Evening star., 1955-07-25
By CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

By CHAkLES l.. HUFFMAN
Inadequacy of present laws af-
fecting the Maryland State
Roads Commission is partly
responsible for the handsome
p,ofits reaped by some land
speculators along new highways.
That is the feeling one gets
after listening to two days Of
testimony involving alleged tips
given SPECTATORS by Ben Du Pre-,
assistant right-of-way engineer
who resigned Friday night.
Among laws almost certain to
draw the attention Of some legis-
lators are:
1. The present law permitting
the commission to take land by
court order "only in emergencies. .
2. The lack of any legislation
to bar members Of the legislature
from appearing in behalf Of cli-
ents before the roads commission
and other State agencies.
3. The present condemnation
law.
Roads officials are reluctant tc
discuss some of the measures.
Provincial Air Blamed
The provincial temper of legis.
lators in the Free State" ha.
much to do with this reluctance
The roads commission long
had been a favorite target oi
legislators and any move to in.
crease its authority draws 9
cold reception at Annapolis.
An example in the last session
was the failure of a bill thai
would have given the commits.
sion control of coming along ma.
jor highways.
Such a measure would bloch
the deteriorment of new high
ways creating more "ole
Bloody's" as route l had beer
tagged because of traffic hazards
resulting chiefly from the mile
and miles of motels. roadhouses
and iillirg stations that hav'
sprung UP between Baltimore
and Washington.
The temper of the last legis
lature was such that the road
commission did not even seel
excess property" condemnation
rights, although many employee
feel such rights would result il
a tremendous savings in acquisi
ton payments.
The inability of the road
commission to condemn Ian.
damaged, but not needed TO
actual right of way, at time re
suits in the payment of excessiv
damages, officials report.
Promotes Haggling
With excess condemnation
rights. properly used, the road
commission could obtain prop
.erty not needed but which woul'
be damaged by a new road. thel
dispose of it on its own.
The agency instead must hag
gle over the dlmage the land
owner claims he will suffer b,
the roadway. and often tn
landowner or his attorney drive
Ia hard bargain.
/ In many of these cases, th'
attorney is a member of tn
State legislature.
1t is difficult to drive a har'
bargain with an attorney -legis
Ilator who next month may b
deciding the budget of the road
commission or the fate of you
specific job, one right-of-wa
man explained.
! The legislators have neve
! seen fit to deprive themselve
of this questionable business
although in many other juris
dictions 1t is barred.
In Montgomery County, fc
example, officials on count
boards, employees and the coun
Gil itself are prohibited frol
/ representing clients before cour
ty agencies.
Probably the finest invitatio
to spectators who operate 9
the expense of the roads CON
mission is the present system {
acquiring right of ways.
In the Shovel's Shadow
In many cases, the roads CON
:. mission is buying land virtual
: under the shadow of the shovel
just in front of construction
! That is the case not only Q
the National Pike but also Q
} the Baltimore Tunnel project.
firm handling right Of way az
/