Evening star., 1943-02-02
Republicans Demand
Gov. 0'Conor Clarity
Maryland Budget
Davis Leeds First
Partisan Debute of
Assembly Session
Rs the Associated Press.

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. Partisan
debate, which has been strangely
absent from the General Assembly
for the first month OF its session,
broke out last night with q Repub-
hcan move asking that Gov.
O'Conor clarity his budget message.
The Assembly was expected to get
the first of several "work-or-fight"
bills today. Delegate D. s. Kolb,
Democrat, of Wicomico, who
planned to offer the measure, said
he understood several OF the Eastern
Shore delegations were planning
similar bills.
Senate Minority Leader Wilmer
Fell Davis held the floor for approx
imately halt the upper chambers
hour-long session.
Just before adjournment he SUBJ
mitted IN order which would re-
es auirs lElEnor z sallt !. e
fnteeases In the bud et, : 1ist uf IN
pfoposed expenditures for which
there were no compArahaep
tslres In the last htennium, . list Of
all salary increases, and IN account
ing Of the proposed application Of
the present State surplus.
Goes 70 Finance Committee.
The order was promptly side
tracked when the majority leader,
James J. Lindsay, asked Senate
President Arthur H. Brice to refer
1t to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Lindsay promised Mr.. Davis
that he would undertake to zee that
the Finance Committee, which Mr..
Lindsay heads, obtained ali the In
formation Mr.. Davis asked for In
the order.
Earlier. Mr.. Davis had led one
man fight against g Legislative
Council repeater Of q law, which
had not been invoked in many years,
requiring pre- election publication
Of the names of all public officials
whose accounts were In arrears.
Mr.. Lindsay and Senator John
Funk, Democrat, Of Frederick, led
the opposition to Mr.. Davis move
to recommit the bill. No one Sec
onded Mr.. Davis motion, and on
the first formal roll call Of the
Senate this session, the bill was
passed by a vote announced at
23 to 3.
Accounting "Haphaxard."
Only Senator James w. Hughes,
Republican. Of Cecil, and Robert B.
Kimble, Republican, of Allegany
voted with Mr.. Davis for its defeat
Mr.. Davis based his arguments on
the contention that accounting OF
Maryland public oficials' accounts
was too haphazard, and that publi-
cation of the names of those in ar
rears would have beneficial effect
He asserted auditing of county
accounts at present was tagging q
year behind time, and added 1T il
almost impossible for a public ON
cial to give an honest accounting Of
his business"
Mr.. Lindsay argued that the pro-
posal to retain the Publication Act
had distinctly partisan sentiment
in that it would penalize incumbent
officials. Mr.. Lindsay said the bill
had been discussed at great length
in the Finance Committee and that
action had been postponed severa
times on Mr.. Davis request.
Four new bills were offered ir
last nights Senate session, including
the revision of the State liquor laws
on the report of the commission
headed by William r. McClayton o,
Baltimore, which surveyed the pres.
ent State system.
| Highlights of the bill are pro-
visions calling for the appointment
Of State liquor commissioner, tn,
shortening Of hours Of sale and ,
proviso that appeals be taken t,
the courts instead Of to an appea
board,