Evening star., 1951-04-01
Beer Monopoly
Stirs WrangIe
In Legislature
Montgomery Group
Bottles ! uwes' Effort
To Eliminate 1t
Rv /. A;rhoeI
BY ]. /. MiehoeI
siar ssoff correspendent

Scr sioff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 81 Mary
lands House Of Delegates late to-
night was wrangling bitterly over
parliamentary procedure before
voting finally on bill to end
Montgomery County's beer mo-
nopoly.
Speaker John C. Luber. Demo
crat of Baltimore. had attempted
to impose a minute gag rule
designed to limit debate on the
measure-when the House con-
vened for a night session. He was
blocked when Minority Flool
Leader Anders r. Lofstrand
Montgomery County. pointed out
that under existing rules the limi.
tation could not apply until ths
next legislative day.
Motion To Amend Fails.
A motion to amend the rules tt
make the gag effective iname'
diately failed on a foH-call vott
and the all-out effort of State
Comptroller J. Millard Tawes tt
end the monopoly system wa!
temporarily shunted aside. 1t was
scheduled for final House decision
sometime before sunrise.
During the day session there
was two hours of bitter partisan
debate in which Montgomery
Ideigate charged Speaker John C
Luber with ''ungentlemanly con-
duct and outrageous abuse of his
office" and the county delegation
lin turn was accused of "perver-
sion of legislative procedure"
In a rough and tumble battle
such as the lower chamber has not
seen this year. both sides dipped
deep into the bag Of legislative
tricks before Majority Leader A
Gordon Boone moved a recess at
II pm.
Bill Precipitates Clash.
The clash started when the bill
was presented for final action
Delegate j. PAUL Marshall re-
minded the House that an identl.
cal bill introduced at MIR. Tawes
request had been tabled by the
Senate and moved to recommit the
measure to the Alcoholic Beverages
COMMITTEES. His motion lost by
voice vote after it met opposition
from Mr.. Boone. Mr.. Marshall
then offered-a motion that the bill
be tabled-a move intended tC
kill the bill for this session.
The tabling motion was de-
feated by a nj to 81 roll call vote
and Delegation Chairman j
Douglas Bradshaw at once start
ed his attack on the speaker.
I'm the name of honesty and
decency," he said to Mr.. Luber
"the Montgomery County dele
cation protests against the treat
ment it has received at your hands
in this session"
Outrageous Actions
Everyone is aware" he con-
tinued, "of the shameful and out.
Irageous actions on the part Of
the speaker and his ungentle-
manly conduct and outrageou!
abuse of his Office"
Specifically, Mr.. Bradshaw
charged that earlier in the ses.
sion the@speaker had permitted
a voice vote when the delegation
asked for a regular roll call.
The speaker did not reply.
Delegate Julian King, termins
the issue a purely local one, sale
1T is ridiculous for the executive
branch of the State Government
to step into legislative matters
Delegate J. PAUL Marshall ther
announced that he would speal
for an hour cor all night. If neces.
sary, to defeat this BILL"
Delegates Dart For Doors.
His remarks threw the weary
and short-tempered House into {
dither and quick counter-strategy
was planned. Delegates darted ou
the doors. Soon the chamber wal
half empty.
Delegate Jerome Robinson
Democrat, Baltimore, got the foo
when Mr.. Marshall yielded for {
question.
why" asked Mr.. Robinson
are you starting out on a fill
buster?"
ut is not a filibuster," Mr.. Mar
shall replied. "it is simply that
do not want to see the Hous
decide the question until it i
fully informed"
Il am sick and tired and dis
lgusted," Mr.. Robinson declared
"by the tactics constantly EN-
Iployed by the Montgomery Count,
delegates. They attack every mem
ber Of this House whenever the,
disagree with them.
i Lashes at Delegation.
"Perversion of orderly proce
dure. ingenious schemes to hold III
action. You are master of thes
things-Such is the record O
Montgomery County's representa-
+tives in this House." Mr.. Robin
son exclaimed.
Mr.. Robinson said he opposed
the monopoly because II believ,
government has no right to takt
over business at the wholesale
level"
In another area development
the House finally passed three DILL.
effecting changes in the organiza-
ton and administration of thu
Maryland National Capital Parl
and Planning Commission.
Under their provisions, respon.
sibility for building and electrica
inspections would be transferred
from the MNCPPC to the Mont.
gomery County Council. They ais,
authorize the commission to turr
over administration of recreation
programs to the council. One bill
increases the administrative parl