Evening star., 1947-03-03

Legislators Hif
Plan 10 Enlarge
House
Too UnwieIdIy Now
They Soy; Nearby
Counties Opposed
By John ChondIer
Assoeioisd Press StoH Writer

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 3.-Sentlment
among a portion of State legislators
surveyed today indicated opposition
to Gov. Lanes recommendations for
changing the pportionment of Mary
land General Assembly representa-
tives.
Most of criticism was leveled at the
plan to. increase representation in
the Hoese Of Delegates-described
generally as "too unwieldly now"
There are 123 members of the House
and only 20 senators.
Gov. Lane released report Of a
special committee a week ago rec
ommending revisions which would
give Baltimore City an additional
legislative district. In addition,
counties with population in excess
of 1000 persons would have seven
members in the House. This CLASH
fication at present would affect only
Prince Georges, Montgomery and
Baltimore Counties.
Baltimore City, with 36 delegates
and senators, would get 6 addi-
tional delegates and another sena-
tor, making a State total of 30
senators and 1872 delegates.
Even Baltimore Members SkepticaI.
Although the bulk of the opposi-
tion comes from the counties-in-
cluding the three which would gain
q Delegate-even the Baltimore
City members are skeptical.
In creating an additional district,
they ask how the dividing lines of
the present six districts would be
altered-take part from each, or
slice the new district from one or
two of the existing political areas?
They are reluctant to let loose any
Of the territory they now represent.
Several House members from the
counties with delegations of six said
the groups were too large now, and
they could get along with half that
number.
The reallocation would require a
constitutional amendment to be
voted upon at the 1948 general elec-
ton. Any bill requiring constitu-
tiona1 change must get a. two-t thirds
majority of the Senate and House,
and that alone appears to be i'm
possible as far as the reallocation
plan is concerned.
Also, there is apprehension in
delegations from some of the smaller
counties. Although the bill has not
yet been introduced and the COM
mittee reported none of the coun-
ties would lose representation under
the plan, there is considerable skep-
ticism. among members from the
smaller counties.
Dorchester County Opposed.
Dorchester County's legislators for
example, are opposed to the plan.
In fact, Senator McAllister, Repub-
lican, Of Dorchester, said the entire
Eastern Shore was against the plan
and added, wed be making a big
mistake"
Chairman Brinsfield of the Dor
chester County delegation said the
program "contradicts itself"
Dorchester County had popu-
lation of 28,006 in the last census
and we now have four House men,
bers," he added. Although they
say we won't lose any, the plan says
that counties with populations from
$4,000 to 10000 persons will only have
three Delegates. Personally, I'm, for
cutting the whole House. If we
should by chance drop under $4,000
we'd have only two Delegates"
The committee report to Gov.
Lane recommended that counties
with less than Is 900 have two Dele
gates, those between $4,000 and 40,-
600, three; 10000 and $4,000, four;
$4,000 and 10000, five; $4,000 and
100000, six, and in excess of 100000,
seven.