Evening star., 1950-06-23
Census Raises
Delegate Issue
In Maryland
St. MoYs to Gain
z in House; Brood
ReshuffIine Seen

the controversy over
representation in the State House
of Delegates.
The lates: figures 10 be re-
leased-for st. MaryS and Calvert
counties - illustrate the uneven
growth Of the different counties
over the past decade.
The figures show that ST. Marys
has almost doubled its population
since 1910. appears to have Jumped
from goth TO 18th among the
counties, and stands to gain two
representatives in the House Of
Delegates.
The figures showed that today
st. Marys has 2S.953 residents. In
1910 she had 1926. The 97.9 per
cent growth is by far the largest
recorded among the II counties
that have reported their 1850 iS-
ures so far.
Montgomery Figures Delayed.
Meanwhile. release Of popula-
ton figures for Montgomery
County. expected today. were de-
layed as census officials struggled
to gather in the last stray bits Of
information.
According to District Supervisor
Langdon Backus. he still had a
few "holdouts" among Montgom-
cry farmers who. so far have not
been caught up with by the
enumerators gathering agricul-
tural statistics. Mr. Backus said
he hoped to have the preliminary
figure ready for release late today.
Figures on Calvert County were
released today and showed a
growth of only 20.9 per cent since
1910. The population today is a.
272, as against l0.484 a decade
ago. Calvert stands to gain no new
delegates.
Unfreezing Question Raised.
Maryland voters will decide in
whether the member
ship of the House Of Delegates
will be frozen at its present i23.
It will take constitutional
and then ratification
Of a new State Constitution to
change the present apportionment
Of seats.
Other Maryland counties show
ing significant growth since 1910
are Howard County, which has
jumped "a per cent; Charles Coun-
ty, 80 per cent and Cecil. %.
Development of big Naval Or
station at the mouth of the Patux-
ent River is responsible for much
the growth Of st. Marys County,
where Maryland's founding fathers
landed.
The facility was built there early
In the war and has continued as
a major station since the end Of
hostilities.
Navy Personnel Included.
st. Marys gets population credit
for the Navy personnel stationed
there. thousands Of civilian en-
ployes, their families and other
residents of housing developments
that sprang up from nothing.
One of these developments, Lex
ington Park. has an estimated
of 600.
In goth place among Maryland's
% counties in 1910. st, Marys was
between Howard and Queen
Annes. On the basis of prelim-
mary census figures. she Jumps
around Caroline, Talbot, Somerset,
Garrett, Howard. Worcester,
Charles and Dorchester. Dor
chester has 27,780 residents, and
in No. IL spot is Cecil with 33,320.
Several Maryland counties stand
20 get an added representative in
The House OF Delegates as the re-
suit cf the census. but so far st.
Marys is the only one entitled to
,wo.
The Maryland constitution pro-
1ides for two Representatives from
with less than $4,000
population, three for counties up
10 $4,000, four for up to 10000.
Ave up to $4,000 and six for those
with over $4,000.
On the basis Of preliminary fig-
Tres thus far from the Is coun-
lies. Caroline will be entitled to a
third delegate. Carroll to a Nth,
Cecil to a fourth, Charles to a
third and Howard TO a third. St,
Marys will get a third and a
fourth.
Dorchester to Lose.
Dorchester County stands to
lose one of its four by dropping
from 2S,006 to 27, ,78o.
There has been a move on for
several years to reshuffie these
population brackets.
Baltimore City and the more
populous counties such as BaIti-
more. Allegany. Prince Georges,
Washington. Anne
and Frederick, complain
The lesser ones get more voice in
he State Government under the
Did formula than they are entitled
% by reason Of their population.
A reappointment bill, backed
~ Gov. Lane. was introduced at
he 1949 session Of the general
but died before it got
'ery far.
The bill to freeze" membership
vas then introduced as a stopgap
bending further study of the
whole problem.
1t passed easily and now goes
'efore the voters for a Anal de-
,ision.