Evening star., 1943-03-12
Way|sC|eared
For Showdown
On Court Plan
Maryland Senate
Due to Take Up
Proposal Tuesday
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, March 12.-Ihe way
was clear today for Senate show
down on the widely-argued plan to
reduce the State Court Of Appeals
from eight to five judges and it
was definitely understood the en-
gagement will be joined Tuesday.
In the House of Delegates the
work fight bill for Montgomery
County has been approved by the
Senate. At the same time an
identical bill was introduced by the
Talbot County delegation. making
total OF II counties desiring legis-
lation to require certain male resi-
dents to get a job. join the armed
forces or face a possible Jail term
or fine.
The favorable 8-5 report on the
court bill yesterday by the Senate
Judicial Proceedings Committee, re-
garded As an administration victory,
came after the decision to recon-
mend two last-minute amendments
offered by the Bond Commission.
Opponents of the measure said
one amendment eliminated what
they termed its most Objectionable
feature, that to permit opponents
OF sitting judges to gain place on
the ballot by petition.
The other would provide for three
Judges instead of the proposed two
in the fourth judicial circuit, COM
prised OF Allegany, Washington and
Garrett Counties.
The chief clause in the bill would
require the election of two Judges
at large from Baltimore City, with
three to be chosen at large from
the counties. Appeal judges would
be relieved of trial duties.
Bill to Cut Taxes Passed,
Meanwhile, another administra-
ton bill to make effective Gov.
OConor's plan for a one-third re-
duction In State income tax pay
ments on 1912, 1943 and 1914 in
comes was passed by the House of
Delegates without discussion and
sent to the Senate.
The court reorganization bill, one
OF the most bitterly contested in
the l943 General Assembly to date.
has split party and sectional lines
VIDE open. 1t has been highly
praised by some members of the
Maryland judiciary while other
State judges have opposed 1t vigor-
ously.
Senator Joseph r. Byrnes, chair
man OF the committee, said the
Bond Commission felt the clause
providing for the petition system of
placing judgeship candidates names
on the ballot should not be placed
In the State constitution, but should
be retained as legislative func-,
tion to be altered at will.
Senator Byrnes took the favorable
report to the Senate but because OF
the amendments it was automatical-s
ly laid over until Monday night.
BY agreement of both opponents
and proponents the measure then
Will be made special order of
business for Tuesday afternoon
when the floor debate will get
under way.
To carry out the court bills aims
constitutional amendment would
be required, and it would be sub
m1tted to the electorate in the fall
of 1874.
Close Vote Expected.
Because 1t provides for a consti-
tutlonal amendment, the. measure
requires approval OF three-flfths of
the members of both branches of
the Legislature.
Informal polls indicated it's fate
IN the Senate would be decided by
a few votes. Both sides, however,
confidently predicted victory.
A similar proposal failed in the
Senate in the 1941 session after
passing in the House.
Senator Byrnes will lead support
ers OF the bill during the Senate de-
bate. Ordinarily an administration
bill fight would be led by Majority
Leader James j. Lindsay, but Mr..
Lindsay has declared himself un-
alterably opposed to the proposal
Senate President Arthur H. Brice
announced he would vote for the
bill, but would not take part in floor
debate.
Gov. O'Conor had requested the
one-third cut in income taxes pro-
vlded in the income tax bill in his
budget message. The first INSTALL
ments on State income levies are
due April Is.
State officials estimated that.
under the bill, income taxes COL
lected this year would amount to
only $4,000 900 instead of $4,000, 900.