The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-02-03
Legislature Is Well
Under Way
Desire Of Members To "Co
Along" Augurs Well For
Governors Program

Annapolis, Md, Jan. 30-With
only one-Inlrd or its allotted time
passed, and a host OF important bills
relating to the fiscal CONDITION OF
the state, reorganization OF state
departments, etc., already introduce
ed and referred to the proper COM
mittees tor consideration, the cur
rent session OF the Legislature
promises to establish an all-time
record of speedy handling of new
legislation. Oid-timers in the State
mouse cannot recall time when
the tirst month OF the session has
produced such crop of important
measures, or when the members of
the various committees have shown
more disposition to get down to
work in the handling of the new
measures.
Under the efficient leadership of
President Arthur H. Brice, of Kent
County, in the Senate, and Speaker
Thomas e. Conlon, Of Baltimore
City, in the House, committee con-
sideration of the proposed measures
! is being carried on with despatch
that is in decided contrast to the
activity Of many former sessions of
the Assembly. From present indica-
tons, it not only seems entirely pos
slble, but even quite likely, that the
present session will have its house
In order to such an extent that the
usual last-minute hectic rush of
legislation Of every nature, minor
and major, will be eliminated en-
tirely-an end to which Speaker
Conlon already has signified his i'm
tention to work.
Evidently keeping in mind the
hope expressed in his Inaugural Ad-
dress that the legislature might
complete its work before the expira-
ton of the period, allowed by the
Constitution. Governor Herbert r.
O'Conor has speeded up greatly the
preparation of Observation-Disclosures
sored legislation, and already has
laid before the members of the two
Chambers bills dealing with such
important matters as:
Creating an Industrial Relations
Department and abolishing both the
Office of Commissioner Of Labor and
Statistics. and the State Industrial
Accident Commission.
Providing for the Creation Of a
Department of Natural Resources,
and abolishing the oficess Of State
Game Warden and State Forester.
Proving for a Legislative Council
and prescribing it's membership,
powers and duties.
Several bills relating to the reor-
ganization of the Peoples Court of
Baltimore City.
Creating the Department of Pub
lie Welfare under the Direction of
a Director of Public Welfare, and
creating the Council Of Public We'll
fare and defining the powers of said
department.;
Abolishing the Racing Commits
sion, and substituting o Racing
Commissioner and an Advisory Com
mission;
Creating Department of Post
Mortem Examiners to replace the
Coroner system;
Repeating certain sections and en-
acting subtitute sections OF the An
notated Code with relation to the
composition of the State Road Com
mission. II.
All the remaining billie necessary
to put into effect the recommends
tions Of the Bowman Commission, the
Commission on Taxation and Rev.
enue, and the soon-to-be received
Report Of the Commission on In
terror Courts will be drafted and
sent to the Legislature within very
short time, along with, among
others, bill providing for the con-
solidation of control of the five State
Mental Hospitals; so that by the
middle of February, when the half.
way mark is reached, the Legisla-
ture will have before It for con-
sideration practically every State
wide measure of any Importance,
and can settle down to thorough
discussion Of these pressing phases
of State problems.