Evening star., 1946-12-31
Lane Choices
Forleaders in
Assemb|yDue
Democratic Caucus
Is Scheduled for
z PM. Tomorrow
By the Associofed Press


ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 31.-Ths
identity of the men who will direct
the 1947 Maryland General Assembly
remained unknown to the public
today but there were indications
Gov. Elect. William Preston Lane,
jr, was about ready to announce
who he wanted to run the session
starting tomorrow.
A dozen or so Senate and House
members have made bids for the
positions of Senate president,
speaker, majority floor leader and
other posts.
Mr.. Lanes recommendations are
expected to be the prime factor in
the final selections which will be
made at caucus of Democaratic
members scheduled for 2 pm. to-
morrow.
The Legislature will be convened
formally at pm. tomorrow and
Democrats, comprising the majority,
will take the principal offices.
Confexs With Ennis.
Last night Mr.. Lane conferred
with Robert B. Ennis, chairman of
the Democratic State Central Conn
mittee, and it was understood the
Governor-elect would first whittle
down the field of Senate president
aspirants and settle on a House
speaker later.
In the running for the presidency
are Senators Joseph R. Byrnes Of
Baltimore's 5th district, Joseph M.
George of Queen Anne's County, L.
Harold Sothoron of Prince Georges
County, George w. Della of the 9Th
Baltimore district, William P. Bolton,
a newly-elected representative of
Baltimore County, and Wilbur r.
Dulin of Anne Arundel County.
New officers are needed in both
branches. Neither James J. Lindsay
of Baltimore County, president Of
the Senate, nor John S. White OF
Prince Georges County, speaker In
the House, are member of the new
Assembly.
Luber Still Holds Seat.
The only remaining of the OUT
going Legislature is Delegate John
C. Luber, Democrat, of Baltimore,
majority leader of the House, who
was selected in 1945.
Meanwhile, Gov. O'Conor prepared
to depart from the chief executives
Office en- route to Washington to be-
come the junior Democratic Senator
from Maryland.
Gov. O'Conor's term does not ex-
pire officially until January 8, but
he will resign and permit Mr.. Lane
to take Office January 8.
A State position will be nothing
new for Mr.. Lane, 50-year-old Hag-
erstown publisher, lawyer and busi-
ness leader. He served as attorney
general during the last term of Gov,
Ritchie in 1930-1934, and as Demo-
cratic national committeeman di-
rected the party campaign in the
Free State during the last presi-
Dental election.
| Fiscal Problems Varied.
In the initial months OF Mr..
Lanes administration, the Legisla-
ture will have varied fiscal problems
before it.
Among other things is considera-
ton of the report of the Sherbow
Commission on redistribution Of
State revenues. It calls for setting
up uniform accounting systems in
the counties, an annual Legislative
session for budgetary purposes and
ALLEGATION of a part of the State in
come tax to the political subdivi.
SionS.
Reapportionment of legislative
seats of the counties and the city Of
Baltimore, move advocated by Mr..
Lane, may prove a troublesome
question as some areas may seek In.
creased representation in the Legis-
lature.
Among the multitude of measures
to be offered will be more than $50
bills the Legislative Council plans to
introduce during the first few days
of the Assembly.