Evening star., 1951-02-01
Constitution Bill
Faces Second
Test Today
Judiciary Committee
Backs Convention
By Vote Of 10 to 9
BY ]. B. Zotmon
Star Stoff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 1.-Th,
hotly disputed bill calling for {
convention to rewrite Maryland'
84-year-old constitution headee
for its second test of strength il
the General Assembly today.
The measure slipped through
the House Judiciary COMMITTEES
yesterday by a 1919 vote, but tht
absence of many delegates because
Of bad weather caused the meas.
ure's supporters to hold the com.
mittee's favorable report from the
floor of the House until today.
Meanwhile, the Montgomery
County delegation introduced foul
bills to revamp the county's liquor
control setup and to increase
sharply liquor, beer and wine
license fees.
Two of the measures would es-
tablish a board of license COM
missioners and a department o1
liquor control under the county
manager. and another would re-
peal a law earmarking liquor
board receipts to pay off bonds
used to build the LIQUOR dispensary
building in Silver Spring.
License for Provisions.
The license fee measure pro-
vides for the following increases
Beer-Class A (off- -sale), S25 tc
$50; class B (on-sale), $50 to $3.50
and Glass D Con and off -sale)
$50 to $3.50.
Beer and wine-Class A (off-
sale), $35 to $75; Glass B (on- -sale)
$50 to SITS, and Glass D (on and
off-sale), $50 to SITS.
Beer, wine and liquor-Class B
(on-sale), $3.50 to $1,000. This
affects only Olney Inn and Nor
mandy Farms, the delegation
explained.
Among Judiciary Committee
members voting for the constitu-
tional convention bill were Dele
gates j. PAUL Marshall and j
Douglas Bradshaw, Montgomery
County, and John F. Lillard, jr.
Prince Georges County, all Re
publicans.
Pumphrey Opposed.
Those opposing the motion for
q favorable report include Dele
gates Leroy Pumphrey, Prince
Georges County, and C. Clifton
Virts, Frederick County, Demo-
Gratis. and Joseph B. Payne, Re
publican, of Frederick County.
Mr.. Humphrey said later he
voted against the motion because
no one has suggested what pro-
visions of the constitution should
be eliminated or changed.
After the committee acted,
Chairman Thomas Dempsey,
Democrat, of Baltimore, an
nounced he would place the re-
port on the House floor at the
afternoon session.
When the House convened. how
ever, only 95 of the 123 members
were present and most of the
absentees were from the 36-
member Baltimore delegation,
which has strongly supported the
bill.
Delegates Oppose Delay.
Mr.. Dempsey then told the
House he would hold the report
until today so it could come be-
fore "a more representative
House" This Immediately brought
protests from Delegates John F.
McNulty and Richard E. Lank-
ford, Democrats, of Anne Arundel
County, whose delegation is
against the measure.
Seeing what they believed an
opportunity to upset the commit
tees report and kill the bill, the
two Anne Arundel County dele
gates circulated a petition to bring
the report to the floor. But mo-
ton to suspend the rules so the
petition could be considered was
rebuffed, Sc to Al.
Backers of the bill expressed
the opinion that vote could be
considered an indication of how
the House would vote today as
nell as when the measure comes
up for final action.
After the House adjourned
Gov. McKeldin talked to the 81
Republican delegates behind
closed doors. He repeatedly urged
them to present united front in
favor of the bill.
Other Bills Introduced.
Among other bills introduced ir
the House were two by the Anne
Arundel County delegation. One
would impose a special fire tax tc
raise up to $4,000 annually ir
the 7th and 9th election districts
The other would authorize the
county commissioners to levy q
1O-cent fire tax in the Sd precinc1
of the Sd election district, subject
to referendum in November
1852.
Mr.. McNulty submitted bill tt
authorize additional pension pay
ments of up to $25 a month fol
pensioned employees of the count!
getting less than $100 month
He also sponsored a bill to revis'
the Annapolis charter.
In the Senate, Majority Leade
Louis L. Goldstein, Democrat, o
Calvert County introduced bill
to set up % senatorial scholarship
for the University of Marylan'
Medical School. In addition t
tuition, books and laboratory fees
each scholarship student would b
allowed $500 year for living ex
penses.
Those receiving the scholarship
would be required to sign pledge
to practice medicine for two year
in the county or city from whicl
they were appointed. Baltimor
students would be exempted from
the pledge.