Evening star., 1938-10-23
BY JAMES E. CHINN,
Star Stan Correspondent.

otAH otdu SoIIeSpOHQeHt.
ROCKVILLE, Md. Oct. pa bit
ter attack on the Maryland Repub-
lican administration, as well as the
State Roads Commission, for its al
legged failure to use huge sums of
money placed at their disposal for
an adequate and safe highway system.
was made by Herbert R. O'Conor,
candidate for the governorship on the
Democratic ticket when he made his
campaign debut yesterday in Mont
gomery County.
Accompanied by all the candidates
on the State Democratic ticket, Mr..
O'Conor made his first appearance at
a rally Of the United Democratic
Party of Montgomery County in Rock
viii. lin the afternoon, and later spoke
in Silver Spring and Bethesda. Each
time he criticized the so-called failures
Of the Republican administration
under Gov. Nice to provide proper
roads for the State in the face of
millions Of dollars placed at its dis
posal for such purpose. through gaso-
line tax revenues, Federal highway
contributions and other sources.
Funds Increase Cited.
Mr.. OConor pointed out that since
1880 the State funds for road i'm
provement had increased annually
from $10,400,0o0, to $13,e50, 900, or
approximately $l40,000,0O0 over the
nine-year period.
I'VE are led to wonder" he de-
clared, where all of this money has
gone, and whether the State today
under Republican administration is
getting square deal in the handlir>
of these vast sums.
"The present condition of the
Maryland roads is unsatisfactory.
Many of them are narrow. Others are
in bad need of repair. Still others
have dangerous curves that should be
eliminated, and only very small por-
ton of the road mileage of the State
may be said to be of q modern type.
THE State Roads Commission has
failed to view the problem from a
Statewide viewpoint and in conse-
quence OF this lack of vision Mont
gomery County, along with many other
counties, has suffered by failure to
receive its just proportion of funds
available for new construction.
Promises New Deal.
Mr.. O'Conor promised that If he Is
elected Governor the Roads Commits
sion of his own selection will be "of
such character as to insure an equit-
able distribution of road funds and
much more eficient conduct in the
maintenance of work" He said he
favored return OF maintenance of
county roads to the county commits
s!oners where such return is desired.
1T is high time" he continued,
that We took drastic measures to
bring about an improvement that will
remove death from our own highways
and the condition of the roads in
this State is contributing factor to
our fatality record"
Mr.. O'Conor also criticized Gov.
Nice, his opponent for the guberna-
toIlal seat, OF gong around the State
on his campaign tour wisecracking
instead Of paying particular attention
to the problems of Maryland"
Il would like to know just what
program Gov Nice has in mind for
raising revenue if he is reelected, u
said Mr.. O'Conor. There was a time
when he talked about sales tax and
tax on gross receipts, but he's been
very silent about these plans of late.
I'm opposed to sales tax and q gross
receipts tax and If am elected Gov-
ernor will veto both of these plans
If the State Legislature ever dares> to
pass them"
Promises Al Schools.
Mr.. O'Conor likewise promised II
elected to give Maryland the best