Evening star., 1941-05-07
Super-Highway
Bill Signed by
Gov. 0'Conor
Stute Bond Issue
Also Is One of l01
Measures Approved
Y the Associated Press.

~ the Associated PRESS.
ANNAPOLIS, May THE S3o,-
100000 super-highway bill, author
izing construction of an eight-lane
toll road between Washington and
Baltimore, today bore the signature
of Gov. O'Conor.
The bill, one of 101 measures en-
acted into law yesterday in the fifth
group of bills signed since adjourn
ment of the General Assembly,
authorizes construction of the high
way by private interests under the
supervision and with the approval
of the Maryland State Roads Com
mission.
A bond issue to finance the project
would be retired from the receipts
of tolls and includes a bridge or a
tunnel at Baltimore Harbor The
bill was steered through the Legis-
lature by Delegate E. Brook Lee of
Montgomery County, chairman Of
the Roads and Highways Committee
of the House, and former Repre-
sentative Ambrose J. Kennedy of
Baltimore.
In Baltimore. Ezra B. Whitman,
State Roads Commission chairman,
said he plans no surveys in con-
nections with the super-highway
proposal.
Asked his views as to what
hackers of the bill now plan to do,
Mr.. Whitman replied, Il think
they'd be wise to stay away from
me. I don't intend to make any
surveys unless they are made in
conjunction with the Federal Pub
lie Roads Administration
The Federal highways body is on
record as opposed to toll highways.
Bond Issue Approved.
Among other bills signed by the
Governor yesterday were the State
bond issue, the marriage and au-
tomobile tag bills.
Earlier the legislative council
held its first meeting since the
Legislature adjourned General As
sembly approved resolutions which
requested the council to make GER
tain surveys were studied and plans
laid to undertake such work.
The council decided to review
the causes of legislative jams so
that steps can be taken to avoid
them. 1t also requested Gov. O'Con-
or to sign the retail instalment
sales bill.
Other problems the council voted
to study are the tobacco marketing
situation in Maryland, the advisa-
bility of extending the length of the
high school course, and the State
aid given public and private insti-
tutions of higher learning.
The new bond issue law provides
S2,317 900 for capital improvements
during the next biennium. New
construction is slated at State hos
pitfalls, child-caring institutions and
sanatoriums. Approximately 100000
is to be spent for new construction
at the Princess Anne Academy to
replace buildings destroyed in
recent fire.
The new marriage law prohibits
Judges from issuing court orders
waving the 48-hour marriage law
delay unless one or both of the
contracting parties are bona fide
Maryland residents.
Divorce Measures Signed.
It is aimed at curbing haSty mar
fiages-particularly at Elkton, which
gets many applicants from out OF
State-made possible through in
discriminate use of court orders.
Gov. O'Conor also signed two di-
vorce measures. One provides for
the granting of a divorce when one
spouse is permanently or incurably
insane. The other prohibits the
entering of a divorce decree against
a nonresident unless the plaintiff
has given the clerk of court the
defendants address so he can give
notification of the proceedings. II
q defendants present address is un-
known the defendants last known
address is to be given by the plain
tiff.
The new auto license law gives
certain county treaSurerS the r1ght
to distribute plates for passenger
vehicles at the county seats OF gov
eminent. An extra fee of Is cents
is to be charged and given to the
county for issuing permits.
Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Freder-
lex, Hartford, Howard, Montgomery,
Prince Georges, Washington and
Calvert Counties are exempt from
the law. The county commissioners
Of Allegany, Carroll, Cecil, Dorches-
ter. Garrett, Talbot, Worcester and
Wicomico Counties are to decide
whether they wish local distribution
Of tags.
Another major bill signed requires
wholesale and retail firearms dealers
to keep records of their sales and
give police information such as the
purchaser, his address, the make
and caliber of the weapon.