Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-20
Delegation 81
Against County
Slot Machines
Prince Georges Group
In Legislature Votes
After Public Hearing
BY }. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

ANNAPOLIS, Mar, 20. - The
Prince Georges County delegation
early today voted 5 to 2 against
introducing bill to legalize slot
machines in the county.
The action followed a stormy
two-hour public hearing during
which former State Senator Oliver
Metzerott, a Republican and q
strong opponent of the legislation
said he had received a message
lat it would be very unWise fol
me to appear at this meeting"
He did not elaborate, although
he was challenged by supporters
of the bill to name the person who
sent the message"
500 jam House Chamber.
Approximately 800 persons
TANNED the House chamber and
galleries and oVerfloWed into the
State Capitol corridors to hear OPP
posing arguments before the dele
cation. The hearing began after
the Legislature nished its night
session.
1t was the largest crowd to at
tend a hearing at the present
session of the Assembly and one
of the largest in recent years.
Immediately after both sides
rested their cases about 1870 am.
the delegation met to take action
on the controversial question.
Voting against introducing the
bill, sponsored by the Small Bust
nesSmen'S Committee, were Sena-
tor John R. Fletcher and Dele
gates William r. (Huck) Hughes
John F. Lillard, jr.; Harry E
Taylor, jr., and Leroy Humphrey
All except Mr.. Humphrey are Re-
publicans.
Those who wanted to introduce
the measure, and make it subject
to referendum, were Delegates
Perry o. Wilkinson, Democrat, and
Albert R. Hassall, Republican.
Senator Fletcher said he was
convinced that the majority OF
the county voters, lin view of the
tremendous support given the Re-
publican Party, would be greatly
disappointed if our delegation in
PRODUCED slot machine legislation. -
Opposed to Being Dictatorial.
Delegates Wilkinson and Hassall
contended, however, that ito be
dictatorial AND not allow at least
a referendum for these thousands
of people to decide once and for
all this most important issue,
would be depriving them of an op-
portunity to express their wishes
by ballot"
They pointed out the delegation
has received over 5000 letters,
cards and kilograms urging the
group to vote for the type of coin
operated machines now in prac-
tically every little store and tavern
in Prince Georges County"
Principal speaker against the
proposed bill was William R.
Turner, executive secretary of the
Citizens Committee for Good Gov
eminent, who charged the letters
supporting the measure were the
result of a "diabolically clever
campaign"
Wants Grand Jury Inquiry.
Declaring his group has called
for a grand jury investigation of
the campaign, Mr. Turner said:
I'VE don't believe the money
poured into this drive could have
come from the people who say they
are backing it,"
He admitted that a 1949 referen-
dun on a similar bill had resulted
in a vote of 6,257 for the measure
and 1928 against it. The bill
later was declared unconstitu-
tional. however, on the ground the
title. which referred to amuse-
ment devices, was misleading.
But the real referendum came
In 1850" Mr.. Turner told the
delegation. when Mr.. Hughes
who campaigned against gambling
was elected by 1922 votes to tor
all other candidates running for
the legislature"
He also disputed the claims by
the bills supporters that it woulc
bring i'll an estimated $638,00C
annually. He argued the figure
would be nearer 100000. "anc
even then machines would have tC
be placed in every corner grocery
store"
Opposed by School Superintendent
Another opponent, William S
Schmidt, county superintendent
of schools, said the Board of Edu-
cation "deplores appeals by pro-
ponents of the bill to teachers tC
support the legislation on the
ground they would receive salary
increases as a result of the in
creased county revenue"
The board, he told the delega-
ton. feels you will find other
sources of revenue to raise teach
ers' salaries and build more
schools. The great majority Of
the teachers in our county oppose
this legislation"