Evening star., 1953-08-16
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Ridino
Buses Sought
Maryland Delegate
Wants Session to
Druft Sofety Bill
BY Herman r. Schoden

Oy ttStHOu . S&uOOSu
A move began shaping up last
night for emergency legislation
to protect Maryland school-age
bus riders against inferior equip
ment and inadequate drivers.
Delegate j. PAUL. Marshall Of
Chevy Chase, Md. said he is
asking Chairman j. Douglas
Bradshaw of the. all-Republican
Montgomery County delegation
to call a special meeting of the
group to consider the question.
Montgomery County residents
have Joined those of the District
and other nearby counties in
deploring the apparently avoid
able death Of one child and in
jury to nine others in a day.
camp bus accident near Rock
vile last month.
Critics have pointed to the
utter lack of any statute defining
safety standards, inspections and
rigid drivers examinations for
vehicles operated by day camps
and some private schools.
Matter For Assembly.
Mr.. Marshall held that the
February short session Of the
General Assembly is qualified to,
take up the bus safety question
despite rules limiting its work to
the budget, matters of acute
emergency or those in the gen.
eral public welfare.
"The delegates should insist
that action be taken upon any
legislation necessary to protect
our children" he said. Il feel
that such legislation properly
may be acted upon in the gen.
eral public welfare"
MI. Marshall scored the DEM
ocratic leadership of the House
of Delegates for refusal to sup
port motor vehicles inspection
bill, and another for a tougher
drunken driving law, at the last
legislative session.
Failure of the motor inspec-
tions bill to pass left Maryland
an island surrounded by States
and the District, which do have
inspections.
Appeal to McKeldin.
The fallacy of this was pointed
out recently by a delegation Of
citizens who asked Gov. Nc
Keldln to activate "permissive"
law already on the books. BY
this, the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles could set up an inspec-
ton system such as Maryland
had before World War II.
In pursuance to the Cover
nor'S suggestion, the request for
the already available inspection
system was put in letter form
last month. Nothing further has
been heard from it.
Proponents of State inspec-
ton said Maryland had become a
dumping ground for all manner
of antiquated and broken down
cars which had failed to pass
inspections in other States.
Fourteen States and the Dis
trict now have inspection laws.
Nine of these have safety records
better than that of Maryland'S
u persons killed per 100 million
vehicle miles. The District. for
instance. has a death rate OF
2.5 for the same number of miles.
Fear "WhitewaSh Jobs"
Politics got into the inspection
question largely because some
rural areas oppose it on grounds
of inconvenience. It Is pointed
out that many rural residents
would need to travel long dis
tances for inspections.
The argument also involves
the question of State inspection
stations versus privately owned
garages authorized to inspect.
Some opponents express fear
a garage inspection system would
encourage "whitewash" jobs by
garage owners favoring special
customers. Others say State in
spection stations would be too
few and far apart to suit every
body.
Arthur E. Miller, Montgomery
County safety director, is one OF
group who believes a comblna-
ton plan would be feasible
State stations in heavily popu-
lated areas and garages in rural
sectors. Rigid State supervision
would curb abuses, he believes.
While State action on inspec-
ton and new bus laws hung fire,
the Montgomery County Council
was expected to take action on
a county level Tuesday. Council
woman Stella B. Werner said
she would ask the council for
laws for licensing Of day camps
and private schools. This would
require periodic inspection OF
buses and a minimum age for
drivers.
Mr.. Marshall also has asked
the support of the Montgomery
County Civic Federation and the
Allied Civic Group in the fight
for better laws.
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