Evening star., 1947-02-19
Fight May Turn
To Senate Bill
On LindsayLaw
County Delegation
Considers Dropping
> Repeater in House
By J. B. Zotmon
ck~r S&rH farvnsrrndent

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 19.-The Mont.
gomery County delegation to the
General Assembly today was con-
sidering abandoning its fight in the
House for favorable action on the
controversial bill to. exempt the
county from provisions Of the Lind.
say Law.
Delegation Chairman Anders r
Loftstrand, jr., emphasized, how.
ever, his group is not giving up its
battle for approval of similal
measure introduced in the Senate
The Lindsay Act, passed two years
ago, prohibits nonpartisan elections
of a county council in any county
which has charter form Of gov
ernment.
The House bill is now before the
Judiciary Committee, which voted
9 to 6 last week against a motion
to submit favorable report.
Tax Message Expected.
AS the Legislature convened today
members expected to receive Gov
Lanes message on new taxes.
The message, expected to reflect
the Board of Revenue Estimates
recommendation for a 2 per cent
consumers sales tax and increased
income taxes, originally was Sched-
uled for delivery Monday night 1t
was postponed because of the Gov
ernor's illness.
Meanwhile, a bill prohibiting q
Maryland Governor from serving
more than two consecutive terms
was passed yesterday by the House
and sent to the Governor. The
measure would be submitted to the
voters in the 1948 general election
as proposed amendment to the
State Constitution.
Also receiving House approval
were bills authorizing the photo
stating of court records, setting
bonds for States attorneys at $4,000
and empowering the Department OF
Motor Vehicles to extend the period
during which registration cards and
license plates may be used. All
were sent to the Governor.
A bill permitting banks to close
on Saturdays was approved after a
spirited debate, and sent to the
Senate. Twelve counties are ex-
empted from its provisions. They
are Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles,
Dorchester, Kent, Queen Annes, st.
Marys, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico
and Worcester.
Daylight Bill Deferred.
Final action was deferred on an
other : House bill authorizing the
Governor to establish daylight saw
ing time throughout the State when
a motiop to recommit the measure
to the Judiciary Committee was ap-
proved. John N. Newcomer, Repub-
lican, of Washington County, who
made the motion, said he planned
to submit an amendment to exclude
his county. He added other counties
also would seek exemption.
In the Senate, bill aimed at curb
ing the throwing" of sports events
through acceptance of bribes was
approved and sent to the Governor
Under the act, any amateur or
professional athlete or other person
participating in or connected with
an athletic contest, who accepts a
bribe to alter the outcome, would be
guilty of a misdemeanor. On convic-
ton, a maximum fine of 5000 or
three years imprisonment, or both
could be imposed.
The Senate also passed and sent
to the House a repeater of the old
Jim Grow" law calling for segrega-
ton of Negroes and whites but
which is no longer enforced, except
on Chesapeake Bay ferryboats.
Backing Senate Bill.
In announcing they are consider
ing abandoning their fight for the
Lindsay Bill repeater in the House
members of the All-Republican
Montgomery County delegation said
they believed chances of House ap-
proval are not as strong as they are
in the Senate.
"We intend to throw all oul
strength behind the Senate bill, fol
the present at least" Mr.. Lofstranc
asserted. I'VE will seek no further
action on the House bill until we see
how the Senate acts"
The Senate measure is before
special committee headed by Sena-
tors Roy Tasco Davis, Montgomery
County. Other members are Sena-
tors L. Harold Sothoron, Prince
Georges County, and Edward D
Storm, Fredrick County, Democrats
Senator Davis is expected to ash
that the committee submit favor
able report on the bill early mex
week.
Supported by Residents.
Montgomery Delegate r. Duncan
Clark said his group has received
scores of letters and kilograms from
county residents, both Democrats
and Republicans, expressing ap.
proval of the bill. He added the
/ group does not intend to abandon
pledges made by them during last
years election campaign to carry
the fight to a finish
Meanwhile, Jonn T.. Clark, DeIno-
crat, of Hartford County, chairman
of the House Agriculture and Nat
ural Resources Committee, said the
group will submit a favorable re-
port tomorrow on a bill intended
to reduce pollution in Maryland
streams.
Under the original measure, g
nine-member commission would be
set up to coordinate the activities
of State agencies in enforcing anti
pollution laws. The commission
would have concurrent jurisdiction
over the various agencies.
Mr.. Clark revealed, however, that
about 20 amendments have been in
serted in the bill, one of which
would abolish the concurrent juris-
diction provision.
Another would reduce the num-
+ ber of commission members from
nine to seven and a third would
give the group all enforcement pow
ers on pollution matters, with the
exception of those dealing with pub
lie health. The latter would remain
1,,oder tho Cfofa uooIfh noNort