Evening star., 1947-01-15
By }. B. Zotmon
cxfS

LIE CIldlT1lldIl WCulO IcCcltC dIl az"
ditional $400 a year. The positions
of clerk and attorney to the board
would be eliminated, board men,
bers would be appointed to alter
nate terms of 2, 4 and 6 years each
In addition the wholesale dis.
tribution of beer, now handled by
the county liquor board, would be
returned to private ownership. The
delegation is awaiting figures or
the amount of revenue received by
the county under the present sys-
tenn before determining whether. tc
permit this provision to remain ir
the bill.
Meanwhile favorable report by
the delegation on a bill by Julian
P. King, providing for issuance o1
bonds to build a fire house to serve
the Barnesville Poolesville area
was approved by the House yes
terday and the bill was ordered
printed for third reading.
Under the bill the county COM
missioners would be authorized tc
levy a tax of not more than 1(
cents per 500 on residents of the
area to maintain the fire house.
In the Senate the Judiciary Com
mittee heard opposing arguments
yesterday on two measures revising
Maryland's adoption and child care
laws.
Montgomery Group Heard.
While indorsing parts of the adop-
ton bill a Montgomery County del
egation, headed by Juvenile Court
Judge Alfred D. Noyes, insisted that
a provision permitting a circuit
court judges to issue an interlocu-
tory decree in an adoption case
be made mandatory.
Declaring that such action would
give uniformity to adoption pro-
cedures throughout the State, Judge
Noyes asserted: Mandatory issu-
ance of an interlocutory decree
would give the court an opportunity
to have qualified social workers in
vestigate the desirability of the
adoption, including the conditions
of the home in which the child
would be placed"
He was supported by Mrs. Alice
Hostetler, representing the Mary
land Federation of Womens Clubs;
Mrs. Adele Thompson of the same
organization, Miss Margaret Nc.
Gregor, assistant director of the
Montgomery County Community
Chest and Council, and Mrs
Thomas Bartrum of the Maryland
League of Women Voters.
DR.. Harold Morris, chairman oi
the Welfare Committee, Montgom.
cry County Civic Federation, also
attended the hearing.
Former Judge Eugene O'Dunne
chairman of the commission which
drafted the bills, argued that if the
issuance of an interlocutory decree
was made mandatory, 'It would re.
fleet on the intelligence of the
judges"
From Richard B. Barker, Mont.
eomery County attorney and 6
member of the commission, came
assurances that If the bill does not
work, 1--WE will seek to amend it."
Attorney Opposes Bill.
The bill also was indorsed by
Representatives of Baltimore so.
cial and welfare groups and by the
Maryland Congress of Parents ane
Teachers.
Only opponent Of the bill wa.
Lawrence w. Hecht, Havre de Grac'
attorney.
People who want to adopt babie!
don't want social agencies meddline
in their business" Mr.. Hecht said.
No opposition was voiced agains
the second bill, which would require
all institutions caring for one ol
more minors, and individuals reg.
ularly engaged in the business 0,
providing foster homes for minors
to obtain licenses from the Stats
Department of Public Welfare.
The controversy carried on inter
mittently by Maryland and Virgins
since Colonial days over oysterini
in the Potomac River was due fol
an airing today at a joint meeting
of the Legislatures Cheasapeak'
Bay and Tributaries Committees.
Would Re-Enact Oyster Law.
Under a bill sponsored by th'
Legislative Council, the Potomac
River oyster laws would be re,
enacted to provide that all person
arrested on the river by Maryland
conservation officers may be triet
in this State.
Under a compact drawn up be-
tween Maryland and Virginia il
1785, Maryland was given jurisdic
ton over the river. In 1884 it wa
provided that Virginians ARRESTED
for breaches Of the Potomac con
servation code would be tried b,
Virginia courts and that Maryland
ers would be tried in Maryland
courts.
Maryland officials have elaine,
that when Maryland arrests a Vir
ginian and turns him over to hi
own State for trial he is usual,
turned loose without prosecution.
Hooper Steele Miles is starting hi
fourth consecutive term as Stat
treasurer today.
Senator Daniel Ellison, Repub
lican, of Baltimore announced yes
terday he expected to introduce
State rent control measure tomor
l row. \.