Evening star., 1941-04-16
'0'Conor Vetoes
Montgomery
Jai A|ai Bill
Measure Bonninq
Promiscuous Sole
Of Fireworks Signed

Gov. O'Conor of Maryland today
vetoed the referendum bill TO
legalize parimutuel betting on jai
alai in Montgomery County.
The action was announced by the
chief executive at Annapolis and
eliminates weeks of concerted op-
position to the measure by scores
OF civic and church organizations
and hundreds of individuals.
Gov. O'Conor signed 103 bills yes
terday, including one banning the
promiscuouS sale of fireworks. Most
of the measures approved were of
local nature. He set aside April %
as the next date on which he would
consider another group of bills.
Text of Veto Statement.
The text of Mr. O'Conors jai alai
bill announcement is as follows:
l am vetoing House bill 903 legal
lzlng the conduct of games of jai
alai in Montgomery County in con-
junction with pari-mutuel wagering,
While this game has been recog-
nlzed in other jurisdictions, the sug-
gestion to legalize it in MARYLAND
was not brought forward for general
discussion until two days before the
adjournment of the recent 90-day
session. In broaching the subject,
members of the Montgomery County
delegation very straightforwardly
admitted that the proposal had been
made to them at the eleventh hour
and that they decided to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity for reve-
nue-producing purposes if subse-
quent investigation would indicate
that their constituents favored it.
The delegates added that they
would request my veto in the event
that general sentiment seemed op-
posed to the bill
Since the adjournment of the
Legislature considerable opposition
has been expressed and citizens of
the county have protested vigorously
against the enactment becoming
law. So definite has been this ex-
preston of disapproval that the
sponsors of the measure publicly an
nounced their desire that ! veto it.
The county commissioners of Mont
gomery County have also signL1ed
their desire that this bill be disap-
proved.
Popular Sentiment Followed.
Il consider that I am acting in
accordance with the wishes of the
great majority of the people in the
county, and also in fulf1llment Of
the expressed wishes of the delegates
sponsoring the bill when I veto the
measure, which action is not to be
construed as rejecting upon the
motives of the delegates in question.
If the proposal is a meritorIous
one, 1t should be brought to public
attention in ample time, before leg
iSlative action, to afford citizens the
opportunity to voice their senti-
ments. 1nasmuch as circumstances
combined to make careful considera-
ton impossible in the recent Legis-
lature, I feel that the measure
should be vetoed because it repre-
sents hastily enacted legislation
which the constitution specifically
guards against by vesting in the
Governor the power of veto"
Other Statewide Legislation.
Other important Statewide legis-
lation enacted into law provides
that:
All persons desiring to marry must
obtain marriage licenses. Under
old law Catholics and Episcopalians
could be married without licenses if
banns we're read for three successive
Sundays before the marriage cere-
mony was performed)
Trial magistrates are authorized to
suspend sentences and costs.
Referendum petitions must bear
/ signatures, both written and typed,
of signers, their residence, occupa-
ton, precinct or district in which
they are registered and their place of
/ business.
Methyl or denatured alcohol can
not be sold for beverage purposes.
VlolatorS Of the law would be subject
to $500 fine, two years imprison-
ment, or both.