Evening star., 1938-10-25
GOV. NICE CITES
AID TO STATES
SEA FOOD TRADE
Tells Eastern Shore Voters
of Propagation Policy
by Extra Funds.
HUNDREDS TURN OUT
TO GREET EXECUTIVE
Opposition to Legalized Gambling
in Maryland Is Stressed
in Centerville Talk.
BY JAMES e. CHINN,
Star Stan CORRESPONDENT,

return him to the State capitol ir
Annapolis November 8, 50 he woule
be in a position to protect the State,
vital $25,000,0 900 annual sea food in.
dustry.
Everywhere the Governor visited ir
Talbot County he stressed the import.
ance Of the profitable sea food indus.
try on the Eastern Shore. oystering ir
the fall and winter and fishing anc
grabbing In the summer. But, HI
pointed out. there Is an opportunity FOL
advancement in the present conserva.
ton laws that can inure to the ad.
vantage of the men who make theil
living out of the waters Of the Chesa
peake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Gov. Nice invaded Maryland's East
ern Shore yesterday in driving rain,
and despite the inclement weather
hundreds Of farmers and fisherfolk
turned out to greet him. He visited
Queen Anne County. and then toured
Kent County, shaking hands in his
characteristic way with the men and
women who were waiting for him al
cross roads stores and gasoline stations
in both counties.
Addresses Centerville Crowd.
Gov. Nice made his campaign debut
on the Eastern Shore last night In
Centerville in the National Guard
Armory.
The Governor, incidentally. was
heckled by man in the crowd who
wanted to know II he had done any
more for the State than President
Roosevelt had for the Nation.
Il don't know what the President
has DONE" he answered But I dc
know he's not going to be anybody's
President in l940"
Earlier, Gov. Nice turned over t1
newspapermen a statement, intended
to answer the speech of his opponent
Herbert r. O'Conor, in Rockville last
Saturday. At that time Mr.. O'Conor
criticized the Republican administra-
ton for the condition of the roads in
Montgomery County as we'll as the
State.
Best ROADS IN STATE"
The statement read:
"Mr. O'Conor's speech in Mont
eomery County In connection with
the road system Is an evident evidence
Of his utter lack of information with
respect to the departments of the State.
In the first place more money has been
spent in Montgomery County by the
preceding commission than was spent
in any five counties together. In
Montgomery County-and that county
alone-there are to be found the best
roads in the State remaining out OF
what 20 years ago was the best road
system in the United States. 1t was
system which cost the taxpayers
$3.50, 100000, and a system, which ]
found upon entering Office as Governor,
to be the worst system in the world.
And Mr.. E. Brooke Lee cannot be
accused Of neglecting his home county
OF Montgomery with respect to the
roads.
Mr.. O'Conor's ignorance Of the
laws governing the county roads is
appalling, as is his ignorance of the
functioning of the school system, as
was evidenced from his recent state
ment that the State provided trans.
portation for colored children in only
nine counties. AS matter of fact
transportation is provided in % OF
the % counties.
Cites Gas Tax Funds
AS for the county roads, Mr.
O'Conor should know that the State
acts only as an agent of the county
in connection with county roads. Each
county receives all ALLEGATION from
the Y per cent gasoline tax in pro.
portion to its county road mileage ano
that money can be used by the county
commissioners in one or all of three
ways. First. they can use it for debt
service. Second, they can use 1t all
or in part for building new county
roads. And. third. they can use ali
or any part Of it for repair main.
tenance from the county road system
But the State Roads Commission can.
not stick a pick into road unless or.
dered to do so by the county commits.
sioners.
THE county road system of Mary.
land Is the worst in the world We
have repaired and made possible about
800 miles OF roadway throughout the
State, but yet 900 miles remain to be
fixed. And as to the county roads
we cannot do anything without the
approval OF the county commissioners
In Montgomery County, if the roads
are bad, 1t is the fault of the county
commissioners and not the State. Il
may be due to the fact that the county
commissioners have not had sufYicient
money to order us to repair them at all
Points to Debt Cancellation,
Montgomery County owed the State
more than 100000 two years ago, but
the Legislature. under advice of Mr.
O'Conor, Cancelled that debt, 50 tina,
Mr. O'Conor should at least obtair
the facts and then marshal them &C
he could intelligently discuss roae
matters.
Il have never been in opposition tt
the return Of the county roads to thu
counties. wish they could take them
back. It would relieve me of many q
headache, especially because we DOS.
sess the county roads in name only
and merely act as an agent for the
commissioners"
Gov. Nice again went on record a.
opposed to any legalized gambling in
the State as source Of revenue in his
speech at Centreville. Specifically, he
referred to proposed constitutional
amendment to be submitted to the
voters November 8. that would remove
q constitutional bar to operation Of
lotteries.