Evening star., 1949-01-25
Mental Hospital
Probe Debate
Set etTonorrow
Maryland Senate
Defers Action Until
Budget Is Received
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Sfoff corrsspcndent

OuuSSt IS NSCSaVSO
By J. B. Zotmon
star Staff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 25.-The Mary.
land Senate has agreed to debat,
tomorrow the question of appointing
a committee to investigate State
mental hospitals.
The agreement was reached last
night after a motion was presented
for immediate passage of resolution
to appoint a f1ve-man investigating
committee. The matter subsequently,
was deferred until 2:30 pm. to.
morrow
The principal interest in Gov
Lanes budget message, scheduled
for 8 o'clock tonight, is expected te
focus on recommendations for i'm.
proving conditions in mental insti.
tutions. The message will chart the
States financial policies for the com.
ing fiscal year.
Frequent Debates.
Frequent debates have occurred II
the Senate over conditions in menta
hospitals since the Legislature con.
vened January S.
Last night, attempts by the Re.
publican minority to launch an in.
vestigation were climaxed wher
Senator Daniel Ellison, Republican
of Baltimore, moved for immediate
passage Of his resolution to appoint
a five-man investigating committee
The committee, according to the
resolution, would determine whether
there are sufficient beds, food
blankets and attendants at the in.
stitutions, and recommended appro.
pirate action.
Describing conditions in the
States mental hospitals as "dis-
tressing and shocking" Senator
Ellison said it had been reported
that even soap is being rationed tc
inmates.
Must Get Facts.
Nothing in my recent memory
he declared, "has aroused so much
passion and resentment among the
people as conditions in these insti.
tutions. 1t is imperative for us tc
find out the facts independent Of
the Governor.
If we are to rely only on the
Governor, we would be a rubber
stamp. And, If the Governors recon-.
mendations are approved, they prob.
ably would not take effect until the
beginning of the fiscal year, July !
Something should be done now"
Senate Majority Leader Sothoron
objected, however, to the motion or
the ground more careful" con.
sideration should be given the
resolution.
After Senator Harry T. Phoebus
Republican. of Somerset County
suggested that action be deferred
Senator Ellison withdrew his motion
and the Senate agreed to take uI
the resolution tomorrow.
Alcohol Study Bill Delayed.
Also postponed until tomorrow was
the final action on a legislative
council bill proposing establishment
of a nine-member commission along
with a 500, 900 annual appropriation
to study alcoholism.
In urging its adoption, Senator
Roy Tasco Davis, Republican, OF
Montgomery County said:
I'VE want to take care of those
people who are sick from drinking
to excess just as we take care OF
those i'll from tuberculosis.
1--WE should help pick up some OF
these people who fall in front OF
the bar and save them for their
families and their communities.
The vote was blocked by Senator
Wilmer c. Carter, Democrat, OF
Baltimore, who questioned the ade-
quacy of the proposed appropriation
His motion to defer action was ap-
proved.
Among bills passed by the Senate
and sent to the House was the
perennial repeater Of the Jim Grow
law requiring segregation of colored
passengers on bay ferries.
Ask Public Hearing,
Meanwhile, the Progressive Party
of Maryland, describing the anti
subversive bill introduced in the
General Assembly last week as
"straitjacket of political ortho-
doxy," requested O public hearing
on the measure.
The party also asked permission
to participate in a meeting of dele
CATION chairmen scheduled after
today's session to discuss provi-
sions of the bill. The request was
rejected by Delegate Charles M
Bandiere, Democrat, of Baltimore
one of the sponsors of the measure
who arranged today's meeting.
Fourteen bills were introduced ir
a short, routine House session
Among them were measures to:
Require that most Maryland in.
dustries pay their wage employees
weekly. The law now requires them
to issue pay envelopes at least twice
a month. Delegate Beckwith, Dem
ocrat, of Baltimore County, the
sponsor, said that sometimes 1s
days elapse between pay days. 1t
makes it difficult for a wage Garner
to budget his income"
Penalize gasoline dealers who
cheap gasoline for stand
ard products by making them liable
to a suspension of business for a
year and a fine of up to 500. 1t
was introduced by Speaker Sybert
at the request Of gasoline dealers.
Man Held in Theft
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