Evening star., 1951-01-31
Action Awaited
On Constitution
Convention Bill
Committee Hears
Pros and Cons of
Maryland Proposal
By J. B. Zotmon
Sfor Stoff Correspondent

By J. B. Zotmon
stur staff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Md, Jan. 81
The House Judiciary Committee
is expected to act today on the
controversial bill calling for a
convention to revise Maryland's
84-year -old constitution.
/ While disclaiming any intention
to apply "steamroller" tactics,
Chairman Thomas Dempsey, DEM
ocrat, of Baltimore, said yesterday
he would press for quick de-
cision.
He made the statement after his
group sat with the Senate Judi
c1ary Committee to hear opposing
arguments on the measure. About
100 persons, most of whom repre-
sented Statewide and county or
CARNATIONS, attended the session.
Opponents Cite Vote.
Opponents, led by Samuel K.
Dennis, former chief judge of the
Supreme Bench of Baltimore, CEN
tered their fire on the 100000 to
$1,000 vote by which the voters
approved the convention proposal
in last November's general elec-
ton.
Judge Dennis contended the
constitution provides that a ma
Jority OF those voting in an elec-
ton must favor a constitutional
convention and pointed out the
total vote cast for Governor was
approximately 650,000.
"You can easily see," he told
the two committees, that the
number of ballots cast for a con-
stitutional convention was not q
majority of the total votes cast in
the election"
He held. therefore, that the
General Assembly has no author
ity to act on the bill. He added
a similar question confronted the
Legislature in 1881 and that it re-
fused to call convention.
Another speaker against the bill,
former Court of Appeals Judge F.
Neal Parke, insisted that any de-
flciencies in the present constitu.
tion could be corrected by amend
ments submitted to the voters.
Representation Issue Raised.
One Of the arguments advanced
in favor of a convention is the
contention that the larger coun-
ties. including Montgomery and
Prince Georges, and Baltimore
City do not have an adequate rep
resentation in the Legislature,
compared with their populations.
"Never have the counties denied
anything Baltimore has asked
for" Judge Parke asserted, nor
have I ever seen Baltimore inter-
fere with the desires of the
county"
Also opposing the bill were M.
Hampton Magruder of Upper
Marlboro, former Collector of In
ternal Revenue for Maryland and
Paul Higginbotham, Baltimore
attorney.
The fight for the bill was led
off by Delegate Anders r. Lof-
strand, jr.. Republican, of Mont
gomery County. Mr.. Lofstrand,
who is House minority leader, said
Gov. McKeldin recently reafirmed
his support of the measure and
pointed out it's approval was
pledged by both major parties.
Il feel there is a mandate of
the people to the legislature to
call a constitutional convention"
Mr.. Lofstrand said. Even in
many of the smaller counties,
which have expressed fear they
would lose representation in any
reapportionment, the voters
strongly favored a convention"
Urged for Municipalities.
Another strong supporter, Mayor
G. Lamar Kelly of Rockville, Pres
ident of the Maryland Municipal
League, said it "is essential that
the constitution be revised to give
municipalities home rule in the
interest of good government
Mrs. James V. Bennett, presi-
dent OF the Montgomery County
League of Women Voters, charged
her county is suffering from in
adequate representation"
1--WE have a population of about
10000 but only six delegates"
she said. THAT is about one
fourth the representation smaller
counties have"
From Henry H. Smelling, vice
president of the Montgomery
County Civic Federation, came the
statement that "a convention is
the only way to get a lot of sense
into the constitution"
Others speaking for the bill in
cluded Walter F. Mullingan, presi-
dent of the Prince Georges County
Civic Federation; Leslie M. Able,
repre- se n t ing the Montgomery
County Council of Parent Teacher
Associations; Stephen James and
Washington I. Cleveland, Mont
gomery County Charter Commit
tee; James Buchanan, West Mont
gomery Citizens Association; Mrs.
Dorothy Himstead, former mem
ber Of the Montgomery County
Council, and Mrs. Reuben Bog
danoff, of the Prince George
County League of Women Voters.
Alexandra Man Knocked
A7AA -