Evening star., 1953-01-23
Repeal Sought
Of Home Rule
AT Maryland u.
Legislators to Seek
End Of University's
Brood Powers
By Gene Goodwin
Ssur StuH Correspondents

By Gene Goodwin
ssur Staff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS. Jan. ga BIZ
partisan move to repeal "horne
rule" at the University Of Mary !,
land was to be launched today
in the Maryland House Of Dele
gates. =
Eight delegates-five Demo- !
Gratis and three Republicans
have prepared q bill to repeal
legislation approved last year
giving the university broad pow
ers Of control independent Of
supervision required Of other
State agencies.
Observers saw the bill as the
opening volley In resumption of
hostilities here against DR.. H.
c. Byrd. president Of the uni
verSity.
DR.. Byrd was hooted OF the
House floor In the closing min
utes. Of the 1852 session when
his capital improvements pro-
gram was being whitfield down.
No Help to Popularity.
He did not gain in popularity
in the opening days of the cur,
rent session when he exerted
his political influence to help
put down revolts against status
quo Democratic leadership in
the Senate and House.
-Four Of the five Democrats
sponsoring the measure sched-
uled for introduction today are
members Of the new Western
Shore bloc in the House. That
bloc of Western Shore Democrats
outside Of Baltimore City was
organized, among other reasons.
to counterbalance the solid
Eastern Shore delegation, where
most OF DR.. Byrd's political
strength lies.
The Western Shore bloc spon-
sors are Delegates c. Orman
Manahan of Howard County.
chairman Of the new bloc; VIII
liam S. James of Hartford Coun-
ty; Dan Brewster Of Baltimore,
County and John F. McNulty of
Anne Arundel County. The Fifth
Democratic sponsor is Delegate
urice j. Soypher of Baltimore.
G. o. P. Sponsors Listed.
The Republican sponsors are
Delegates Horace p. Whitworth,
jr., of Allegany County: j. Doug
las Bradshaw Of Montgomery
County. and William r. Hughes
OF Prince Georges County.
The repeater is certain to in
cite the fire of DR.. Byrd, who
fought energetically for two
years to bring about some meas
ure of self-government for the
university.
The university "home rule"
bill was passed by the General
Assembly in 1851. but vetoed by
Gov. McKeldin. A substitute
measure In 1852 also was vetoed.
but the Legislature voted to
override the Governor.
Law Blocks Control.
Sponsors Of the repeater say
the present law now gives the
university freedom in fiscal. pur-
chasing and personnel affairs
enjoyed by no other State agency
and blocks effective control by
the General Assembly. DR.. Byrd
has denied that the law goes that
far.
In other legislative develop
ments yesterday. Delegate ].
PAUL Marshall. representative Of
Montgomery County. introduced
bills to-:
l. Transfer eight South Balti-
more election precincts from the
5th to 3rd Congressional District.
2. Raise the salary Of State
legislators from $1,000 to $4,000
a year. II the voters approve in
q referendum.
Transfer Reason Cited.
On his first measure. Mr.. Mar
shall. who is State chairman Of
the Federation Of Young Repub-
licans. said the small city section
does not logically belong in the
otherwise all-county 5th district.
He said the all-Baltimore Sd
district, with about 200, 900 pop
ulation. is the smallest Of Mary
lands seven districts. while the
5th is one Of the largest, with
about $780, 900 inhabitants.
In defense Of his pay raise bill,
Mr.. Marshall said better pay
would attract better lawmakers.
He emphasized that the inculn.
bent lawmakers would not bene-
fit unless they were reelected.
since the proposal would not go
to referendum until November,
1854. when the terms of the
present Senators and delegates
are about to expire.
The House yesterday unani-
mously approved a resolution by
Mr.. Whitworth calling on the at
torney general to report on anti
subversive activities. Mr.. Whit
worth noted that the Legislature
has not been advised Of what
the State has done since 1t passed