Evening star., 1953-03-18
Road Program
Cut to4 Years
In Maryland
Strong Opposition
Forces Stute Aides
To Trim Project
By the Assoeiotad Pres,

ANNAEOL1O, mar. 16.-SCaCe
roads planners already have
been forced to trim their sights
from IL years to four and there
is sentiment afoot today to pro-
vide enough for only one year.
The Senate Finance Commit
tee has asked the State Roads
Commission to tell it exactly
how much road improvement
could be done with $25 million.
That would be enough for
years work, some legislators fig
ure.
The idea Of providing money
for only one year has been
knocking around in the House
Ways and Means Committee.
It was the chairman of that
committee who induced the State
Roads Commission to agree to
project its planning for only four
years. The commission originally
asked the legislature to approve
12-year program expenditure
of $568 million.
Legislators had taken a hesi-
tant attitude. So last night Jo-
Seph D. Buscher, assistant at
torney general assigned to
roads, told the Senate commit
tee the commission was back
tracking.
To Offset Objections.
He said the commission felt
that limiting planning and
spending to four years at a
stretch would Offset a "substan-
tial amount of objection"
The new plan calls for the
commission to make a detailed
report at the end of the four
years. The Legislature then
could call halt or authorize
more building. Also, no more
than $25 million in bonds could
be outstanding at any time.
The commission proposes to
finance the improved roads by
raising the gasoline tax from
to 6 cents a gallon and increas-
ing motor vehicle registration
fees.
Gov. McKeldin philosophi-
cally accepted the commissions
change of mind. "If it's all right
with them, it's all right with
me-" he said.
Mr.. Buscher also told the COM
mittee the roads commission was
withdrawing its request for au-
thority to create toll roads and
designate expressways.
Fight Fishing Ban.
Eastern Shore delegates were
lining up for a renewed fight |
against a ban on fishing during
January and February in Chesa-
peake Bay. They failed by a
61-37 vote last night to block
adoption of a favorable report |
on the bill. They are trying to
persuade enough votes to switch
W pTcVc1lC passage.
"This is a move toward con-
Servation," said Delegate Duke,
Democrat, of st. Marys. Eastern
Shoremen pleaded it would dis
rupt their economy by beaching
commercial watermen for two
months.
Senator Kimble, Republican,
Of Allegany was ready to move
passage of the Chesapeake &
Ohio Canal Parkway. He beat
down a crippling amendment
yesterday.
The amendment by Senator
Barton. Democrat, of Baltimore
would have required the Federal
government to return canal
property not to be converted into
a parkway to the State. Mr..
Kimble's bill provides for the
parkway to be built only from
Hancock to Cumberland.
Delegate Lankford, Democrat,
Of Anne Arundel was busy try
ing another approach to obtain
ing the right to vote for per-
sons living on Federal reserva-
tionS in Maryland.
Mr.. Lankford was advised by
Attorney General Edward Rol-
Inns that his bill to do it by
Maryland law is unconstitution-
al. Mr.. Lankford instead will in
troduce a resolution asking Con-
gress to relinquish Federal jur-
isdiction over voting rights on
the reservations.