Evening star., 1951-02-02
New Committee
GetsConstitution
Convention Bill
Ways and Means
Chairman Hopes for
Report Next Week
By J. B. Zotmon
Sior Sfoff Correspondent


ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 2-The
touchy constitutional convention
bill, which has received one COM
mittee's approval, was back in an
other committee today, as a
result of an unexpected setback
in the House of Delegates.
The setback came yesterday,
when the House sent the contro-
versial measure to the Ways and
Means Committee, where it's op-
ponents hope to kill it. The bill
had been reported out
favorably by the Judiciary Com
mittee.
The House also received bills
to require motor vehicles to un-
dergo semiannual inspections in
private garages and to exempt
fuels used for cooking or heat
ing from Maryland's 2 per cent
sales tax. Sponsors of the motor
vehicle inspection bill included
Delegate Anders R. Lofstrand, jr.,
Republican, of Montgomery
County.
81 for Each Inspection.
Under the bill, motorists would
pay 81 for each inspection, to be
made between May / and July
81 and between November l and
January 81. The inspection sta
tions would be designated by the
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
The favorable committee report
on the constitutional convention
bill was placed before the House
by Chairman Thomas Dempsey,
Democrat, of Baltimore. Mr..
Dempsey's committee acted
Wednesday, but he held the re-
port over until yesterday because
of the absence of many of it's
supporters in the House.
AS soor as the report was read,
Delegate John F. McNulty, Demo-
crat, of Anne Arundel County, a
strong opponent of the bill,
jumped to his feet and moved
to refer it to the Ways and Means
Committee.
'This bill might cost the tax
payers over 81 million" he de-
clared. 1--WE should know the exact
cost Of holding a convention and
fiscal matters always are consid-
cred by the Ways and Means
Committee.
Boone Seeks to Reject 1t.
But Ways and Means Commits
tee Chairman A. Gordon Boone,
Democrat of Baltimore County
insisted the measure had no
place before my committee"
This legislature" he told the
Delegates. "has a moral obliga-
ton to pass this bill because Of
the voters Endorsement"
The proposal to call a conven-
ton to rewrite the States 81
year-old constitution was ap-
proved by 100000 to $1,000 vote
last November.
Also opposing Mr.. McNulty's
motion was Delegate j. Douglas
Bradshaw, Republican, of Mont
gomery County.
"The people have Spoken over
Whelmingly in favor of a conven.
tlon," he said. Maryland is re-
noWned throughout the United
States for its devotion to the prin-
clples of democracy, and one of
these fundamental principles is
that we be governed by the vote
OF the majority of the people"
Mr.. McNulty's motion was an
proved, Sc to 81. A "verification
roll CALI merely widened the win
ming margin. The final tally was
SO to 81.
MIR. Boone said later he would
try to bring the bill back on the
floor early next week.
Solid Eastern Shore Vote.
A study of the two votes showed
that Delegates from the Eastern
Shore lined up solidly behind Mr..
McNulty's motion and gained
from Republican ranks to
put it over.
Delegates from the Eastern
Shore and other smaller counties
nave expressed fear that chang
ing the reapportionment provi-
slons in the Constitution would
cause their counties to lose repre-
sentation in the General Assembly.
Other bills introduced in the
House included three by the Prince
Georges County delegation. They
would:
Increase the Brentwood Mayors
salary from $40 to $40 a meeting
and the Councilmen's pay, from
So to $40 meeting. up to a maxi
mum of two meetings a month.
The measure is subject to a
referendum.
Increase the salary of the sec
retary to the Circuit Court judges
in the Upper Marlboro courthouse
from $2,500 to $500 a year.
Authorize Hyattsville officials
to build storm drainage facilities
and improve alleys.
Prince Georges Delegate Albert
R. Hassall. Republican, sponsored
a bill requiring the name of the
previous property-owner to be
placed in all deeds when they are
filed.
Montgomery Delegate Julian H,
King, Republican, introduced a.
bill to make it a misdemeanor to
a check for which there
are no funds.