Evening star., 1947-02-05
bi|IAbo|ishing
School Property
JobUp in Senate
: Letters Praise Work
OF County Delegation
From Montgomery
By J. B. Zotmon
sior Staff Correspondent

County was OSlOIE tIlC 0cIldtC tOQdy
after it was passed yesterday by the
House Of Delegates.
The House also approved favor
able reports by the Prince Georges
County delegation on two bills and
ordered them printed for third
reading.
The measures would increase the
salaries of the motor vehicle and
transfer clerks in the county court
house from $1,000 to $2,500 a year
Delegation Chairman Perry o. Will
kinson said the two employees
affected are heads of their depart
ments and are entitled" to the
increase.
Among bills introduced was one
by the Prince Georges delegation
providing for the repeal OF the
Lansdaie town charter.
Recodification Bill Introduced.
The Montgomery delegation sub
mitted bill to recodify and bring
up to date all Montgomery County
laws. Delegation Chairman Anders
r. Lofstrand, jr., pointed out the
last recodification of county laws
wac made in 1899.
Delegate William s. James, DEM
ocrat, of Hartford County put for
ward Q proposed amendment to the
State constitution which would
make juries in criminal cases judges
only of the evidence presented be-
fore them. At present, they are
Judges also of the laws involved.
The Senate approved a resolution
by Senator Roy Tasco Davis, Re-
publican, of Montgomery County,
expressing regret over the injuries
suffered by former Montgomery
County State Senator Thomas E.
Hampton in a recent automobile &C
cident. The resolution expressed
hope of a speedy recovery.
The bill relating to the supervisor
of school property would place the
duties of the Office in the hands OF
an assistant superintendent OF
schools to be appointed by the super
intendent. The supervisor now is
appointed by the Board Of Educa-
ton.
Delegation Congratulated.
Mrs. Leona M. Rush, a member OF
the an-Republican Montgomery
County delegation, who introduced
the bill, said it would give the super
intendent better control over school
property.
Mr.. Lofstrand said he has received
a letter from Mrs. G. Beale Bloomer,
education chairman of the Mont
gomery County League of Women
Voters, congratulating the delegation
for supporting the bill and expedit-
ing its passage.
Another letter from Oscar E. Lam
caster, Montgomery County attorney,
praised the delegation for its legis-
lative work thus far.
"Your procedure in keeping the
residents of the county informed as
to what you are doing or propose to
do" Mr.. Lancaster wrote, is quite a
contrast from that of former repre-
sentatives from the county, who ap-
peared to have gone to Annapolis
to look after the interests of small
select group rather than the inter-
ests of the whole county"
Mr.. Lofstrand also received let
ter from Mrs. Flora H. Mitchell, 816
Bonifant street, Silver Spring, sup
porting the groups stand in reject
ing a proposal by the Silver Spring
Hospital Committee for a $1,000, 600
bond issue to build hospital in the
area.
Busy Legislative Day.
Yesterday was one of the Legisla-
lures busy days:
An important segment of Gov
Lanes program of proposed legis.
lation was introduced in the Senate
in the form of a bill which woulc
create Maryland Department o1
Improvement headed by State
chief engineer.
The Senate also approved bill
calling for an amendment to the
Constitution which would limit any
Maryland Governor to two consecu-
tive terms.
The House received proposal tc
provide for sick benefits to workers
introduced by Delegate Robinson
Democrat, of Baltimore, it calls fol
a payroll tax on workers by de-
duction from pay envelopes at 9
rate of / per cent on income up to
$1,000 year. The money would
be placed in a fund from which
benefits ranging from $6.75 to $1e
weekly would be paid.
Engineers Duties Listed.
Among the duties the State chief
engineer would have If Gov. Lanes
bill were enacted into law are these:
Select architects and engineers to
prepare plans for public improve
ments, represent the Board of Public
Works at the opening of bids, assist
and advise the board and other de-
partments on plans, surveys and
specifications for public improve
ments; inspect materials and equip
ment.
The general opinion was that the
post, if created, would 60 to Secre-
tary of State John B. Funk. II
would pay $1,000 annually.
Organized labor turned out in
force to oppose, and representatives
of management were on hand to
defend at Senate Finance Com
mittee hearing, projected amend
ments to the State Unemployment
Compensation Act designed to
tighten administration of jobless
benefits.
Amendment Criticized.
Representatives of the AFL, CIO
two railroad brotherhoods and the
National Lawyers Guild criticized
particularly a proposed amendment
which would require a person to
show he was actively seeking work
before he would become eligible for
unemployment compensation.
Under the present statute he must
simply be available for work"
william S. Wilson,. jr, legislative
representative of the Baltimore
Association of Commerce, said that
''for the life of me I can't under