Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-03-14
Senate Approves 3-Member
Civil Service Commission
By J. B. Zotmon
Sfor Staff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS Mdl. AZ. oIiAi
smarting from defeat in their at
tempt to obtain House approval OF
the controversial Lindsay law re-
pealer, members of the Montgom-
cry County delegation today are
considering what action to take on
a similar bill pending before a
Senate committee.
After a short but heated debate,
the house yesterday voted, SO to Al
against the measure.
At the same time, the Senate
passed and sent to the House a bill
to substitute a three-member civil
service commission in Montgomery
County for the present single COM
missioner
Immediately after voting down
the Lindsay Law bill, the House ap-
proved a motion which, in effect
precludes any further action on the
measure during the present session
The motion, by William H. Nc
Grath, Democrat, of Prince Georges
County, was to reconsider the House
action and to place that motion on
the table.
Delegation Undecided.
Although officials in the attor.
ney generals Office said the "clinch.
er" prevents the House from act.
ing on similar legislation which may
be adopted by the Senate, this was
disputed by De Witt S. Hyde, {
member of the all-Republicar
Montgomery delegation.
He added that the delegation has
not yet decided whether to brins
the Senate bill on the floor. 1t i.
now before & committee headed
by Montgomery Senator Roy Tasce
Davis and including Senators L
Harold Sothoron, Prince Georges
County, and Edward S. Storm, Fred
erick County, Democrats.
Spearheading the opposition tt
the House bill was LIE Roy PUN.
phrey, Democrat, of Prince Georges
County. House majority leader.
Declaring he will still support the
Montgomery group in its efforts tt
pass local legislation, Mr.. Humphrey
said:
We've gotten out of that f1elo
now. I had hoped the matter woulc
be thrashed out on the floor on it,
merits and not on political basis
But it has become political ano
a party issue, made so by our Re.
publican friends. So here Is the
old party calls the minority run.
ming this House or is the majority
running it?"
He was joined by two other Prince
Georges delegates, Mr.. McGrath
and T. Raymond Burch, Democrats
Both said the bill would destroy
the two-party system.
Assistant Governor Accused.
Montgomery Delegate r. Duncan
Clark argued that the bill was
purely local" and the merits had
been argued last week when the
House voted, So to so, to support a
motion to substitute the measure
for an unfavorable committee re-
port
: Charging that "for Is years ou1
county has been in the grip of a
political tyranny and that tyranny
is down here now" Mr.. Clark said
the $1,000 assistant governor was
present lobbying against the bill
He referred to Louis j. ODonnell
assistant to Gov. Lane. Mr.. O'Don-
nell was seated in the House gallery
at the time.
In urging Senate approval of his
Civil Service Commission bill, Sen
eator Davis emphasized the meas.
ure doesn't touch the hair on the
head of any person who holds any
political Office"
=. Il am not Jack the Ripper" the
Senator shouted. II don't want tt
rip any Democrat oficsholders from
their jobs"
Under the bill, the three COM
mission members, each of whom
would receive $500 a year, would bt
appointed by the county commits
siopers not more than two could
belong to the same political party