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

NcUUcu lllt Iclcl cIlQuIl JILL "
legalize parimutuel betting on jai
slai 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. OConor signed 103 bills yes
terday, including one banning the
promiscuouS sale of fireworks. Most
of the measures approved were of a
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'Conor's jai alai
bill announcement is as follows:
az am vetoing House bill 903 legal
izing the conduct of games of jai
alai in Montgomery County in con-
junction with pari-mutuel wagering.
: while this game has been recog-
nized 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
their desire that veto it.
The county commissioners of Mont
gomery County have also signified
their desire that this bill be disap-
proved.
Popular Sentiment Followed.
'T consider that I am acting in
accordance with the wishes Of the
great majority of the people in the
county, and also in fulfllndent of
the expressed wishes of the delegates
sponsoring the bill when l veto the
measure, which action is not to be
construed as rejecting upon the
motives of the delegates in question.
"If the proposal is meritorlous
one, it should be brought to public
attention in ample time, before leg
islative action, to afford citizens the
opportunity to voice their senti-
ments. Inasmuch 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"
Gov. O'Conor signed the prohibi-
tory fireworks bill with special pen
brought here by John w. Avirett,
president of the Maryland Society
for the Prevention of Blindness, and
Francis F. Symington, chairman of
It's Fireworks Accident Committee.
The society led the fight for pas
sage of the bill, similar to ones
killed at the 1887 and 1889 sessions.
While prohibiting the promiscuous
sale and use of fireworks, the meas
ure does not ban their manufacture.
1t permits the public display of fire
works.
Library Bill Signed.
Only one bill sponsored by the
Montgomery delegation was included
in the measures signed yesterday.
It was a bill by Senator Peter to
provide funds for the Montgomery
County Circuit Court library. None
from Prince Georges was in the list.
The bill provides that so per cent
of the fines and recognizance for
FIXTURES in trial magistrate courts
shall be paid into the Circuit Court
library for furnishings, books and
equipment.
One of the bills signed yesterday,
introduced by the Charles County
~5111 hi hi fc i,oe q q nf
septic tanks or other sanitary facili-
ties without a permit granted by the
county haelth department and pro-
yides fines for violations.
Several bills among those signed
by the Governor repealed obsolete
laws affecting Calvert County, in
Guiding one which set up an immi
grafton commission to attract
farmers to Calvert and other South
ern Maryland counties, and another
authorizing the county commits
sioners to subscribe to stock in the
Baltimore & Drum Point Railroad.
The immigration commission has
not functioned for more than a de-
cade and the Drum Point Railroad
never got beyond the grading stage.
Other State Wide Legislation.
Other important State wide legis-
lation enacted into law provides
that:
All persons desiring to marry must
obtain marriage licenses. CUnder
old law Catholics and Episcopalians
could be married without licenses if
banns were read for three successive
Sundays before the marriage cere-
mony was performed0
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.
Violators of the law would be subject
to a $500 fine, two years imprison-