Evening star., 1951-12-13
Council 10 Get
Budget Ideas
From SobeIoff
Maryland Group
Fovors s.One-Pockoge
System for Finances
BY the AssoeIa,.d Pres.

System for Finances
BY III. Asoeia,.d Pres.
BALTIMORE. Dec. 13.-Ths
Legislative Council was to get some
ideas for revising the State budget
ssetup today from the Sobelofl
commission on government reor-
ganization.
Simon Sobeloff, Baltimore at
torney. said his streamlining group
would pass along its ideas for q
"one-package" budget.
It would do away almost en-
tirely with the present system OF
adding supplemental figures to the
Governors original budget.
The commission met in Fred
erick and Cumberland yesterday
to explain its purposes to officials
in Western Maryland.
One Of the things that prompted
the survey of the State govern
ment setup was the big jump in
State expenditures. MIR. Sobeloff
said at Cumberland. He noted
that in 1920 the budget was only
$12 million, whereas it has in
creased Is times to S163 million
In the current fiscal year.
Asks One-Package Budget.
At Frederick, a commission ad-
visor, ]. Theodore Wolfe. called
for the "one-package" budget.
Mr.. Wolfe. who is vice president
Of Consolidated Gas & Electric
Co., explained that the practice of
submitting a supplemental budget
can be put to a Governors ad-
vantage. He said:
"A Governor has a tendency to
hold out appropriations requests
of interest to the legislature until
members pass something he
wants.
Then he makes a trade and
the appropriation is included in
the supplemental budget"
However, he said the additional
budget could be put to good use.
He explained it is useful in COR
recting mechanical errors and for
financing bills passed and signed
by the Governor after the original
budget has gone through the mill.
Mr.. Wolfe declared that the De-
partment of Budget and Procure
ment should be held responsible
for continual studies of business
methods. Then the Sobeloff COM
mission wouldn't be necessary. hel
added.
One Of the greatest ineffi-
ciencies" the commission has un-I
covered, the advisor explained.
was the practice Of writing $4,000
State pay checks semi-monthly. |
"Such an obvious waste Of time
would not be tolerated in a busi-
ness office" he said.
Special Session Approved.
A special General Assembly ses-
sion every year to consider vetoesI
by the Governor after regular adj
journment was approved yester-
day by the Council.
This would mean at least two
required sessionc almost every
year Of the General Assembly IL
the proposal is adopted at next
February's Legislature and by the
voters at the subsequent election.
Up until last year, the General
Assembly had to meet only once
every two years unless called
specifically by the Governor. An
nual sessions started in 1850.
Under O new practice to be !
started next February, all bills
vetoed by the Governor after the
previous regular session ends are
to be taken UP first at the next
legislature. Before this, these bills
were dead and had to be intro
duced anew to be reconsidered.
A bill approved by the legis-
lative council would call a special
session about six weeks after each
regular legislature to consider
such vetoed bills.
The council also heard about
one such vetoed bill from Attor-
ney General Hall Hammond. He
sent a copy of a letter to DR..
H. C. Byrd, University Of Mary
land president, asking whether he
wanted to work together on new
bill relating to restrictions on the
university.
Vetoed by McKeldin.
A bill passed by the last Legis-
lature which expanded powers Of
the university's board Of regents
was vetoed by Gov. McKeldin
after adjournment.
Mr.. Hammond suggested DR..
Byrd get together with a repre-
sentative of the legal department
and the controllers Office to work
on substitute bill to give the
university complete academic
freedom, lessened restrictions in
purchasing and in the employ
ment and tenure of non-academic
personnel"
Mr.. Hammond said he was in
favor of objectives of the vetoed
bill to remove "hampering restric-
tions" from the university. But
he said If DR.. Byrd is not inter-
ested in cooperating in working
on such a bill, "either because you
intend to urge the Legislature to
override the veto of the ill-con-
ceived and hastily passed BILL"
he would proceed alone.
The council referred Mr.. Ham
mond's letter to its judiciary
Committee.
Radio Liability Bill.
The council took under con-
alteration a request for a bill to
relieve radio and television sta
tions from liability for defam-
atory statements made by po-
litical candidates.
r. C. Embry, chairman Of the
legislative committee of the
Maryland District of Columbia
Broadcasters Association. told the
council that Is States have
passed such legislation.
He said that Under nrnceaf Yep.