Evening star., 1943-01-05
Important Bills
Face Maryland
Legislature
Assembly to Be
Ready for Immediate
Action Tomorrow
3y the Associated Press

sSAsSb 0buObuOW
By the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 5.-As legisla-
tors were arriving here today for the
formal opening of the Maryland
General Assembly at noon tomorrow,
these pre-convocation developments
stood out:
l. Despite the fact that Demo-
cratic members of the Legislature
have decided to hold their party
caucus to select House and Senate
leaders at 10 am. tomorrow, the Re-
publican members were set to hold
their caucus tonight at Carvel Hall.
2. State Controller j. Millard
raves was, as he expressed it, sit
ting tight" before acting on requests
of five legislators who have asked
that $500 checks be sent their "des-
lgnated secretaries" for services dur
ing the 1942 calendar year.
3. Mr.. Tawes was awaiting like
requests from other members of the
Legislature.
Ready for Action.
4. II advance predictions are borne
out, the Senate and House will be
ready for almost immediate action.
3. The Legislative Council has pre-
pared and printed more than ITO
oils which might be acted on by the
Legislature as soon as organization
Is complete.
8. Members of the Assembly aren't
going to be left out in the cold after
all as far as living quarters are con-
cerned, despite the acute housing
situation in Annapolis.
7. There were increasing indica-
lions that the large Democratic ma
Jority might force brief formal
opening session at noon tomorrow,
then Immediately adjourn, to return
Tor an evening meeting to hear Gov.
O'Conor's address.
8. Elghty-SiX members of the pres
ent Legislature will be replaced to-
morrow when their successors are
sworn in.
8. State Senator Arthur Brice.
Democrat, of Kent and Delegate
Thomas Conlon, Democrat, of Bal
timore are favorites to succeed
themselves as President of the SEN
ate and Speaker.
war Council Bill.
This session of the Assembly, the
first since Pearl Harbor-will be
called on to legislate on scores of |
matters of great import. to the State. |
One controversial measure sched- |
uled to be acted on is the war coun-
Gil bill which would give the Gov
ernor sweeping powers, some of |
them subject to approval by a
seven-man council, during wartime.
Another is the bond commissions /
proposal that the Court of Appeals |
be reorganized and that changes be
made in the court system of Bal |.
timore City.
Mr.. Tawes, while declining to
identify the legislators, reported
that he had received three let
ters and two telephone calls yes
terday from legislators asking
checks for secretaries" Earlier
State Senator-elect Wilbur R. Dulin,
Democrat. of Anne Arundel had
charged that some outgoing legis-
lators had been able to get together
to stampede the controller with
their bills for 1912 secretarial eX-
penses"
Mr.. Dulin declared that the un-
identified members had instituted
an unethical" move to collect 5000
each from the State treasury when
they were not entitled to single
penny for such expense in 1912"
Hadn't Been Considered.
Mr.. Dulin also said he had re-
ceived reports that the move had
been discussed and sanctioned orig
inally by the Legislative Council,
but Dr. Horace E. Flack, director
OF the Bureau of Legislative Ref
erence, said in Baltimore that the
matter had never come before the
Legislative Council for considera-
ton.
Mr.. Dulin contended that the
money requested had been appro-
priated for secretarial expenses of
members during the coming Legis-
lature and not for 1912 services.
Mr.. Tawes declined to interpret
the law, but it was believed that if
he did not take immediate action,
either to honor or decline the re-
quests, he soon would submit them
to the Attorney Generals Office for
a ruling.
Delegate John S. White, Demo-
crat, of Prince Georges, majority
floor leader, here for a conference
with Gov. O'Conor, stated that as
he recalled. "the money was ap-
propriated only for the legislative
sessions" The appropriation was
adopted by the 1899 Assembly when
Mr.. White was chairman of the
House Ways and Means Committee.
Mr.. White also was asked if his
visit to the Governor might be in
connection with reports that he
would seek the post of speaker.
Naturally any one would be hon.
ored by being elected speaker" he
replied, but I feel that since the
counties are represented by having
the president of the Senate, the
House leader should come from
Baltimore city"
Attorney General Backs