Evening star., 1949-01-11
Bills Prepared
For $2,5O0,0O0
patuxent Bridge
5 Maryland Senators
Act After Report
By Road Commission
By J. B. Zutmor
Stor Sfoff Corrsspondant

ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 11.-A group
of five Southern Maryland Sena-
tors today prepared legislation au-
thorizing the State Roads Commits
sion to build a $2,5OO,000 bridge
across the Patuxent River between
Charles and Calvert Counties.
Their action followed report by
the commission, submitted to the
General Assembly last night, out
lining the expenses involved. 1t was
referred to the Finance Committee.
The report was asked in a resolu-
ton sponsored by the five Senators
at the May, 1948, special session.
While failing to make any recon-
mendation, the commission said the
proposal would require a $2,42O,OOO
bond issue to be paid over 15-year
period.
S204,500 Needed Annually.
The commission emphasized the
project would not be self-liquidating
through the collection of toll
charges and would necessitate an
annual appropriation of $2o4,50O.
Total maintenance and operating
costs, along with debt service
charges, would amount to S257 900
a year, the report stated, while the
gross revenue from the tolls was
estimated at $52,500 annually.
This amount, the commission said
In its report, is no more than suffi-
cient to pay for the construction
and operation of the toll collection
facilities and the employment of
necessary personnel.
Senator Louis L. Goldstein, Demo-
crat, of Calvert County, Immediately
challenged the commissions figures,
describing them as inaccurate"
Bill to Be introduced.
He said he and his four Southern
Maryland colleagues would intro
duce a bill next week providing for
bridge across the PatuXent from
Benedict, Charles County, to Halo
way Point in Calvert County, to be
paid for out of the State Roads
Commissions general fund. There
will be no provision in the measure
for tolls. he added.
THE State owes this bridge to the
people of Maryland Senator Gold
stein told reporters. After all, the
Patuxent is the only large river in
Maryland without a bridge
THE State Roads Commission all
ready has wasted enough money
improving Route 40 from Baltimore
to Aberdeen to build such a bridge.
The commission could have built it
in 1889 at a cost of S750000. But
it was too short-sighted."
Inadequate Ferry Cited.
Declaring that the two countries
now are served by an inadequate
/ ferry, which is "out Of commission
most of the time" the Calvert
County Senator said the proposed
bridge would eliminate the present
traffic bottlenecks of beach traffic
and bring additional thousands Of
motorists to Southern Maryland.
He was supported by Senators
L. Harold Sothoron, Prince Georges
County; Wilbur R. Dulin, Anne
Arundel County, Democrats; Paul
Bailey, st. Marys County, and James
B. Monroe, Charles County, Re-
publicans. Senator Sothoron is
chairman of the finance Committee
and majority floor leader of the
Senate.
Only bills introduced in the Gen.
eral Assembly last night were identi-
cal measures in the House and
Senate calling for referendum in
1850 on a proposal to hold a con-
vention to alter the State Constitu-
tion or adopt a new one.
Mental Hospital Assailed.
A short discussion in the Senate
on the condition of mental institu-
tions in the State was touched off
by Senator Daniel Ellison, Republic
can, of Baltimore, who said the sit
uation was "deplorable.
In urging that action be taken to
correct what he described as the
terrible condition of our mental
institutions, Senator Ellison urged
appointment of joint committee
of both houses to determine how
much money is needed to put these
places into good shape
! Joining Senator Ellison was Sem
ator Henry H. Balch, Democrat, of
Talbot County. who attacked the
Legislative Council for failing to in
troduce "a single bill to remedy
these conditions"
THE responsibility rests on the
party in power" Senator Balch de-
clared, "and if it doesn't assume
that responsibility, it should be
lashed out of Office"
The administration was supported.
however, by Senators Goldstein and
Senate President Joseph R. Byrnes.
Both said Gov. Lane has been in
vestigating conditions in mental in
stitutions and assured the Senators
tbot HSorethipo will he donp"