Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
a Controversial Bills
FaceAssembIyAg
Right to Work
Among Issues
In Maryland

ANNAEOLlS, Lee. ~ ILL.,
Four of the most lobbied bills OF
past Maryland legislative sessions
are expected to bounce back for
"a 1957-return showing.
Kept OH the fire between ses-
sions and ready to be served up
again are such hot issues as the
rockfish. roadside control and 1
registration fees bills.
The fourth is advertised by its
hackers as the right to work T
bill" and by its opposition in the
labor unions as the right to
wreck bill" Its major effect
would be the outlawing of the
union shop in Maryland.
Senator Fred Malkus, Demo.
lcrat OF Dorchester, has made no
bones about his intention to re-
introduce his measure to repeal
scheduled increases in motor
vehicle registration fees. They
would raise the SIS fee to $40
and the $23 fee to $50. with even
bigger increases for trucks and
other commercial vehicles.
The increases were approved
by the Legislature when it en-
acted the 12-year roads program
in 1858, put they were not to 60
into effect until one year after
the rest of the programs financ-
ing provisions. A share of the
registration fees goes to the
State Roads Commission for
maintenance.
Effective Date Postponed
Senator Malkus, contenditE
the commission did not need
the funds from higher fees,
spearheaded three successful
fights, each postponing the effec-
tive date Of the increases for
one year. In the last session
sponsored a companion measure
to repeal the increases alto
gether. but did not push it when
he saw he would be successful
with the postponement bill.
Roads commission officials
have said they will no longer
fight to keep the scheduled in
creaSeS. However, they are ex-
Ipected to give the Legislature
a "take-or -leave-it" argument to
the effect that, unless the fees
are raised. they will have to
dip into construction funds for
about So million extra to supple
ment road maintenance funds.
! Lobbyists for truckers and al
lied interests have consistently
opposed the increases.
The anti union shop bill,
backed largely by contractors
groups. had Annapolis observers
trying to guess who would in
Itroduce it.
1t was finally dropped into
the hopper by Senator James
Weinroth. Democrat Of Cecil,
given the thumbS-down treat
ment by the Labor Committee
under Senator Anthony DIDO
menico. Democrat of Baltimore.
and killed on a floor vote.
Like virtually any bill which
might affect Maryland water
men, the rockfish bill resulted
in an invasion of Annapolis by
hundreds of Eastern Shore and
Southern Maryland fishermen
when it was presented to the
lawmakers in 1854.
Sport Groups Back Measure
This measure would outlaw
fishing for striped bass, known
more commonly as rockfish, in
Maryland waters during January
and February. The Izaak WAL
ton League, Rockfish Protective
Association. and similar organi-
cations backed the bill, which
was rejected by the House Ches-
speake Bay and Tributaries Com
mittee of Delegate j. Ellis Tawes,
Democrat OF Somerset. The
Commercial Watermen's Associa-
ton opposed it.
Proponents succeeded in hav-
ing the measure petitioned out Of
the committee for a vote on the
floor, where is was killed.