Evening star., 1943-03-19
Court Bill Given
Right Of Wayi
State Senate
Showdown Expected
On Administration
Plan Tomorrow
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, March 19-The
Maryland Senate took another fling
today at settling its differences over
an administration bill to submit to
the voters a Court of Appeals re-
organization plan, with the pos
sibility there would be showdown
tomorrow.
The meaSure-Which would place
before the electorate proposed con-
stitutional amendment to reduce the
court from eight to five Judges
was made special order of business
for the second consecutive day.
The decision came after opponents
succeeded in deleting a provision
which would have permitted the
Legislature in the future to increase
or decrease the number of judges.
The showdown on the strongly
contested measure may come to-
morrow because rival leaders have
agreed to call the upper chamber
into session then if necessary to pass
or reject the plan.
Fish Bill Action Delayed
Meanwhile, final House of Dele
gates action on the contested Chesa-
peake Bay fish net bill, which would
relax present restrictions on the size
and number of fisheries nets in the
bay. was delayed at least until
Monday
The court reorganization bill was
still in the amendment stage. and
several members of the Upper House
indicated they would offer changes
An opposition amendment was
offered by Sen. j. Wilmer Cronin
Democrat, of Hartford, to eliminate
a section of the bill providing that
the Legislature might increase or
decrease the number of judges in
the State, not to exceed 10 in Balti-
more City and 81 in all the counties.
Mr.. Cronin argued the amend
ment would preserve the lndepend-
ence of the judiciary as guaranteed
in the Constitution.
The amendment was adopted by
1913 vote, with two Senator's who,
heretofore, have voted with ad-
ministration forces-and Robert B.
Kimble, Republican, of Allegany
voting for the change.
Five Amendments Accepted.
Previously, the proponents of the
bill which among other things,
would remove most of the geo.
graphical restrictions on election of
appellate judges and relieve men,
bers of the Court of Appeals of trial
duty work, had had five more Or
less technical amendments tackled
on to it.
Most of yesterdays Senate session
was devoted to the grilling Of Sen
ator Joseph r. Byrnes, Democrat,
of Baltimore, floor leader for the
bill, on various phases of the meas
ure.
The House delay on the fish net
bill came when Speaker Thomas E.
Conlon rejected a motion by Ma
jority Leader John S. White to place
the measure before the House for
immediate final action on the
grounds that an amendment adopt
ed by the Fish and Game Commit
tee had not been printed as required
by the rules
Opponents of the measure sought
to offer another amendment that
would prohibit the TideWater Fish
cries Commission from issuing any
more net licenses than were issued
in l941
The measures supporters claimed
the amendment would completely
nullify the bills provisions. The
proposed change in the bill was re-
jected, 68-43.
Only Majority Needed.
The amendment by the Fish and
Game Committee struck out the
emergency clause and made the
effective date of the bill June / .
This means the proposal needs only
simple majority to pass, whereas
three-flfths majority is needed for
passage Of an emergency measure.
No bills were passed by the House
and l3 new measures were intro
duced, including one that would
prohibit the sale of alcoholic bev-
erages in Maryland on Sundays.
The Sunday closing law was
sponsored by Delegates Lulu w.
Boucher of Allegany, Helen Tingley
OF Baltimore. J. Raymond Buffing-
ton of Baltimore, Democrats, and
three Garrett County Republicans,
Nelson Brenneman, Ohio S. Fike
and Jasper G. Myers
Another measure. introduced bv
administration leaders in the House
would set up n-member Mary
land Executive Defense Council with
broad powers to act in any war
emergency. The Governor would
be authorized to cooperate with
the President of the United States
IN. matters pertaining to the war
and the common defense of the
State and Nation and the incidents
thereof"