Evening star., 1950-11-03
Maryland Ba||o'
Includes Seven
Questions
Ober Referendum
Tops Issues to Be
Decided Tuesday
BY stoff Correspondent of The stor

oE10 ANAoLpI, NOE. O.-VOlGTS
throughout Maryland will pass on
at least seven issues-aside from
tbe selection of candidates-when
they 60 to the polls Tuesday.
Foremost among these is the
referendum on the Ober law
against subversives - specifically
directed against Communists.
Then there is the question
whether membership in the Houe
of Delegates shall be frozen at it's
present number. If adopted, popu-
lous counties such as Montgomery
and Prince Georges would retain
their numerical superiority in rep
rescentation in the lower branch of
the General Assembly.
A third question of major 1m-
portance, is whether a convention
shall be called to revise the State
constitution, a document which
has been amended a number of
times but which has not been gone
over as whole since 1867.
Charter Amendment Included.
There are four other questions
which all of the voters of Mary
land will be asked to decide as well
as additional questions which have
been added to ballots in various
political subdivisions.
For instance, Montgomery
County voters will determine
whether they should amend that
county's charter. The question in
wolves a proposed reduction in the
number of signatures necessary
to call referendums on laws passed
by the County Council. The num-
ber of signatures required would
be reduced from 10 to per cent
of the qualified voters.
In Baltimore, eight additional
questions are included on the
ballot, already made complicated
by the large number of candi-
dates who have filed for various
Offices.
Baltimoreans will decide six
questions involving city loans plus
the legalization of raffles and an
anti-research amendment to the
city charter. dealing with medical
research on dogs.
Three Major Reforms.
The Ober law was passed dur
ing the 1949 session of the Cen
eral Assembly. 1t provides for
heavy fines and Imprisonment for
persons convicted of subversive
activities.
o. Bowie Duckett, assistant at
torney general. has been the en-
forcement officer of the measure
which Judge Joseph Sherbow of
Baltimore held invalid last year
until the Court of Appeals re-
versed him.
The proposed constitutional con-
vention would be expected to &C
complish at least three major
reforms-more home rule by po-
litical subdivision - reapportion-
ment of representation in the Gen
eral Assembly based on population
changes. and abolition of the Or
phan's courts.
Both political parties are on rec
ord as supporting a constitutional
convention. So is the Maryland
League of Women Voters. In 1890,
majority voting in a referendum
approved a convention but they
still were less than half the quail
fed voters and the question was
lost.
Other Proposed Changes.
The question involving House
of Delegates membership would
freeze the number at its present
total. At present, the constitution
requires a reapportionment based
on the latest official census. A
number of the smaller counties
would gain vote. But Baltimore
and the larger counties like Mont
gomery and Prince Georges now
are limited to six delegates each.
OF the four other proposed
amendments to the constitution
one, referred to as the evidence
amendment, would permit judges
to direct verdict if the evidence
was insufficient under the law. At
present, a Maryland jury is the
sole judge of the law as we'll as
the evidence. The change would
give the Court of Appeals more
latitude in reversing a conviction
by jury.
Could Reconsider Vetoes.
Another, known as the "veto
amendment" would require the
General Assembly to consider all
legislation vetoed by the Governor
at the previous session. Thus, the
legislators would have a chance of
overriding the veto.
A mon support amendment"
would empower the courts to jail
man for contempt if he refused
to obey a court order to support
his wife or other dependents.
A signature amendment" re-
lates to the signing of bonds by
the State treasurer and the con-
troller. 1t is technical change
designed to liberalize the law SC
authorized bonds can be issued ir
the event of the deaths of these
officials.