Evening star., 1946-10-07
Benson Charges
.IrreguIarifY
ToMckeIdin
Says His Adherents
Appear to Have Made
Deal With O'Conor
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

Concern over party regularity"
was apparent in Democratic and
Republican camps today, but lead
ers of both found an issue they
could agree on-the Sherbow Com
missions report on redistribution OF
State revenues.
The regularity" question flared
in party circles last week when
John w. Benson, former Republican
congressional nominee, cited the
absence of Mayor McKeldin, the
COP gubernatorial candidate, from
a dinner for D. John Markey, the
party's senatorial contender, as evi-
dence of a IDEAL" between Mr.. Nc
Keldin and some Democratic ad-
herents of Gov. O'Conor.
Gov. O'Conor is the Democratic
candidate for United States Senator.
evidence amounts to the effect
that the McKeldin people are sup
porting Gov. O'Conor for the Sem
ate and the O'Conor people are
supporting Mr.. McKeldin for Gov
eTIlOI, MI. 6eIlSOu Sdlu.
Curran Raises FURRY.
On the Democratic side, furry
arose after Attorney General Will
liam Curran's criticism of the par
ty's national leadership and his
failure to include any recommended
tions of his party's candidates in a
campaign speech Saturday.
But Philander B. Briscoe, presi-
dent of the 18th Ward Democratic
Club, Baltimore, where Mr.. Curran
spoke, rushed to the Baltimore
leaders defense In a statement
thanking him for the address.
Mr.. Briscoe said the address
"s gave inspiration to us to
take a greater interest in our party
and Government" He said there
was no need for Mr.. Curran to
mention candidates individually
since he had already announced his
blanket Endorsement Of the State
ticket.
Bipartisan Support.
The Sherbow Commissions re-
port gained the support of Gov.
O'Conor. Mr.. McKeldin and w.
Preston Lane, jr., Democratic can
didate for Governor.
Gov. O'Conor noted that he had
appointed the commission and in
dorsed all Of its recommendations
except the section on State racing
revenue, on which he said he would
await the report of another COM
mission studying that problem.
Last night, however, Gov. O'Con-
or's opponent In the senatorial race,
Mr.. Markey, asked the Governor
to explain why nothing had been
done in the eight years of his ad-
ministration to remedy the faults
in the tax structure as outlined by
the Sherbow report.
"Only a month before the elec-'
tion,"', Mr.. Markey said, "a report
on State taxation is suddenly re-
leased by Mr.. O'Conor. Much at
tention has been directed to the
needed reforms advocated by the
commission
How is it that he (O'Conor) has
been unmindful of these needs dur
ing eight years as Governor. and
for four years before that. as At
torney General?" Mr.. Markey
asked.
Indorsers Research Bureau.
Mr.. McKeldin first subscribed to
the report in general terms, then
reiterated his earlier position with
added praise for the commissions S
work in eliminating the "city-coun-
ties conflict" He expressed special
approval of a proposed State Fiscal
Research Bureau, so that State
fiscal policy in the future may be
grounded upon solid and precise
knowledge, rather than speculation. I"
Mr.. Lane, taking up the commits
sion's suggestions individually, sup
ported most of them. After with
holding Endorsement of the pro-
posal to give the localities IL per
cent of the observation-disclosures tax
received by the State and .625 per
cent of the tax from ordinary in
comes, he later supported this rate.
He took position similar to Gov
O'Conor's on the racing revenue
question, but continued to defer an
nouncement of his position on Stae
education funds, saying he was hav-
ing a study made of the question
and wanted besides to wait for the
Marbury Commissions report on
hiuter cd,ico finn