Evening star., 1937-02-25
ASSEMBLY PUSHES
Z SUBURBAN BILLS
Opposition to Measures in
Maryland Fail to Material.
ize-0ne Change.
BY JACK ALLEN.
STAN Correspondent of The Star.

ANNAPOLIS, February 25.-The
bills to prolong the terms of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary and
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commissions members.
thereby saving the jobs Of some $50
Democratic appointees, were winging
their way through the State Assembly
today with but one change.
Favorable reports on both measures
we're adopted in the House yesterday
after opposition SAID to have been
aroused by Republican leaders failed
to materialize and the bills were
placed on the House third reading
calendar, one step short of the half
way point in their legislative journey
this morning
1t was learned several G. O. p.
chieftains from Prince Georges and
Montgomery counties visited the
Capitol within the past few days and
reputedly stirred up resentment in
some quarters of the House against
enactment of the proposals. which
would deprive Gov. Harry w. Nice and
his Republican colleagues of a rich
patronage plum.
Opposition Not Manifest.
Their efforts apparently were j.
vain, however. for not one dIsSentin'
vote was heard when the bills wera
reported by the delegations from
Prince Georges and Montgomerv
counties, to whom they we're referred
after their Introduction by thcso
delegations last Thursday.
The lone change in the measures as
originally drawn would empower the
Governor to remove members from tho
Park and Planning Commission, but
would make such removal conditlons
upon members conviction for mis-
feaSance or malfeasance in Office.
Under existing laws members serve
at the Governors pleasure and may
be removed without cause or eXplana-
ton any time during their four-year
term. In its original form the bill
proposed to take this authority from
the Governor and vest it in the clr-
cult courts of Montgomery and Prince
Georges by the stipulation that the
courts could remove a member for
misconduct in Office. incompetency or
willful neglect of duty.
While the effect of the amendment
is virtually tantamount to the original
purpose of the bill, members of the
Two delegations felt the bill. if enacted
;,1ta lou he Iann1ad
tutional because OF its delegation of
executive powers to the judiciary.
The bills would prolong the terms of
the members of both commissions for
two years from May l next. or until
after the State and county elections in
1885 The terms of all Democratic
members. who now control both COM
missions, are due to expire in May.
Republican Appointments.
New Republican appointments would
bring the G. o. P into power with the
resultant dismissal of all or majority
Of the $50 Democrats employed by
those agencies which handle water.
sewer. park and zoning problems in
Montgomery and Prince Georges
The terms of Park and Planning
COMMISSION members also would be
extended from four to six years in the
future under the measure dealing
with that body. The terms of Suburban
Sanitary Commission members would
not change. however.
Reports of the bills yesterday, six
DAYS after introduction, is in line with
the delegations plan to enact the
measures and rush them to the Cover
nor as quickly as possible 10 allow time
for their passage over the gubernatorial
veto he is certain to apply.