The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-03-20
SENATE IS SAID
READY TO PASS
FIREWORKS BILL
O'COnOr Moves to Slash Budget;
House Adopts Favorable Re-
port for Driving Courses

Maryland's Senate hung death"
signs on a regulatory fireworks meas
ure and a judges retirement pension
bill late Tuesday night and quickly
advanced the state administration
prohibitory fireworks legislation to
third reading ready for final passage.
The upper chamber rejected a
weakening" amendment to the pro-
hibitory fireworks bill by a % to
vote, the only proponent being Sen
ator Clifford Friend, of this county.
The Judicial proceedings committee
had withdrawn its support of the
amendment which would have given
the State insurance commissioner the
right to license the sale of "safe"
fireworks. Senator Squier (D-CeciD,
who authored the regulatory fire
works bill, voted against the amend
ment but cast the only dissenting vote
to the adoption of the favorable re-
port on the prohibitory fireworks
| measure.
The Senators also voted 16 to IL
against advancing the regulatory
fireworks measure to second reading,
which automatically "shelved" the
bill.
Legislation to increase judges re-
tirement pay was killed when sena-
tors made it special order of bust
ness for April 2. The Legislature is
scheduled to adjourn March 81.
Western Maryland Senators pre-
vailed upon the Senate to postpone
action on one of the administrations
bills to equalize negro and white
teachers salaries. The measure would
increase the tax rate in nineteen
counties by three cents during the
next biennium.
Moves to Slash Budget
The state administration moved to
slash $4,000 from its record break
ing $107 ,443,000 budget for 1942-43.
The appropriations measure will be
amended directing the board of public
works to impound 100000 during the
next biennium from general fund ap-
preparations. The other $4,000 cut is
to be realized by an amendment with
drawing the budget item providing
this amount to service a portion of
the proposed state bond issue for cap
ital improvements. This item will be
unnecessary under O'Conor's plan to
reduce the bond issue from $4,172,00O
to $2,117,O00.
The House adopted favorable re-
port on the bill for state police in
struction of safe-driving courses in
county high schools but the report
proposed amendments that would not
make police instruction absolutely
mandatory.
The Senate adopted favorable re-
port on a bill to give the state two
Monday holidays and to freeze
Thanksgiving day as the last Thurs
day in November. This measure would
make the third Monday in February
legal holiday known as washington
Lincoln day. and the last Monday in
May as Decoration day."
Other County Legislation
1t was reported yesterday that
bill would be introduced making it
mandatory for the County Commits
sioners to employ their attorney from
this county with legal services not to
exceed $500 unless by order of the
court.
1t was also intimated that Senate
Bill 149, providing for appointment
of the clerk to the County Commits
sioners, would be passed this week
( The Carroll county delegation in
F.. troduced a measure to return their
county roads to the county, and it was
reported yesterday that an amend
ment was being tackled on to this bill