Evening star., 1941-03-04
Oyster Debate
Expected Today
AT Annapolis
Controversial Bill
Due for Closest
Vote This Session
BY the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, March A.
Pentup oyster oratory, without which
no Maryland Legislature Is complete,
threatened to burst forth in the
Senate today as the Upper House
called up for a debate a contro-
versial bill to open the Potomac
River to oyster handscrapers.
The legislation, sponsored by
Senator Elwood Dize, Republican,
of Somerset, was reported out with
out recommendation and was made
special order of business for today
Battle lines-drawn solely on the
basis of personalities and senatorial
obligations-have been forming and
reforming since Mr.. Dize introduced
the bill January 81.
Last night, Senate leaders pre-
dicted the vote on the measure
would be the closest on any bill
this session.
Eastern Shoremen backing Mr..
Die and Southern Marylanders sup
porting Senator Philip j. Dorsey,
Democrat, of st. Marys, were the
contestants in the debate.
Mr.. Dorsey Is spokesman for st.
Marys County residents who oppose
having the river opened to oyster
dredging. Oysters now may be taken
there by longing.
Beaten BY Filibuster.
In 1897, j. Allan Coad, Mr.. Dor
sey's predecessor in the Senate, fili-
bustered IT hours on similar legisla-
ton and forced its defeat. Although
feeling was running just as high to-
day, no hint of another such per-
formance was given.
Meanwhile, the House Ways and
Means Committee, the Assembly s
current "bottleneck," still was en-
tangled in its detailed studies Of the
Administrations $106,664,000 bien-
MEL budget. Committeeman labored
for hours yesterday, without recon-
Cling variety of differences.
Until the Ways and Means Com
mittee has cleared up its appropria-
tions difficulties, it cannot act on a
jam Of other bills backed up in its
files.
Senate leaders meanwhile COM
planned vigorously because of de-
lays they said were being caused by
the House committees slowness.
All of the major Senate commit
tees are abreast of their work, they
asserted, but must mark time be-
cause important legislation is being
held up in the House.
Last night the Senate received
three new bills-one to repeal judges
right to issue court orders waving
the 48-hour delay in the issuance OF
marriage licenses-and adjourned
within 6 minutes.
The House, getting II new meas
ures, became involved in an extensive
debate over Delegate William Heine-
kamp's joint resolution asking Gov
O'Conor to remove from Office Joseph
Sherbow, peoples counsel to the
Public Service Commission.
Block Tax on Race Tracks.
BY an overwhelming voice vote, the
Rules Committees unfavorable re-
port was adopted and the resolution
defeated. The resolution asserted
Mr.. Sherbow violated Public Service
Commission laws by representing
four large Baltimore taxicat
companies"
Mr.. Heinekamp produced what he
said were copies of court records pur-
porting to show that Mr.. Sherbov
acted as counsel to the taxicab COM
panies. At a Rules Committee hear
ing Mr.. Sherbow denied he repre-
sented taxicab companies, asserting
he acted as counsel to casualty
insurance companies.
Before adjourning the Senate
adopted favorable Finance Commit.
tee reports on two Of the three State
administrations bills designed tc
equalize Negro and white teachers
salaries.
Legislation to boost the tax rate
In 10 counties by cents in the next
biennium and to eliminate white
from existing law prescribing salary
standards for white teachers" was
approved.
Action on a third measure, to i'm
pose special tax on half-mile race
tracks, was delayed pending hear
ing tomorrow, requested by race
track interests.
A bill to increase the State con-
troller's salary from 5000 to $4,000
year was introduced by Speaker
Thomas Conlon The measure would
be effective in 1943 after the State
Controller Millard Tawes' present
term expires.