Evening star., 1947-02-27
Maryland House
GetsBiII Lease
Bay Oyster Beds
Measure to Creute
Unit on Alcoholism
Passes Senate Group
By J. B. Zotmon
s..r s..8s c.r......a...


Democrat. of Howard County ant
. Leroy Pumphrey, Democrat, O
Prince Georges County, Hous,
majority leader.
The all-Republican Montgomer,
County delegation today was to sub
init a bill providing for appoint
ment of County Liquor Board mem
bers by the county commissioner
instead of by the Governor, as a
present.
Rent Control Bill Apparently Dead
Meanwhile, bill to establish /.
nine-member commission on alco
holism moved step closer to fina
passage in the Senate after a favor
able report by the Judiciary Com
mittee was adopted yesterday, q
to 8.
1t also was learned that legisla.
tion to set up rent control in Mary.
land in the event Federal regula.
tions are terminated apparently ha.
died in the Senate Judiciary Com.
mittee.
Senator William p. Bolton, Dem.
ocrat. of Baltimore County said thu
committee, Of which he Is chairman
has voted to kill the measure, spon.
sored by Senator Daniel Ellison
Republican, of the 4th Baltimore
district.
Nc Change Is Expected.
Senator Bolton said that before
the bill is reported unfavorably
Senator Ellison will be given ar
opportunity to submit amendments
he has prepared. The committee
chairman expressed doubt, however
that any proposed revisions would
change committee sentiment.
He explained he believed it was
the consensus of the membership
that the time has come to lift the
last wartime control. I feel per.
sonally that there is no longer any
need for rent control"
He said if controls were lifted
housing probably would be immedi.
ately available for many persons
now without homes and prices would
not be long In reaching reason.
able level.
Fight Due on Oyster Bill.
The oyster bill is believed almost
certain to precipitate a fight If II
ever gets to the House floor.
The Board of Natural Resources
and the Tidewater Fisheries Com.
mission have recommended leasing
the beds, with a provision that
small oystermen would receive refer
ence. The recommendation was
made on the ground it is the only
method to q increase the States
oyster yield.
Eastern, Shore legislators, almost
to man. oppose leasing. Wher
word of the new bill spread, many
forecast a last ditch battle.
The measure sets off the bay
areas Which would not be affected
and fixes certain seeding areas.
Senator Louis L. Goldstein, Dem.
ocrat, of Calvert County, said h
was "unalterably opposed" to leas.
ing in any form. He added that a
least 10 other Senators would "gt
along" in that position.
Liquor Bill One Of Series.
The Montgomery liquor bill 1.
one Of series to be introduced by
the delegation as part of its pro-
gram to return local matters tx
the county"
A similar measure now is before
the Senate Judiciary Committee a,
an amendment to bill to recodify
liquor laws in the counties.
Both bills would reduce the mem.
bership of the Liquor Board from
five to three, each of whom woule
receive $1,000 a. year. Board mem
bers would be named to alternat,
terms of two, four and six year.
and only two could belong to tn,
same political party.
Senator Davis Supports Bill.
Supporters of the bill to set up 8
Commission on Alcoholism included
Senator Roy Tasco Davis, Repub.
lican, Of Montgomery County.
Senator Davis previously hae
amended the measure to give tn.
Governor discretionary authority t.
include 100000 in the budget to ait
the commission in carrying on 1t.
work as originally drafted. Tn,
action would have been mandatory
Under the bill, the commission
would be empowered to arrange fol
and supervise clinics for alcoholic,
in Johns Hopkins and the University
OF Maryland Hospitals in Baltimore
third in Western Maryland anc
fourth on the Eastern Shore. Il
also could accept gifts.
Alcoholics are Called Sick.
In addition. the commission coult
appoint psychiatrists, social worker.
and therapists, recommendation.
would be made to the Governor ane
the General Assembly for any addi.
:tional legislation which the com.
mission thought might be needed.
Senator Davis argued that alco.
holics are "sick people and shoult
be treated just at though they were
suffering from tuberculosis or an,
other disease" He estimated ther,
are $4,000 chronic alcoholics in tn.
State, and "even If we have onl,
1000 and send them back to thei
homes and families the money viii
be well spent"
On the other hand, Senator Rober
B. Kimble, Republican. of Allegan.
County, contended that "if a mar
doesn't want to stop drinking, no on,
can make him STOP" He added tina
in view of the States financial con.
fdition, it would be 'unwise" to spen,
100000 for such a purpose at thi
time.
Among bills passed by the Hous'
yesterday was one authorizing tn,
Washington Suburban Sanitar,
Commission to issue q maximum O
100000 in bonds to complete tn,
Montgomery County incinerator
Another would permit turkey ant
skeet shoots on Sundays in Primo,
Georges County. Both were sent II
the Senate.
Mudd Nominated for Post
President Truman sent to tn,
Senate yesterday the nomination O