Evening star., 1941-02-22
egis|ature
Again Appears
Headed for Jam
800 Maryland Bills
Yet to Be Disposed
or; 500 More Likely
By the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated FTesS.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb 22.-Operations
of the Legislative Council and ad-
ministration pressure notwithstand-
ing, Maryland's General Assembly
appeared drifting today toward an
other of the last-minute jams so
typical of previous sessions.
Legislators, in recess for the week
end, have but 27 legislative days to
go before sine die adjournment.
Although major bills were dropped
into House and Senate hoppers far
earlier this year than ever before,
the Assembly has backed itself into
a situation comparable with that
of 1899 by failing to act on them.
OF 718 measures introduced to
date, more than 800 are yet to be
disposed Of, with-based on past
performance-more than 500 bills
still to come. OF the SO bills passed
and sent to the Governor, only six
were of major importance.
OF the remaining Statewide bills
approved by both Houses, "a re-
pealed obsolete laws. and Is were
relatively unimportant and entirely
on-controverSial.
The other 81 were local measures.
% New Bills Received.
Before adjourning until Monday
night. the Legislature yesterday re-
ceived % new bills-8 presented to
the Senate and IS to the House. The
upper chamber passed and sent to
Gov. O'Conor for signing one bill
dealing with Frederick County.
New legislation would:
Impose a az a-cent per gallon ex-
else tax on whisky, payable by
manufacturers.
Authorize the House of Correction
and State Penal Farm to sell produce
at roadside markets and to permit
importation into Maryland of prison.
made goods from other States.
Permit savings bank to establish
insurance departments and self life
insurance policies and annuities.
Repeal the street-vendors license
for florists.
Divorce the State accident fund
from administration of the State
Accident Commission.
LegaliZe Sunday baseball games
at Salisbury.
Aviation Bill.
Authorize the present Maryland
Aviation Commission to deal with
airlines in the same manner as the
Public Service Commission super
vises steamship, railroad and street.
car lines.
Delegate Albert L. Sklar, Demo-
crat, OF Baltimore, author of the
aviation measure, said:
IF this bill is passed. the State
Aviation Commission will be given
more authority to see to it that
Maryland and Baltimore City will
be given the passenger and mail air.
plane service they deserve and
should have if We are to maintain a
standing as one of the progressive
States of the Union"
Mr.. Sklar said although passenger
trafflc is increasing, three airline
schedules recently were eliminated
in Baltimore. He added that in one
month 761 persons we're unable to
get accommodations because of in
adequate service.
Conservation Bill.
An independent conservation bill
also appeared yesterday in the
House, jump ahead of the ad-
mlnlStration measure still being
drafted by the State Law Depart
ment.
Essentially, the bill was the same
as one sponsored here in 1889 by
the Maryland Outdoor Life Fedora
ton and defeated by commercial
Seafood interests. 1t provides for
unification of all the States ma
tural resources agencies, from oys-
tiers to forests.
The Delegates-four Republicans
and six Democrats, all from Western
Shore counties-joined in introduc-
ing the independent legislation.
They included Thomas E. Jones of
Prince Georges.
Ezra B. Whitman, State Roads
Commission chairman, told legisla-
tors yesterday he didn't think
toll bridge over the Patuxent River
from Holland Point in Calvert
County to Benedict in Charles
County would pay for itself"
He testified before the House Ways
and Means Committee on a measure,
introduced by Delegate Louis Gold
stein. Democrat, of Calvert, to au-
thoriZe the roads commission to
issue S750.0O0 in bonds to finance
the half mile span.