Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-22
Council Backs
0'Conor Bid for
War Powers
Proposed Bill Seeks
To Give Governor
Sweeping Authority

dppIONdl VI Scfcll.Uldll Wal
council" carried the approval lin
principle" today Of the Maryland
Council of Defense.
The council, in giving the pro-
posal its Endorsement, specified that
details should be ironed out by the
councils Legislative Committee be-
fore submission to the General As
sembly next month.
Gov. O'Conor spoke in favor of
the bill at meeting of the defense
group. He suggested that provision
be written into the measure pro-
viding that all steps taken under
the act should be subject to ap-
prevail of the first subsequent ordi-
nary or extraordinary session of the
General Assembly.
The lengthy bill would give the
Governor authority, ito take any
measures as may be necessary and
appropriate to carry any request
of the President related to
the war effort, for any action look
ing to the national or State defense,
the conduct of the war, the pro-
lection Of the public peace, health
and safety or the preservation OF
life and property within the State"
estate War Council"
It authorized the Governor to ap-
point State war council" to con-
sist Of the President of the Senate
the Speaker of the House of Dele
gates, the attorney general and
-four citizens of Maryland selected
without regard to political afflliation
and with reference to their special
knowledge of the problems of in
dustry, labor, agriculture, education,
health and other matters relating
to the public welfare and to ma
tional and State defense"
In three of the II sections of the
proposed bill, the Governors actions
under it were made subject to the
approval Of this war council.
They were:
60 3" The Governor, at the time
when the General Assembly is not
in session. with the approval of the
War Council, is authorized and en-
powered to promulgate an order or
orders suspending or modifying the
enforcement" of laws which con-
nict with the enforcement of any
United States statute or lawful
regulation relating to the prosecu-
ton of the war" Such action, the
bill stated, might be taken only at
"a Nf ~ y, a
United States, the Secretaries of
War or Navy or the United States
Attorney General.
Power Over Property.
The Governor, with approval Of
the War Council, would be author
lied to lease or lend State property
to the armed forces or to contract
for the temporary transfer or en-
ployment of the States personnel"
to any political subdivision Of
Mai yland.
Finally, the Governor must have
tine War Councils approval, the
projected bill stated, If he were to
take advantage of the power given
him ito take possession of property,
real or personal" in consequence of
an actual or imminent attack or
other emergency growing out of the
war that might MAKE such possess
sion an imperative and immediate
necessity"
The Governor told the Defense
Council that there had been instances
when it had been impossible under
existing State laws to meet specific
requests of President Roosevelt.
Would Speed War Cooperation.
He said it would be costly and diff
ficult to call the General Assembly
into extraordinary session each time
the President made a request which,
if carried out, would violate Mary
land laws without legislative action.
The proposed bill, he added, would
solve the difficulty.
The Governor said, however, that
no attempt should be made to take
away legislative powers of the Gen.
eral Assembly and said very care
full consideration'' should be given
the proposed act.
He emphasized that wide publicity
should be given the bill so that the
public might understand it thor
oughly" before the legislature meets.
Measures Approved.
The following bills, all recon-
mended by the War Emergency
Legislation Committee of the Mary
land Council of Defense, were ap-
proved at the meeting:
/. To provide for simplification of
State compliance with the Alien
Property Act.
2. To protect owner or driver of
a "share-the-ride" car from damage
suits and relieve such a driver-own-
er from Public Service Commission
for hire" statutes.
8. To amend Bank and Trust
Companies Act so that banks would
not be violating State banking laws
in assisting with some war financ-
ing
4. To amend State bank loan limit
statute to facilitate financing OF
large war contracts.
S. To relax laws regulating in
vestment Of surplus State funds.
6. To allow State Roads Commits
sion to construct highways and do
other work without, under certain
restrictions, receiving competitive
bids during time of war.
Boiler Inspections Eased.
Z. To revise the Boiler Inspection
Act to permit war plants, within
limits, to postpone inspection OF
their boilers.
8. To provide for licensing OF
child-care centers.
8. To require surrender of al
Identification cards and badges is
sued to employees when they leave
their jobs.
10. To make certain amendments
to absentee voting laws.
II. To permit q "speedup" OF
course of study for medical students.
IL. To make certain changes in
militia law. asked by Maj. Gen
Milton A. Reckord, Sd Service Com
mand head)
Is. To empower the Governor and
War Council to issue orders govern
Il