Evening star., 1948-12-30
Bill 10 Provide
Strike Warninq
Up in Maryland
Assembly. Due to Meet
Next Week, Will Stud,
II Vehicle Measures
BY the Associoted Press


Under a bill approved by the Leg
islative Council. the Department of
Labor and Industry would get warm
ing of labor troubles in time to put
mediation machinery in motion be-
fore a strike could start. A similar
principle already is applied in Vir-
ginia.
The measure would require both
company and workers to report i'm
mediately' to the Labor Depart
ment "the existence of any contro-
versy OF dispute" which may re-
suit in a lockout or strike" 1t will
come before the General Assembly,
convening here next week.
The proposal is one of several
council-indorsed bills to alter Mary
land labor. unemployment compen-
sation and child labor laws.
In addition. 17-odd motor vehicle
bills were approved, including re-
quirements for semiannual auto in
spections and for a new right-turn
hand signal.
Rail Case Cited.
Joseph F. Didomenico, State COM
missioner of labor and industry,
says the labor or-disputes bill might
have averted asDecember strike on
the Baltimore s& Annapolis Rail-
road
The new bill would authorize the
labor commissioner to hold elections
to determine the proper collective
bargaining representative when
there is any doubt on this point.
A child labor bill would revamp
what Mr.. Didomencio calls anti
ouated" State laws by making them
conform with the Federal Fair La
Dor Standards Act and with State
school law, effective next year, which
will require attendance Of children
until they are Is.
Working Age Put at IA.
Among other points. the bill sets
the minimum working age at IA and
raises to 16 the minimum for work
during school hours, at night, in
factories and hazardous occupa-
ticns and sets minimum of l8 for
girls in many occupations. 1t also
sets a minimum of 81 for working in
bars. 1t provides that no boy under
II or girl under 18 may sell news
papers or ma gaines in public places.
The Legislative Council also has
recommended changes in the unem-
ployment compensation laws. Some
would result in higher benefits.
others would tighten requirements
for jobless pay
Legislative debate also is expected
over perennial proposal to make
State prisoners do more work.
Chairman Willis r. Jores of a COM
mission on prisons says there has
been pressure from private indus
tries and labor unions to limit prison
labor on State-use projects.
Twice-yearly inspections Of motor
vehicles at q State-owned stations
would be provided under another
bill 1t calls for a s1,200000 bond
issue, to be paid off b. 81 annual
inspection fees A similar bill died
in committee at the last regular
session.
Cars MAY Be Stopped.
Motor Vehicle Commissioner W.
Lee Elgin says that if Maryland
does not enact the inspection law.
II other States have resolved to
take restrictive action.
This might take the form of stop
ping Maryland cars in adjoining
States and requiring them to pass
inspection. The neiehbor States OF
Delaware. Pennsylvania, Virginia.
West Virginia and the District OF
Columbia all require annual or
semiannual inspections.
The Council also has approved
bill to make MARYLAND hand signals
conform to those of other States.
Marylanders now wave their hand
In circle to indicate right turn.
The plan is to change this to
Hand and arm extended upward,
hand held still several seconds"
Bad news for teen-agers is con-
tained in a pair of bills aimed at
motor scooters and motorized
bicycles. Your girl can't ride with
you unless the vehicle has safe"
extra seat, says one measure.
Minimum Age Provided.
A companion bill would restrict
motor scooter and motorized bicycle
licenses to operators at least is,
instead of IA years old.
Other Council-approved motor
vehicle legislation includes bills:
l. To authorize the Governor to
make reciprocal agreements where
by out-of-State licensed cars driven
In this State by Maryland residents
would not need Maryland tags.
Company cars registered in the Dis
trict of Columbia and driven home
at night by Maryland employees
now must have Maryland tags after
80 days.
2. To prohibit parking on public
highways without license tags or
with that have expired.
3. To make auto owners respon-
sible for notifying the Department
of Motor Vehicles of an accident
when the driver is injured and un-
able to make this report.
4. To make dealers include the
value of trade-in cars when de-
termining the fair average value Of
their stock for tax assessment pur-
poses.
Other Measures.
s. To permit county treasurers,
who now issue motor vehicle tags,
to issue them for all privately owned
trucks. Several counties now are
authorized to register cars and lie ut
trucks for the Department of Motor
Vehicles.
6. To authorize reciprocal. agree
ments so that out-of-state police
could use special Maryland tags
without charge.
Z. To require the full refund of
the license fee for unused tags re-
turned within 80 days.
8. To authorize the Motor Vehicle
Department to refuse to issue
drivers licenses for the same reasons
1t now revokes or suspends licenses
Conviction of manslaughter, drunk
driving, hit-run, etc.
9. To provide four special tags
covering transportation of used