Evening star., 1955-02-22
Winning Vote Sought
To Save Probe Of
Roads Commission
By Gene Goodwin
Siar Stoff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 22.-Back- |
ers of a proposed investigation |
of the Maryland Roads Com |
mission were trying to round up |
one more vote today to keep |
their plan from being defeated
in the State Senate.
The investigation bill almost |
was lost on its first roll call test
in the upper chamber last night. |
1t was supported II to 6, but
that is one vote short Of the
three-f1fths majority needed to
pass legislation with an emer-
gency clause, making it effective
as soon as signed by the Gov
ernor.
Democratic Senators Robert P.
Dean of Queen Annes County
and John c. North of Talbot
County Joined four Republicans
in opposing the measure, which
has the backing Of most State
Democratic leaders. Three DEM
ocratic Senators Philip H.
Goodman of Baltimore, Layman
j. Redden of Caroline and John
r. Jewell of Kent-passed, which
had the same effect as voting
no"
Reconsideration Voted.
Senate Majority Leader John
G. Turnbull, one of the spon-
sors of the bill, saved it by sue
cessfully moving it be reconsid-
cred today.
Before Senator Turnbull made
his motion, Senate President
Louis L. GoldStein noted that
the bill required 10 votes. He
paused significantly. as if he
might have expected one of the |
abStaining Senators to change
his mind. No one volunteered.
The failure of all party mem |
bers to go along with their
leaders was interpreted as evil
dence Of persisting friction re-
sulting from Senator Redden's |
unsuccessful attempt to gain the |
presidency at the outset of the |
session.
Senators Jewell. North and |
Dean supported Redden in his
struggle for the presidency,
which Senator Goldstein won.
Senate Republican Leader
Robert B. Kimble voted for the
bill. which would authorize a
$4,000 investigation of the Re-
publican-controlled commission.
particularly its spending policies
under the multimillion- dollar,
12-year roads program and the
Baltimore harbor tunnel project.
Says Study Welcomed. |
Mr.. Kimble saio last week that
he, Republican Gov. McKeldin
and the Roads Commission well
coined the study.
I'VE have nothing to fear
nothing to hide" he declared
in Fridays debate.
A similar bill to investigate the
roads agency also has been in
troduced in the House. If the
Senate version runs into too
much trouble, House sponsors
probably will push their bill,
which is still before the Ways
and Means Committee.
The Senate, in another action
last night. passed and, sent to
the House a bill by Senator Turn
bull to require that all State
surplus funds above 81 million
be spent for capital improve
ments, effective July /. 1857.
That would have the effect of
preventing State administrations
from using surplus money to
balance budgets or grant sur
prise tax refunds.
Slap at McKeldin.
The House last night, by a
79-to-22 vote, took a backhanded
slap at Gov. McKeldin in approv-
ing a bill to prevent the State
Department of Information from
spending any of its money to
foster political or personal in
terest of an elected State official.
Its sponsor. Delegate Lloyd L.
Simpkins. Democrat. of Somerset
County, said the measure was
aimed at pictures of the Cover
nor and President Eisenhower
shaking hands and things of that
sort"
Gov. McKeldin has distributed
throughout the State pictures of
himself with the President and
pictures of himself in various