Evening star., 1938-10-25
Candidate Says Opponents
Pledges on Highways
Not Carried Out.
OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN
ALONG EASTERN SHORE
Also Hits at 'Ineficiency and
Extravaganza of Governor
and Administration.
BY ]. A. OLEARY,
Star Stan Correspondent.

~ ~ ~SAAOA, OShiOSAoeA1 kdllOludCC lOA
Governor. charged his Republican OPP
ponent, Gov. Harry w. Nice, with in
stances of broken promises, of in
efficiency, Of extravaganza
Addressing rally of Cecil County
Democrats here last night. Mr.. O'Conor
chided the Governor for failing to
bring about reduction of automobile
tags to 81. The Democratic nominee
also accused Gov. Nice of neglecting
promised highway Improvements on
the Eastern Shore, of failing to cut the
cost of the Conservation Commission,
OF making salary changes in the
highway department without follow
ing merit system requirements. He
criticized also the cost of remodeling
the executive mansion at Annapolis
during the Nice administration.
Speaks Today at CentrevilIe.
Accompanied by Senator Millard E.
Tydings, Representative Goldsborough
and other members of the State ticket,
the Democratic aspirants moved down
today to Centreville, in Queen Anne
County, where they will address an.
other meeting this afternoon.
Mr.. O'Conor told the crowd of more
than 700 that gathered for last nights
meeting here that if he becomes Gov
ernor the existing Susquehanna Bridge,
serving the area around Havre de
Grace and Perryville. would not be
discontinued during his administration
in the event the proposed new Sus-
quehanna structure is built.
Senator Tydings confined his speech
to national issues. Calling attention
to how the national debt has grown
in the last eight or nine years. he
urged the Government to get nearer
to a pay-as-you-go basis from now on.
Others who spoke included J. Millar
Tawes, candidate for State controller;
William c. Walsh, running for attor-
ney general. and James A. Young,
candidate for clerk of the Court of
Appeals, and Mr., Goldsborough, whose
congressional district takes in the
Eastern shore.
Discusses Nice's Record.
After recalling his service as assist
ant States attorney for Baltimore, as
peoples counsel before the Public
Service Commission, as States attor-
ney for Baltimore and in his present
capacity as attorney general, Mr..
O'Conor began his Elkton speech by
declaring:
Whether the records which I have
made in those Offices are good or other
wise are legitimate subjects for debate
IN the present campaign, and so also
is the record of Gov. Nice during the
last four years. I have accordingly
chosen as my subject tonight The
Record Of the Nice Administration.
Recalling that Gov. Nice had failed
in promise to reduce automobile tags,
Mr.. O'Conor said both the tags and
the gasoline tax could be reduced if
the people arc willing to curtail road
maintenance, but he added:
For my part, prefer to have our
roads restored to a condition of safety
and usefulness to the people of the
State, policy inaugurated by Gov.
Crothers. before We reduce the rev.
enues for these purposes. Unless we
have roads and highways upon which
to drive our cars. the licenses will be
worthless"
Quoting plank from the 1884
Republican platform, favoring con-
struction of modern highway from
Cecil County down through the East
ern Shore. Mr.. O'Conor commented:
Il may ask where is the modern
highway in this section of the State
which was promised by Gov. Nice"
adding query as to why Gov. Nice did
not appoint at least one member of
the State Roads Commission from the
Eastern Shore?'
Charges Funds Diverted.
Continuing his criticism of the
highway administration, the Demo-
cratic nominee quoted the Republicans
as stating in 1884 that two-fifths Of
the annual revenue of the State is
collected from motorists, who are
entitled to its expenditure for the
purpose of road improvements" In
commenting on this, Mr.. O'Conor said:
Instead of expending the roads
funds for road improvement, as the
Governor said the people of the State
were entitled to have it expended, We
have witnessed under this administra-
ton the deplorable reputation of his
duty and diversion of road funds Of
millions of dollars, the diversion dur.
ing the last year alone amounting to
$3,800,000. What explanation does
Gov. Nice have to offer to the people
OF the State for this course of
procedure. which. in addition to the
extavagant, wasteful and inefficient
management of his State Roads COM
mission, has resulted in deterioration
Of our State roads to condition where
they are disgrace to the State?"
After finding fault with some of the
appointments to State offices during
the Nice administration, Mr.. O'Conor
turned to the subject of the renodeling
Of the executive mansion. He said Mr..
Nice did not discuss that subject
during the 1884 campaign, but shortly
after becoming Governor had besought
the Legislature to provide funds for
its renovation.
After much reluctance" Mr..
OConor continued. "the Legislature
granted very generous appropriation
of $4,000 to Gov. Nice for this pur-
pose. Instead Of completing the work
within this appropriation, Gov. Nice,
without any authority for 50 doing,
incurred expenditures up to $l06, 900.
and then at special session Of the
Legislature appealed for additional
funds to complete the Job, course
Of procedure that would not bs
condoned or forgiven in any we'll.
conducted business organization"