced a bill last night which
would take 100000 annually from
Baltimore city's present share of
the State motor vehicle revenue.
The share taken from Baltimore
would go to the counties and the
share now going to the State
Roads Commission for general
roads work would not be changed.
A similar proposal in 1888
though not so drastic as the pres
ent one-Sent the legislature into
a deadlock which lasted for days.
Not until Gov. Albert C. Ritchie
stepped in and cracked the whip
did the deadlock end-and Balti-
more city kept the share of the
revenue it now receives.
The bill. signed by county Sen
ators only. would cut in half the
amounts the city now receives
from the two-cent-a-gallon gaso-
line tax and the motor vehicle
fines, forfeitures and licenses and
cut from 20 to Is per cent the
amount from the half-cent-per.
gallon gasoline tax.
Child Marriage Ban
Delegate Arthur Cullers, Gar
rett Republican, introduced a bill
last night which would prevent
child marriages in Maryland. The
present law allows any girl under
18 to marry with consent of par
ents or guardian.
Cullers' bill would not allow
any girl under 16 to marry "un-
der any circumstances" and
would require consent of parents
for girls between 16 and 18. Men
under 81 would have to have
such consent.
Delegate Meyer Cardin, Balti-
more Democrat, introduced a bill
to legalize whippet racing and set
up a three-man commission to fix
whippet racing dates and regulate
the sport. Daily license fees of
500 and a three and a half per
cent tax of all money bet in pari
mutuels at the dog tracks would
be levied.
Senator Stedman Prescott,
Montgomery Democrat, introduced
q bill to set up two new voting
precincts in the thirteenth election
district of the county and relieve
voting day congestion in the pres.
ent first, second, fifth and seventh
precincts of the thirteenth district.
The new precincts would be cut
from the first, second, fifth and
seventh.