Evening star., 1951-01-03
Assembly Meets
.|nAnnapoIisf for
Vital Session
Democrats WroneIe
Over Key Posts in
Maryland Houses
By J. l. MichoeI
Special Sfor Correspondent

~ }. /. MlchoeI
Special Stor Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 3.-Mary-
lands Legislature will convene to-
day for a 90-day session which
promises to be one Of the scrap
piest-and most important in the
states history.
Governor-elect McKeldin, who
defeated Gov. Lane in November
by more than 10000 votes, will not
take Office, however. until Janu-
ary 10.
Mr. McKeldin, Maryland's first
governor in Is years,
will face Democratic majorities of
18 to II in the Senate and 80 to "a
IN the House.
The session will have more than
usual significance because of the
questions, most of them
controversial. for which answers
must be found.
Lane to Officiate Today.
Among them are what to do
about the sales tax and $40
million budget, the rotational sys-
tenn of tax assessments and
whether to call a convention to
revise the State Constitution un-
der wartime conditions.
Gov. Lane will officially well
come the Legislature today. The
exact hour was not set because
no one knew when Democrats
would end their wrangling over
key Senate and House posts.
Conferences of Democratic par
ty heads, held yesterday and last
night in attempts to name the
officials, got nowhere. Top lead
ers, anxious to display solidarity
after. resounding defeat at the
polls, planned a precaucus talk
this morning.
Seven Eastern Shore Democra-
tic SenatorS-who could hold the
balance of power-were to meet
an hour later. Democrats and Re-
publicans will caucus formally
later.
State Controller j. Millard
Tawes called the first Democratic
harmony" meeting yesterday.
Among the $50 attending were
Gov. Lane and most county and
Baltimore City leaders. It ended
after As minutes with nothing
accomplished.
Talks were resumed later at the
Executive Mansion and in hotel
rooms but nothing definite was
agreed upon.
Chiefly at stake were the presi-
dency Of the Senate, the House
Speakers chair and floor leader
ship of both chambers.
Sybert Is Ozark Horse"
Leading contenders for the top
Senate post were George W. Della
OF Baltimore and John c. Turnbull
of Baltimore County. Former
House Speaker c. Ferdinand
Sybert of Howard County was
considered a dark horse. He was
said to have Gov. Lanes support.
There was no indication as to
who would succeed former State
Senator L. Harold Sothoron of
Prince Georges County as Senate
floor leader. Mr.. Sothoron, a
Democrat, was defeated in No
vember by John r. Fletcher, Re-
publican.
Foremost yesterday in the race
for House Speaker were Dele
gates John c. Luber of Baltimore
City and A. Gordon Boone of
Baltimore County. Another con-
tender was Delegate LIE Roy
Humphrey of Prince Georges
County who was majority floor
eader during Gov. Lanes admin
stration.
Opposition from county dele
gates TO Cne T1lllng OF both top
posts with city men appeared to
nave enhanced Mr.. Humphreys
chances. Another county con-
lender spurred by this develop
nent, entered the fight during the
lay. He was Delegate Richard E.
-ankford of Anne Arundel County.
Republican Senators were ex-
oected to again name Robert B.
ximble of Allegany County as mi
1ority leader. On the House side,
Delegates Anders r. Lofstrand, jr..
If Montgomery County and Ho-
ace P. Whitworth of Allegany
County were contenders for the
post of G. o. P. floor leader.