Evening star., 1947-01-03
Gov. Lane Is Sworn In
Early as 0'Conor
Goes 10 Senate
By J. B. Zotmon
stor ssaff Correspondent

Stur Stoff SoucspondeM
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 3.-William
Preston Lane, jr., Sc, was sworn in
as Governor of Maryland at 1906
o'clock this afternoon to fill the
5-day unexpired term of Herbert
r. O'Conor who resigned to assume
his seat in the United States Senate.
In a simple ceremony in the
Senate chamber, crowded with
members of both Houses of the
General Assembly, Gov. Lane was
given the oath by Chief Judge Ogle
Marbury of the Maryland Court of
Appeals.
The ceremony was witnessed by
the new chief executives wife and
two daughters. Mr.. Lane, who was
elected Governor last November,
was named yesterday by the Legis-
lature to fill out the five days re-
manning. of Gov. O'Conor's term. His
formal Inauguration will be held
wednesday.
Voices His Thanks.
In a short talk following the cere-
mony, Gov. Lane expressed graft
tude for the honor bestowed on him.
Stating that he will discuss prob
lens by his administration later,
Gov. Lane expressed confidence that
I'VE can meet and solve these prob
lems with mutual understanding and
cooperation"
He emphasized his objective as
Governor will be to provide for the
people of Maryland an efficient,
honest and decent government in
the next four years"
+; Adjourns Until Tuesday.
After the ceremony the Assembly
adjourned until / pm. Tuesday.
Election of Mr.. Lane took place in
a 14-minute joint session OF the
Legislature after Gov. O'Conor sent
identical letters of resignation to
the President of the Senate and
Speaker of the House. In the let
ters. he said:
I beg to submit herewith my res
ignation as Governor of Maryland
the said resignation to be effective
as of noon on Friday, January g.
l947.
"In explanation of my action, I
might state that in the general
elections on November S, 1916, I was
elected to the United States Senate
The term of the Senator begins on
January 8 and I. therefore, am re-
|linquishing the governorship in Or
der that I might qualify for the
office to which I have been elected
Tn rendering my resignation, ]
desire to express sincere gratitude
to the members of the General As
sembly of Maryland as well as to
the public officials for their CO.
operation and to the people OF
Maryland for the honor they con-
ferred upon me in electing me to the
governorship OF this State"
In the joint session, L. Harold
Sothoron of Prince Georges County
Democratic majority leader of the
Senate, nominated Mr.. Lane.
The vote was unanimous. The Re-
publican minority did not offer any
candidate for the five-day term.
This is the second time a Mary.
land Governor has resigned. Tht
precedent was set in 1874 when Gov
William P. .Whyte resigned midwa,
| in his fotr-year term to take hi
seat in the United States Senate.
He submitted his, resignation OF
January 27 to take effect March 4
when Senators used to assume thei
seats. On February 4 the Legislator,
elected James B. Groome, a dele.
gate from Cecil County, to fill the
unexpired term.
Streamlining Study Group.
The first committee named yester-
day by House Speaker G. Ferdinand
Sypert of Howard County was five
member group to study streamlining
of the House committee system.
Chairman John Clark, Democra-
tic delegate from Hartford County
told committee members he hoped
the SO House committees could be
reduced to IS and proper division
of work made.
. In the Senate, Mr. Sothoron was
appointed chairman of the Finance
Committee and William P. Bolton
Democrat, of Baltimore County,
chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee. Il
The Judiciary Committee in
cludes Wilbur r. Dulin, Democrat,
of Anne Arundel County, and Roy
Tasco Davis, Republican. of Mont
gomery County.