Evening star., 1951-03-17
Oyster Dredging
Report Monday
Probe Of Inspectors
Illegal Activities
Pressed by Order
BY ]. I. Michael
Stor Sfoff CoFrespondenf

ANNAPOLIS. Mar. 17.-Tide-
water fisheries officials today are
lputting the finishing touches on
a report demanded by Gov. Nc
Keldin after he had been informed
that oyster patrol boat inspectors
had been caught dredging illegally
A quick investigation yesterday
led Fisheries Committee Chair
man Arthur H. Brice to conclude
that the furor caused when the
incident became known was much
ado about nothing" He so in
formed the Governor. who was at
his Baltimore Office.
But Gov. McKeldin apparently
was not entirely satisfied. He
ordered the probe continued and
the findings submitted as quickly
as possible. Mr.. Brice said this
would be Monday.
While Mr.. Brice quizzed officers
of Maryland's oyster navy" leg
islators tired after attending the
Governors reception and ball. cut
short their deliberations and re-
turned to their homes.
Number of Bills Passed.
Before departing. the House, in
"a 53-minute session, passed nine
bills while the Senate approved
three in q little more than an
hour.
One of the House-approved
measures would extend the States
standby rent control act to 1858.
The law is due to expire June /.
Another would authorize State
purchase of land for a national
monument at Harper's Ferry.
The Federal Government is to
build the monument, if Maryland
and West Virginia provide the
land.
The somewhat informal House
injected touch of old Erin-and
a warning-into its proceedings by
adopting" a resolution commem-
Grating st. Patrick's Day.
1t recited, "the services of st.
Patrick are sorely needed in the
State House to rid its halls of
snakes"
Snakes" is the word used by
Senators and Delegates when
their colleagues attempt, and
sometimes succeed, in slipping
through bill with language quite
different from that used when it
was introduced. The trick is u.s.
|ually tried in the hectic closing
days of the session.
Resolution Hits Wrestling.
Another resolution, condemning
the "goons" of professional wrest-
ling. was formally approved by the
House. Delegates Leroy Pumph-
rey, Democrat, of Prince Georges.
and Mrs. Leona Rush, Republican,
.of Montgomery, introduced the
resolution, which asks that the
State Athletic Commission "rig-
idly enforce the rules of clean
athletics"
Meanwhile, a new plan to re-
move ramshackle cars from Mary
land highways has Been evolved
by Senator Jacob R. Ramsburg,
Republican, of Frederick County.
"Jolopy" Police Squad.
1t would add a special "jalopy"
squad to the State Police, whose
duties would be to spot cars with
obvious mechanical defects and
drivers who operate their vehicles
in dangerous manner.
The plan follows closely an out
line suggested recently by the
Southern Prince Georges County
Board of Trade at a meeting in
Clinton.
Senator Ramsburg said the
proposal, now in the study stage.
may be introduced as an altern-
ative to pending legislation pro-
viding for semi-annual motor
vehicle inspections. The measure
has passed the House and is now
before the Senate Finance Com
mittee. Senator Ramsburg is a
member of the committee.
The inspection bill, Senator
Ramsburg contends, is pretty
much of a "joke," because, in his
opinion, it would mean only a
superficial examination"
An addition of 81 to license
fees for the States 100000 cars
would, Senator Ramsburg de-
clared. provide sufficient funds
for the special squad to carry out
the plan efficiently.
Teacher-Pay Prodded.
Democratic legislators, unable
to agree on a plan to raise the
pay of school teachers, got a stiff
prodding yesterday from Senator
Robert B. Kimble, Republican, of
Allegany County.
Senator Kimble said that, un-
less the majority party presents
a satisfactory" proposal within
the next few days, he definitely
will introduce a bill providing for
a 5000 or $500 across-the-board
hike. He said he will determine
the exact amount when he has
received official information as to
how much a l per cent advance
on corporation taxes would yield.
aona Dueh cnmmnndod