Evening star., 1943-03-13
State Senate
Giirds 10 Renew
Court Bill Fight
Sponsors Get Setback
Measure Returned
To Committee
BY the Associated Press.

ANNAPOLIS, March 13.-Admin-
lstration forces took advantage to-
day of the weekend lull in legis-
lative proceedings to remap their
strategy for getting the Court of
Appeals reorganization bill before
the State Senate.
Their original plans to start floor
debate on the measure Tuesday re-
celved severe setback yesterday
when the Senate, by 17-lO vote,
sent the proposal to reduce the
membership of the appellate court
back to the judicial Proceedings
Committee.
The Senate vote came after a
bitterly contested debate.
House members were primed for
an expected battle over a favorable
committee report on a bill proposing
to lift the limitation on the number
OF licenses and type nets used by
Chesapeake Bay commercial fisher
men, but nothing developed.
Early Showdown Seen.
The bill received an 8-3 go-ahead
from the Chesapeake Bay and Trib-
utaries Committee, although it was
opposed by the Conservation Com
mission.
Some legislators expressed the
view that opponents would rally
forces for a showdown battle when
the measure comes up for final
passage, probably next week.
The bill would eliminate restric-
tlonS on the number of licensed
fishermen and number of nets and
types used as of 1910 and I941. Per-
sons not licensed to fish for two
preceding years would be prohibited
from obtaining licenses.
Several Eastern Shore Delegates
said that younger residents had gone
into war industries and that many
retired fishermen wanted to re-enter
the industry but were blocked by
the present law. They claimed that
with the meat shortage this would
be an additional way to meet the
food demand.
Lindsay Leads Fight.
Senator James j. Lindsay, ma
jority leader, who has deserted the
administration on the court reor-
ganization question. led the Senate
fight, which even hackers of the plan
admitted gave the bill a severe jolt.
The administration upset came
about after the Judicial Proceedings
Committee reported the bill con-
tanning two amendments it had rec
commended favorably to the Senate
Mr.. Lindsay then moved the pro-
posal, which would relieve appellate
judges of trial duties and provide
for five, instead of eight, members
OF the bench, be recommitted for
further study, despite a reported
agreement of proponents and foes
Of the bill to move for a showdown
on Tuesday.
Chairman Joseph r. Byrnes of the
Judicial Proceedings Committee and
floor leader as far as the Court OF
Appeals bill is concerned, objected
that Mr.. Lindsay's motion was out
OF order, but he was overruled by
Senate President Arthur H. Brice.
Charged by Mr.. Byrnes with vio-
lating the agreement to debate the
bill Tuesday, Mr.. Lindsay declared
he had entered irto the pact with
the understanding the measure was
to come from the committee without
amendments.
Agreement Nullified.
The committees action in striking
out a provision which would have
allowed opponents of sitting judges
to gain places on the ballot by the
petition method. Mr. Lindsay argued.
nullifled any agreement he had with
Mr.. Byrnes.
Referring to the other amend
ment, which, would increase the
proposed number of judges in the
fourth judicial circuit from two to
three, Mr.. Lindsay said:
Because Allegany County was
dissatisfied, the bill has been
amended to give them another
Judge, and in the corridors of the
Statehouse this morning it was
rumored that Anne Arundel County
Is to be given another judge also.
What are you going to say when
your constituents ask you, Why
didn't you get another judge for our
county while they were being dis
trlbuted in the corridors of the
Statehouse?'"
Recommittal of the bill precluded
debate OF the measure Tuesday. The
committee will not meet again before
that day, and presumably several
more days will be required before
the bill can again be reported out.
AS the bill provides for a consti-
tutional amendment which would be
placed before the electorate in 1914,
it requires a three-fifths majority