Evening star., 1949-01-27
Bandiere Sees
j. 5. in Greatest
Peril From Reds
Maryland Delegate
Stresses Need for
Stote Loyalty Law
By J. B. Zotmon
Sfor Stoff ceryss,onds,t

Farty mas placed this country In the
greatest danger of its history.
He made the charge yesterday Al
meeting of approximately a
House members to discuss provision.
OF the so-called Ober bill. Mr.
Bandiere is co-sponsor of the
measure, which fixes stiff penaltie!
for persons convicted of subversivt
activities or Of belonging to sub.
versive organizations. 1t also re.
quires loyalty checks Of all State
city and county employees.
Meanwhile. the 12-man committee
appointed by the General Assembly
Tuesday to aid Gov. Lane in making
recommendations for improving
conditions in mental hospitals, helo
Its first meeting and elected Senator
p. G. Stromberg, Democrat. ol
Howard County, as chairman.
Delegates Clarence E. Tyler
Democrat, of Anne Arundel County
and Jerome Robinson. Democrat, Of
Baltimore, were elected vice chair.
man and temporary secretary, re-
spectively.
Meet With Governors.
After their meeting. committee
members conferred briefly with the
Governor and assured him Of their
cooperation. They said he told
them a report on personnel, food
f, and living conditions at the insti-
. tutions Is expected to be received
February II. The group will meet
again today.
Among bills introduced at yester-
days session was one by Senator
Edward D. Storm. Democrat, OF
Frederick County. providing home
rule for towns and cities N Fred
erick and Garrett Counties.
Another measure. introduced in
the House by Delegae Horace P
Whitworth, jr., Republican, of Al.
legany County, would require thA
University of Maryland to submit q
detailed annual budget to the State
Department OF Budget and Procure.
ment.
The bill pointed out recent uni.
wrsity budgets have failed to: give
detailed information and have
given no information at all with
respect to large funds received from
the Federal Government and other
sources"
Meeting Is Closed.
The session on the antisubversive
bill was called by Mr Bandiere
Mrs. Leona M. Rush. Republican
of Montgomery County and T. Ray
mond Burch, Democrat, of Prince
Georges County. All were members
of the Ober Commission appointed
by the Governor to investigate sub
versive activities. -.
Just before the meeting began,
Mrs. Rush asked representatives OF
the Communist Party of Maryland,
the United Electrical Workers and
the Progressive Citizens of America
to leave.
This is a closed meeting" she
said. You will have an opportu-
nifty to speak later when open hear
ings start"
Mr.. Bandiere, who acted as chair
man. told the group:
Many thoughtful men who are
IN a position to know are saying
the country is in greater danger
now than it was in 1860, 1917 or at
the time Of Pearl Harbor. The
commission feels that way, too.
I'VE have received information
from confidential sources that We
are in clear and present danger
from Communism. I wish I could
give you details, but we are sworn
to secrecy"
Asked About Safeguards.
He said 81 States now have laws
similar to that now before the
Legislature.
Minority leader Ramsburg OF
Frederick County wanted to know
what precautions the commission
had taken in framing the bill ito
insure the perpetuation of the free
doms enjoyed by Marylanders."
In reply, Mrs. Rush pointed out
that all criminal prosecutions un-
der the bill would have to follow
traditional processes of law.
When Delegate William F. Stro-
meyer, Democrat, of Anne Arundel
County expressed fear the law may
drive the Communists underground
where we can't watch them," Mr.
Bandiere rejoined:
Those above ground are just the
fronts, the stooges. We are after
those who don't show themselves
and this bill is designed to smoke
them out.
The danger comes from the
suckers we don't know-the persons
who are outwardly substantial cit
izens but who. in their black hearts
are subversives."
From Delegate Robinson came
the question, why don't we make
the preamble of the bill include
Fascists and other subversives in
addition to Communists"
Alcohol Bill Passed by Senate.
"The clear and present danger
today is from communism" Mrs
Rush replied.
llC 0ClldVC yCSCCA Ody PdScCO oAlO
sent to the House a bill setting up
nine-member commission and
appropriating 100000 annually tc
study alcoholism.
Final action on bill to keep taz
on personal incomes at 2 per cent
already passed by the House, was
deferred until today.
Senate Majority Leader Sothoror
Of Prince Georges County said ht
wanted to submit an amendment
to repeal the provision requiring
nonresidents to pay taxes on in.
come earned in Maryland. He esti.
mated about 1000 persons living ir
the District and working in nearby
Maryland would benefit.
The tax rate Is scheduled to rise
to 21a per cent this year on 1915
incomes.
Another bill receiving Senate ap-
proval and sent to the Governor
would exempt DR.. Horace E. Flack
director of the Department of Leg.
islative Reference, from the law re-
curing retirement of State employees
at the age of 10.
The House received bills to exempt