Evening star., 1950-07-26
Special Session
Likely toPass
GI Voting Law
Maryland Act Moy
Apply in November,
But Not to Primary
BY the Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS. July 26.-An
absentee voting law for soldiers
may come out Of tomorrow's ses-
sion Of the Legislature-but it
likely will apply to the November
general election and not the
primary.
Gov. Lane called the special
session to change the primary
election date from September IL
to September 49, and to arrange
an additional day for registration
OF voters in Baltimore.
Sources close to the administra-
ton said they expected an absentee
voting law to get attention, too.
1t would be like the one which
applied to voters in the armed
services during World War II.
The law probably would not be
effective until November for two
reasons. One is that time is too
short before the primary. Tho
other is that comparatively few
Marylanders would likely be in
service by September.
May Prolong Session.
Other bills could prolong the
special session-intended only for
one day. Several legislators have
spoken Of bills they want to see
passed while every one is in An
napolis anyway.
The session is scheduled to start
at noon and Gov. Lane will send
a message.
Administration leaders believe
the meeting will not run too long.
The powerful Rules Committee, In
extra sessions, can usually bottle
up bills lacking favor with the
administration. But no one can
keep bills from being introduced.
nor can their sponsors be kept
from talking about them.
Opinion was that the session
would end sometime tomorrow
night. But anything can happen.
particularly since the purpose Of
the session is to make election
law changes and this is political
year.
Luber Plans Own Bill
Delegate John Luber, Democrat,
OF Baltimore, reported to be .
supporter Of Gov. Lanes oppo-
nent, George P. Mahoney. spoke
last week Of introducing an abb
sentee voter bill himself.
Delegate Horace whitworth.
Republican, Of A1legany County.
intends to back two bills to out
law the Communist Party In
Maryland.
One Of them calls merely for
a law to make the Communist
Party illegal and deny the right to
vote to its members.
The other would do the same
thing, but it would call for an
to the State consti-
tuition. Mr.. Whitworth said he
favored the second plan because.
If adopted, it would not be sub
Ject to attack in the courts.
Senator Robert Kimble, Repub-
lican. OF Allegany County, wants
to submit a constitutional amend
nent which would require that
Judges appointed to vacancies be
'equired to run for the offices at
The next election. They do not
have to do it now.
Draws Attack From Reds.
He drew fire from the Commu-
mist Party Of Maryland and the
District of Columbia. The spokes-
man said the party is under at
tack because Of the fight we are
against President Tru-
mans Illegal war against the
Korean people"
The Governor asked for the spe-
cial session because the date fixed
by law, September II, falls on the
eve OF Rosh Hashenah, the Jewish
new year. This meant, Gov. Lane
said, that many Jewish citizens
could not act as election officials
because they would have to start
their observance at sundown.
Therefore, he proposed to ask
that the General Assembly move
the date up to September Is,