Evening star., 1954-11-20
0Id-IiIllersSeek
Top Posisin
Legislature
Redden ond Luber
Favored as Leaders
Of Maryland Body
By Gene Goodwin

6AL11MNkkE, NOV. zU.--S0n1e
Of the old timers Of the Mary
land Legislature were iockeying
today for positions Of leadership
In the first session Of the new
term opening January 5.
Talk Of selecting a new Sem
ate President and House Speaker
overshadowed discussion of
pending legislation at sessions Of
the Legislative Council here dur
ing the past week. The council
is made up of legislative leaders
who meet between sessions to
study proposed State laws.
The new Senate and House
leaders will be. Democrats. The
election Of November 2 increased
the Democratic nlajoritieS in the
Senate and House Of Delegates.
George w. Della, Baltimore
City Democrat. who has been
Senate President. for four years.
is in for opposition from Sena-
tors Louis Goldstein of Calvert
County. Laymen Redden of Car
oline and John Turnbull of Bal
tilnore County.
Redden Favored.
Most insiders seemed to think
Mr.. Redden. who has q reputa-
tion in the Senate for being q
fair-minded, uncontroversial fig-
ure. has the inside track. Many
Democrats say it would be bad
politics for the party to re-elect
Mr.. Della because Of his recent
campaign statements In favor Of
white supremacy"
In the House. John c. Luber,
Baltimore City Democrat, who
has been speaker for four years,
stands a good chance Of holding
on to his position.
But two veteran delegates are
openly opposing him Perry o.
Wilkinson Of Prince Georges
County and Jerome Robinson OF
Baltimore.
1t is difficult to predict what
will happen in selecting leaders
of the new Legislature. About
one third Of the members viii
be freshmen. The Democratic
majority is without any definite
leadership.
Rejects Utility Bill.
Yesterday the Legislative
Council, by a 81 vote, rejected
a bill which would have given
most counties a greater share
Of taxes on utilities.
1t was virtually the same bill
defeated In the 1854 session Of
the full Legislature last winter.
It would provide that shares of
stock in utilities be taxed where
the personal property Of the
particular utility is located. At
present, such shares are taxed
only in the cities or counties
where the main Office. of the
utility is located.
The bill, 1t is estimated, would
hit Baltimore City the hard
est; causing a loss of $1.1 mil
lion in tax revenues. All coun-
ties, except Frederick and Wi
comico. would benefit. It would
mean a $4,000 annual wind
fall to Montgomery County, and
an additional $4,000 in tax
revenues to Prince Georges.
Although the proposal was de-
feated by the council. it is al
most sure to be re-introduced
in the next session.
In other actions, the council
voted to send the following bills
to the General Assembly.
/. A bill setting up a toll au-
thority for, all new toll. facil-
ities-bridges and roads--to be
authorized by the Legislature.
Present Maryland law is not
clear about who or what has
authority to set up toll roads.
2. A bill to place a 3-cent tax
on aviation gas for the support
of the State Aviation Commits
sion and require a 81 registration
fee of all privately owned air
planes in the State.
ga bill to encourage motorists
to take out liability insurance.
The Council tried to wind up
its business yesterday, but de-
cided to hold over some pro-
posals and meet again on De-
eember 10.