Evening star., 1951-03-09
Bill 10 Rewrite
Constitution of
Maryland Killed
Measure for 1854
Convention Offers
Slim Hope for Plan
By J. |. MichoeI
Star Stoff Correspondent


ANNAPOLIS, Mar. o. Mary
lands 84-year-old constitution
will not be rewritten soon-per-
haps not for another two decades.
The Senate so decided yester-
day when it killed a bill calling
for a constitutional convention
"a hours after it had been in
troduced.
Earlier in the session, the House
rejected a similar measure. One
hope "a slim one - remains for
advocates It is a bill sponsored
by Montgomery County delegates
calling for a convention in 1854
if the voters approve constitu-
tional amendment in 1852.
The State constitution now pro-
vides that the question may ap-
pear on ballots only at 20-year
intervals. Therefore, unless a
change is made, another vote will
not be tailed until 1870.
In laying the convention bill on
the table, the Senate. as did the
House, ignored a 4-to-1 favorable
response turned in by voters in
balloting last November. The Leg
islature, however, has the final
say.
7th District Bill Advanced.
The Senate, in another action,
moved to third reading a bill
to carve out of Baltimore, a new
and Seventh Congressional Dis
trict, while the house tentatively
approved proposal to amend the
constitution to permit any bill to
be acted on at even-year 30-day
sessions.
Last years short meeting of
the Assembly, the first in the his
tory of the State, was marked
by confusion because legislators
were allowed to pass only on bills
affecting the State budget. acute
emergencies or matters in the gen.
eral welfare. No one knows just
what measures fell within these
categories.
With work piling up and ad-
journment deadline approaching
both houses called their first night
sessions yesterday.
Senator Louis L. Goldstein,
Democrat, of Calvert County Of
fered the motion to table the
convention bill. His action was
labeled rude and unfair by
Minority Leader Kimble of AL
legany County.
Voted, 19 to 10.
Senator John G. Turnbull,
Democrat, of Baltimore County,
one of the sponsors of the meas
ure, said, however, that, while
he did not consider it fair to
cut off debate abruptly, he was
convinced hearings would not
change the mind of any Senator.
The tabling motion carried, 10
to 10. which means that the bill
cannot be revived at this session.
Earlier in the day the measure
had received an unfavorable re-
port from the Judicial Proceedings
Committee.
Approval of the redistricting
bill-a Democratic measure
came after Senator Francis K.
Dippel, Democrat, of Baltimore
offered an amendment he said
would have prevented election of
a Republican in the new district.
The amendment failed when only
four Senators, three of them Re-
publicans, voted with Senator
Dippel.
Maryland gets an additional
Representative because of an in
crease in population as revealed
by the last census A bill pending
in Congress, however, may force
redrafting of the boundaries of
all the States Congressional dis
tricts.
introduced by Celler.
The measure, sponsored by Rep
resentative Celler, Democrat, of
New York, would set up for
mula to ban deviations of more
than Is per cent in the popula-
ton figures of the districts.
In move to raise rev.
enue, the Montgomery Council
asked county legislators to intro
duce a bill giving the county
omnibus taxing authority.
Passed by the Senate was a
bill by Montgomery and Prince
Georges Delegates, providing for
a referendum of residents of Ia
koma Park on the question of
setting up city manager system
of government and providing a
new city charter.