Evening star., 1955-01-22

MOYeShapesUp
To Probe State
RoadsSpending
Anti Commission
Bills Introduced BY
Democratic Leqders
-. raL.
By Gene Goodwin
sser sfaff cerrsspendsna

ANNAPOLIS. Jan. %. - The
leadership Of the Democratic
majority in the Maryland Legis-
lature seems determined. this
first session after the election.
to investigate the spending pole
cies Of the Republican con-
trolled State Roads Commission.
A batch Of anti-roads colmmis-
sion bills in the hopper here so
far seem to reflect Democratic
campaign charges made by DR..
H. G. Byrd last fall. The url-
successful Democratic guberna-
torial candidate alleged that the
commission was spending too
much money on special consult
ant fees. particularly on acuuir-
ing hts-of-way for the Balti-
more harbor tunnel project.
Yesterday, Senate President
Louis L. Goldstein was joined
by his two top lieutenants -
Majority Leader John Turnbull
and Judiciary Chairman Fred
Malkus, and Senator Mary Mock.
Democrat, Of Wicomico---in in
PRODUCING the latest roads COM
mission investigation proposal.
12-Year Program Involved.
Under Senator Goldstein's
measure, the policies, practices
and procedures" Of the roads
commission, particularly as they
pertain to the $3.50 million, l2-
year road program. would be
probed by special consultants.
The consultants would be
hired at less than $4,000 by a
special legislative committee
made UP of the Senate presi-
dent, House speaker and the
majority and minority leaders
of both houses. The special
consultarits would deliver q pre-
liminary report to the cofnmit-
tee on July ! this year and Q
final report before December 81.
An identical bill was introduced
In the House yesterday by Dele-
gate Robert Cannon. Democrat,
of Wicomico. who earlier had
attacked what he called haste
and waste In the roads COM
mission
Senator Goldstein said he is
not prepared to charge that
there is waste in the commission.
but he feels the people need to
know whether their money is
being spent wisely.
"This is really a billion-dollar
roads program, when you add the
interest" he said.
Senator Malkus said he be-
lieves the commission has not
been following good business
practices.
Move to Defer Fee Increase.
The Senate got another chance
to needle the commission yes
terday when 1t accepted q favor
able Finance Committee report
on the Malkus bin postponing
for one year the motor vehicle
registration fee increases sched-
uled to take effect this spring.
The commission claims the l2-
year roads program will suffer II
II doesn't get the So million q
year 1t had counted on from the
higher registration fees.
The Finance Committee ear
lier had decided to recommend
that the full Senate sustain Gov.
McKeldin's veto of 1854 bill
postponing the scheduled reg
istration increase of from SIS
to $40 on smaller passenger cars
and from s23 to $50 on the heav-
ier autos.
The Senators on the commit
tee, most Of whom are Demo-
Gratis, did not take this action
out Of any great kindness toward
the Republican Governor. They
know that. II his veto were over
ridden, this 1854 bin stili would
not take effect until June, which
would be too late to stop the In
creases this year. That's why
the Democratic majority is push
ing Senator Malkus' new bill.
which contains an emergency
clause making it effective as soon
as the Governor signs 1t. or II he
vetoes this one too, as soon as
the veto Is oyerridden.
The Finance Committee voted
to hold q companion measure by
Senator Malkus completely can
ceiling the higher registration
fees.
Delay Attempt Fails.
Senate Republican Minority
Leader Robert Kirnbie tried un-
successfully to delay yesterdays
vote on the ofle-year postpone
ment. But Democrats refused to
60 along. They want to get the
bfll enacted as quickly as possible
so that II the Governor yetoes
it, they win still have q chance
to override him before the new
license plates go on sale next
month.
These four other bills Affect
ing the roads commission were
introduced yesterday:
l. A measure requiring that
the State police appropriation
come from general funds rather
than from motor vehicle funds.
as has been the case under the
McKeldin administration. This.
the Democrats sponsors con-
tend. would restore to the roads
commission about So million In
motor vehicle funds which 1t
could use In place Of the money
1t would have gotten from
higher registration fees.
2. Senator Goldstein's peren-
niai bin 10 increase the roads
commission from three to five
members to assure that Southern
Maryland has . member.
8. A bill by Delegate Cannon
to wipe out the commissions
power to condemn property and