Evening star., 1949-03-09
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent

VA 14oSS oS4OOO VIC dOOACllU 311tC1
between Benedict in Charles Coun-
ty and Hallowing Point in Calvert
County.
Larger Panels Set Up. FL.
He also put his signature on d
bill setting up panels of 90 persons
from which jurors may be drawn
for duty in Prince Georges County
Circuit Court. The present max
imum is Y.
The vote on the planning COM
mission pills, which would transfer
building and electrical inspections
and subdivision planning to the
city council, was along party lines.
Only one Democrat. Thomas F.
Dempsey of Baltimore. deserted
the ranks of the majority to side
with the Republicans.
After the vote, Mrs. Leona M.
Rush, a member of the Mont
gomery delegation. said the group
would "try again in 1851 if we
are reelected"
Its like the charter fight" she
asserted. 1T was defeated in 1914
but approved four years later.
After all, does the House expect
us to resign and let E. Brooke Lee
occupy our six seats?"
Lee Is Present.
Mr.. Lee. vice chairman of the
commission and leader of the
County Democratic organization
was seated in the rear of the
chamber during the hour long de-
bate on the bills.
Debate On the measures was
confined to members of the Mont
gomery and Prince Georges dele
cations, with the former admit
ting they faced defeat.
Leading off for the Montgomery
delegation was John R. Reeves.
who said:
Il feel I am in the position Of
Cardinal Mindszenty. who knew
full well. before he was tried
what the outcome would be.
IF you vote against this legis-
lation because of pressure on you,
you are making a travesty of this
legislature, just as the verdict in
the Mindszenty trial was a ira
vesty on justice"
Montgomery Delegates r. Dun
can Clark and Dewitt S. Hyde
also spoke for the bills.
Pumphrey Opposes Bills.
Prince Georges Delegate Will
liam H. McGrath. Democrat,
claimed, however, that approval
of the bills would wreck regional
planning in the two counties and
result in chaos"
Other Prince Georges delegates
speaking against the bills were
Leroy Pumphrey. majority floor
leader; George G. McLeish and
Perry o. Wilkinson.
Backers of the University of
Maryland budget bill contended
they could not pass on the insti-
tutions budget intelligently un-
less full details were given.
Opponents countered that ia
vorable vote would show lack of
confidence in the university ad-
ministration.
DR.. H. c. Byrd, university presi-
dent. said there was no victory
for him in the bills defeat. He
told Delegate Bandiere, Democrat,
of Baltimore later that II wanted
to see it pass"
DR.. Byrd offered to help draw
up a substitute bill" one that
will pass"
Riverdale Fire Tax Raised.
In other legislative actions, the
House passed bills to increase the
maximum fire tax in Riverdale
from 5 to 10 cents per 500 and
to create a board of electrical ex-
aminers in Charles County.
The fire tax bill would be sub
mitted to the voters at their
town election May 2.
Meanwhile, a bill providing for
a city manager form of govern
ment for Takoma Park was sub
mitted in the House and referred
to the Montgomery and Prince
Georges delegations. 1t would be
subject to referendum Novem-
ber 8. If approved, the bill would
take effect January /.
Another bill, sponsored by dele
gates McGrath and Reeves, would
empower the Washington Subur-
ban Sanitary Commission to
assess the cost of storm water
drainage systems against those
benefited.
Bonus Debated.
Before going into their after
noon sessions, committees o1
both Senate and House heard vet
erans battle on a bonus and loar
fund modelled on the Federal G1
Bill of Rights.
Spokesman for several vetel ans
organizations supported the bonus
proposal which would be sub
mitted to the electorate at a 1850
referendum if it passed and was
signed by the Governor. Amer
lean Veterans Committee and
State Junior Association Of Com
merce representatives spoke
against 1t.
There was general support for a
$5,000,000 State fund to guaran-