Evening star., 1947-01-16
Prince Georges
Voting Machine
biIIbeforeHouse
Measure Raising Limit
OF Seat Pleasant Debt
Reported FovorobIy
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor StuH Correspondent


stor staff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Md, Jan. 16.-Prince
Georges County would have voting
machines under bill now before the
county's representatives In the
House Of Delegates.
The measure was introduced yes
terday by Delegate William H. Nc
Grath and referred to the county
delegation.
Mr.. McGrath said installation Of
voting machines would speed up the
counting of votes, result in more ac-
curate totals and bring the county's
election system "up to date"
Declaring the present system Is
"relic of the horse and buggy days"
Mr.. McGrath said survey is under
way to determine the cost of chang
ing to machines.
Voting machines now are used
only in Montgomery County and
Baltimore City.
House Adopts Three Reports.
Favorable reports by the delega-
ton on three other bills introduced
last week were adopted by the
House, and the measures were or
dered printed for third reading.
One would increase the borrow
ing power Of the Seat Pleasant
Mayor and Council from $4,000 to
$100O0 Another would eliminate
provision in the Seat Pleasant
charter requiring registration OF
voters every five years for municipal
elections.
The third bill would increase the
University Park tax from rs cents
to a maximum of so cents per 500
and would authorize town officials
to borrow up to 5000 for municipal
improvements.
Two bills introduced by the all
Republican delegation in the House
would double the present 2-cent
Silver Spring library tax and would
increase the Chevy Chase View tax
from 10 cents to a maximum Of "a
cents per 500.
Salary Raises Provided.
A bill put forward by the Ammo
Arundel County delegations would
increase the salaries of the county
sanitary commissioners from $500
to $1,000 year each, with the
chairman receiving $500.
It also would increase the number
of zoning classifications from 4
to IA, principally in agricultural
land, and would give the commits
sion complete Jurisdiction over the
hiring and firing of its employees.
The House adopted favorable re-
ports by the Judiciary COMMITTEES
on four motor vehicle bills.
One providing that motorists in
volved in accidents in which there
is personal injury or property dam
age exceeding $50 must file a report
to the State Department of Motor
Vehicles within 48 hours.
Another would make streetcar op-
orators liable to the same penalties
for drunken driving as motor ve-
hicle operators.
Storm Offers Measure.
In the Senate, Edward D. Storm,
Democrat, of Frederick County, in
troduced bill revising the work
mems compensation law to permit
employees to include in their aver
age weekly wages sums paid under
veterans benefit laws.
Senator Storm also submitted a
bill revising the pay system for en-
ployes in the Office of the Frederick
County Treasurer.
Before adjourning, the House and
Senate reelected Hooper S. Miles,
State Treasurer for a fourth term.
He was nominated in the House by
Leroy Pumphrey, Prince Georges
County, Democratic majority floor
leader.
Earlier, Edwin Warfield, jr, chair
man of the Maryland Board of Nat
ural Resources, told a. join session
of the Senate and House Committees
on Chesapeake Bay and Tributaries
that there was total lack of co-op-
Grafton by Virginia authorities in
the enforcement of Potomac River
oyster laws.
He urged the adoption of Legis-
lative Council bill permitting Mary
land to prosecute residents of either
State arrested for oyster law VIOLA
tions.
At present, Virginia residents ar
rested by Maryland authorities and
charged with oyster law violations
are returned to Virginia for prose-
cution. Marylanders arrested in
Virginia on similar charges are re-
turned to this State.