Evening star., 1951-03-02
HydeLays Delay
On Council Bill
To Democrats
Nonportison Election
Proposals Sponsor
Charges Pressure
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent

SI0T StoTI NoftesPCHoS"
ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 2.-Mont-
eomery Senator Dewitt s. Hyde,
Republican, has accused county
Democratic leaders of bringing
pressure on members of the Cen
eral Assembly to hamstring his
nonpartisan election bill.
He made the statement to re-
porters yesterday, after the Sen
ate deferred action on the measure
for the second successive day.
The bill, which would permit
nonpartisan council elections in
Montgomery County. subject to
a referendum, is scheduled to
come up again this afternoon. 1t
has been reported favorably by
the Elections Committee.
Earlier, it was learned Federal
Government ruling is blocking at
tempts by a House subcommittee
to include Government employees
living in Maryland in proposal
for a State withholding plan for
income taxes.
Ruling Bans Withholding.
Members of Ways and Means
subcommittee studying the pro-
posal said the Controller General
has ruled the Government will not
withhold any State income taxes
from it's salaried employees.
Meanwhile, Senator Louis
Phipps, Democrat, of Anne Arun-
del County, came up with Con-
gressional redistricting proposal
that would set up a new-or
seventh - district composed OF
Anne Arundel and Howard Coun-
ties.
Both Counties now are in the
5th District, which also includes
Prince Georges. Calvert, Charles
and st. Marys Counties and part
of Baltimore City.
At the same time. the Senate
postponed until Tuesday con-
sideration of favorable commit
tee report on the redistricting
plan previously indorsed by the
Democratic majority Of the LegiS-
lature.
This plan would establish the
new district in Baltimore and
would return to the city all Of its
precincts now In the I'd District
and most of those in the 5th
District
The Republicans are supporting
a proposal advanced by Mont
gomery Delegate J. Paul Marshall.
1t also would create third dis
trict in Baltimore, but also would
transfer Howard County from the
5th to the I'd District.
The Senate also delayed action
until Monday on two bills affect
ing the University of Maryland.
One, which has been approved by
the Finance Committee, would
clarity authority granted the uni
versity last year to issue its own
construction bonds. The other,
which has been reported un-
favorably by the same committee,
would repeal the 1850 measure.
The Senate's decision to defer
action on the Hyde bill came after
Senator Bernard Melnicove. Dem
ocrat, of Baltimore said he wanted
more time to study proposed
amendment offered by Majority
Leader Louis Goldstein, Democrat,
of Calvert County.
The amendment would require
that council members be elected
at a different time than the elec-
ton of State officials.
Senator GoldStein, who said the
amendment had been given him
by the Attorney Generals office,
emphasized he "did not want to
interfere with non-partisan elec-
tions in Montgomery County, If
the people there want such a
plan" But, he added:
This State has prospered under
o two-party system, and feel we
should not mix local non-partisan
elections with Statewide elec-
tions."
Constitutionality Questioned.
Senator Hyde Immediately
jumped to his feet to charge that
the amendment, If approved, would
make the bill unconstitutional. He
quoted the State constitution as
requiring that all elections for
State and county Offices shall be
held at the same time every four
years"
"It is obvious the amendment
would render this bill unconstitu-
tional," he declared, "and it is OBJ
vious to me that was its purpose"
Afterwards, he told reporters he
had learned the amendment was
drafted by Assistant Attorney
General Joseph Buscher, a former
Delegate to the General Assembly,
who has long been active in Dem
ocratic politics in Montgomery
County.
This is the man" Senator
Hyde said, "who was yanked out
of his seat in the House about
eight years ago so E. Brooke Lee
dong time county Democratic
leader) could take his place.
Apparently Mr.. Lee and the
Democratic organization have not
yet learned they have been re-
pudiated by the voters of Mont
gomery County"
The Senate agreed to postpone
action on the bill to repeal the
university's bond authority. after
beating down a move by its spon-
sor, Senator Stanford Hoff, Re
publican, Of Carol County to
override the committees unfa-
vorable report.
z at Montgomery Blair
tn Cot Civilian Awnrd