Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-05
Job|ess Benefit
Bills Taken Up
In Annapolis
Controversy Is Seen
On Plan Sponsored
By State Board
BY the Associated Press.

ANNAPOLIS, March 5.-Two bills
to liberalize the unemployment
compensation statute both for en-
ployers and employees were set up
as the targets for today in the
Maryland State Senate, where floor
fights were predicted for both pro-
posals.
A close but favorable decision by
the Senate Judicial Proceedings
Committee forecast a controversy
over the principal measure, which
would extend coverage of the jobless
insurance statute to all employers
and increase benefits paid jobless
persons as well.
The bill, sponsored by the
State Unemployment Compensation
Board, came out of the Senate COM
mittee with a favorable recommen-
dalton, but only by Sd margin.
Merit Rating Plan Opposed.
The law now covers only firms
employing four or more persons.
Weekly benefits would be in
creased from SIT to $40, and the
period over which payments would
be made would be extended from 20
to 26 weeks under the boards pro-
posal.
Opposed by labor and also appar-
emily headed for battle was the
liberalization for employers-a plan
for merit rating system which
would give credit to establishments
with good employment records by
reducing their payments to the un-
employment compensation fund.
1t was reported favorably yester-
day by the Senate Finance Com
mittee, but action was delayed at
the request of Chairman James j.
Lindsay. Mr.. Lindsay said the
committee was preparing amend
ments to be offered on the floor
AS a result, the bill was made a
special order of business for today.
Women's Jury Bill Reported.
The uch-discussed womens jury
duty bill was reported favorably to
the House of Delegates at yesterdays
session.
The bill would give women the
right to serve on juries. Two years
ago a similar measure passed the
House after hard struggle, but was
killed in the Senate following a close
fight.
In the Senate, action was COM
pleted on the emergency State militia
bill, which was signed by Gov
O'Conor barely two hours after it
was placed on his desk.
The new enactment authorizes the
Governor to use any part of the
State Guard for special bridge
policing under military regulations.
1t was drawn hurriedly by State
military officials after 80 bridge
guards left their posts on the Havre
de Grace Bridge 10 days ago in
protest to an order relieving five of
their officers of duty.
Under the old system, members
OF the bridge detail were employees
OF the State Roads Commission and
had civilian status
Daily pay provisions of the enact
ment are $40 for one captain, 50 for
three first lieutenants, So for four
second lieutenants, Sc for sergeants,
$3.50 for corporals and SIS for
privates.
Bill Would Abolish Fisheries Unit.
One of the bills introduced in the
House would abolish the Commission
for Tidewater Fisheries, placing it's
duties under the Board of Public
Works, where they were before 1916.
Delegate Joseph w. A. Evans.
Democrat, of Queen Anne's, who
sponsored the measure with Dele
gate w. M. Todd, Republican, of
Somerset, said the move would save
the State approximately $25O,O00 a
year.
Mr.. Evans said that from 1916
to the present, "the States oyster,
crab and fish production has de-
creased more than one-half.
In my mind, the Commission of
Underwater Fisheries has DESTROYED
the natural resources by methods
contrary to nature
Another new House bill would
establish State Bureau of Revenue
Estimates. 1t was introduced by
Delegate Michael J. Lucey, Demo-
crat, of Baltimore, who said it
would save the people a lot of
money"
The bill provides for director of
estimates under the Department of
Budget. Mr.. Lucey said his bill
had the approval of State Treas
urer Hooper S. Miles.
Court Bill Hit.
Opponents of the Bond Com
MISSIONS proposal to revamp the
Maryland Court of Appeals had
their say at an open hearing of the
Senate Judicial Proceedings Com
mittee.
Former Judge F. Neale Parke of
the Appellate Court declared that
proponents of the Bond plan for
sweeping changes in organization
of the bench conceded the excel