Evening star., 1949-01-05
Assembly Opens
New Maryland
Session Tonight
Action May Be Taken
On 1000 Measures
Before Adjournment
BY J. B. Zotmon
Str, S+zff

Stor Stoff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS. Jan. 5.-Members of
the 1949 General Assembly con-
verged on the State Capitol today
to begin a three month session in
which perhaps 1000 bills, including
many controversial measures, will
be considered.
Getting off to flying start, after
Democratic and Republican caucuses
that were to be held this afternoon,
the legislators have requested Gov.
Lane to postpone delivery OF his
opening message from tonight until
pm. tomorrow.
More than 100 bills, approved by
the Legislative Council-interim
group of the Assembly-will be
dumped into the hopper when as
semblymen formally convene at s
o'clock tonight.
Important Legislation Due.
In the weeks that follow, num-
Der of pieces of legislation highly
important to Montgomery, Prince
Georges and other Southern Mary
land areas, will be introduced.
Among these are measures to revise
laws for Montgomery County which
recently became the first Maryland
county to embark on home rule
charter form of government under
which many Of the legislative func-
tions. heretofore performed by the
General Assembly alone, will be car
Sied out by the County Council.
Among State wide controversial
issues expected to be argued before
the Legislature adjourns in April
are proposals to buy Baltimore's
tallest Skyscraper, the O'Sullivan
Building, for State Office building;
reapportionment of General Assem-
bly, membership. whereby such larger
counties as Montgomery and Prince
Georges would gain more represen-
tation, and the old subject of the
Tidewater Fisheries Commission re-
organization.
No one knows just what the total
figures will be for Gov. Lanes bud
get, but best guesses are that it will
be record Sl3O,O0O,000 for the next
year. The budget for the last two
years was only 1928 100000 Depart
ments have asked for sl50,000,000.
Leadership Contest Seen.
Last November. voters approved
O referendum calling for annual
sessions of the assembly. Those in
even-numbered years will last for
only 80 days, however.
Intra-party differences were to be
settled this afternoon at the Dem
ocratic and Republican caucuses.
Prince Georges County is repre-
sented in the leadership of both
legislative branches but a contest
is expected for the Democratic
leadership of the House of Dele
gates only.
Delegate Leroy Humphrey, Demo-
crat. of Prince Georges, now is
House majority leader by virtue of
his Craftsmanship of the Ways and
Means Committee. But Delegate
Luber of Baltimore, who held the
job in 1945, has said he is candi-
date and Delegates Jerome Robin
son, also of Baltimore, and A.
Gordon Boone of Baltimore County
also have been mentioned.
Sothoron Unopposed.
State Senator L. Harold Sothoron,
Democrat, of Prince Georges is prac-
tically unopposed to retain the lead
ership in the upper branch. SIM
ilarly, Senate President Joseph
Brynes and House Speaker j. Ferdi-
nand Sybert are expected to be ap-
proved with little opposition at the
Democratic caucus.
The 152 Assemblymen were greeted
by refurbished State House when
they returned here today. For the
first time, each Senator and each
county delegation will have its own
private Office. Senators Offices in
the Court of Appeals building, con-
meet with the Capitol by a new un-
derground tunnel while delegation
suites are located around the Capitol.
One of the first pieces of legisla-
tion planned by the Montgomery
County delegation is one providing
for School Board to be elected on
q non-partisan basis in that county.
Measure Backed by PTA.
The measure has the backing of
the County Council of Parent
Teacher Associations and would
eliminate the present method of
having Board of Education members
appointed by the Governor. The bill
would increase the present board
membership from six to seven and
would place the question before the
voters In a referendum in May, 1850.
IT it is approved, four members
would be elected in November, 1850,
for tour-year terms while the three
incumbent board members who had
been appointed most recently would
have their terms extended to No.
Vember, 1854. In that year, all seven
members would be elected.
Another proposed bill would trans
fer building and electrical inspection
and subdivision planning functions
from the Maryland-National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
to the new County Council.
similar measure was introduced
by the delegation at the 1947 session,
but was defeated, largely as a result
of opposition by the Democratic
Prince Georges County delegation.
Denies Any Custer Attempt.
Montgomery Delegate John r.
Reeves emphasized the bill is not in
tended to oust commission employees.
but is an attempt to carry out the
delegations pledge to return all
local functions to the county.
Mr.. Reeves said that the County
Council would have power to extend
coming controls in areas where they
were deemed necessary.
A third Montgomery bill would in
crease or abolish outright the provi-
sion in the county charter limiting
county Indebtedness to 7 per cent
Of the areas's assessable base.
Mr.. Reeves said the exact provi-
sionS of such a measure have not
been drafted pending conferences
with the County Council, whose
members are to be elected tomorrow
1o}y