Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-03
Tight Supervision
Of Privote Tests
Is Provided
BY GENE GOODWIN
Star stan Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. Bills to
require annual automobile in
lspections in Maryland were being
prepared for introduction today
lin both houses of the State Leg
IiSlature.
State Senator Edward 8.
Northrop, Democrat of Mont
lgomery County, said he plans to
Introduce a measure in the Sem
ate tn. middle Of next week to
provide for a system of inspec-
tons by tightly supervised private
garages.
An almost identical bill was
set to be introduced in the House
today Under sponsorship of the
entire House Ways and Means
Committee.
The legislation has the backing
of Frank Small, jr., Maryland
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles,
although he said he prefers that
the inspections be made in State
operated stations, such as those
used in Delaware and the Dis
trict.
Like 1855 Measure
Both Senator Northrop and
the House Ways and Means
Committee are patterning their
bills after a measure that came
within two votes of enactment
in the 1855 session.
| Like that 1855 bill, which was
drafted by a House subcommit-
tee headed by Delegate Blair
Lee III of Montgomery County.
the 1856 measures provide for Q
fee of $3.50 for the inspections.
which would be required an
nually between November / and
January 81.
| The inspection system and the
private garages that would be
| licensed to make the inspec-
tons would be under the super.
vision of the State police super
lintendent. That is similar to
the compulsory auto inspection
setup in Pennsylvania. Virginia
also inspects autos through
private garages.
! Senator Northrop said that,
since Maryland is surrounded
by jurisdictions with inspection
laws, 1T has become a conven-
lent place to dispose of jalopies
that can't pass inspection"
Fee Veto Overidden
Mr.. Small. Washington auto
dealer, who became commits
sioner last spring. said his stan
has prepared an inspection
measure for introduction in this
30-day session of the Legisla-
ture but that the Legislative
Council had asked him to hold
lit of until the 1857 session,
which will run for 80 days. Mr..
Small said he agreed not to press
his bill at this time because he
does not want to endanger its
chances.
/ AS expected yesterday, the
House voted, ITO to 0, to over
ride Gov. McKeldin's veto Of
a bill postponing for another
year the higher motor vehicle
license fees originally scheduled
to take effect this spring The
Senate already had voted to
override, and yesterdays action
made the postponement final.
Senator Thomas Dempsey,
Democrat o, Baltimore City, in
Itroduced a proposed constitu-
tional amendment to prevent the
use of highway revenues (such
as the gasoline tax and license
fees) for purposes other than
the construction, maintenance
and improvement of highway
facilities.
Tenant Listing Killed
Mr.. Dempsey, who said Is
States have such a prohibition,
lis opposed to the proposed use
Iof the gas tax to finance a
Maryland port authority the
Legislature is being asked to
create. The port bill calls for an
increase in the State gas tax
of three-tenths of a cent.
The Senate yesterday upheld
the Governors veto of a bill
that would have required all
apartment owners to supply the
State Controller with a list of
tenants. Voting in the minority
and for the bill were Senators
Northrop and H. Winship
Wheatley, jr.. Democrat of
Prince Georges County.