Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
BdYRockfishBi||
is Tabled Like a
Dead Mackere|
BY GENE GOODWIN
Star STAFF Correspondent


the dizziest parliamentary gira
tons seen here in years, tn,
measure would have declared +;
closed season on rockfish durinI
January and February.
It's burial came suddenly il
the House last night when oppo,
nents moved to table it for thiI
session. The motion carried, s.
to 40.
The rock is Maryland's money
fish. Commercial fishermen, whit
are we'll represented here by tn,
powerful Eastern Shore bloc
fought the bill because it woule
have prevented them from catch.
ing rock when the cold water.
make them easy to net and at 6
time Of the year when they brinl
the highest prices.
Sports fishing groups supported
the bill, maintaining that il
would be a conservation move.
Delaying Amendments
In the early stages of the bat.
tie last month, when prepayment.
OF the bill seemed to have thu
upper hand. Shore delegate.
fought for time by proposing {
series of delaying amendments
One Of the amendments would
have exempted licensed fisher.
men tthe only licensed fisher.
men in Maryland are commercial
fishermen.
The House last night also en-.
acted and sent to the Governor
the bill calling for a State func
to pay traffic accident victims
whose damage suits cannot b,
satisfied because the other mo
torist is either uninsured, from
out-of State or is a hit-and-rul
driver.
Inc Dill was approved. 80 TO Is
The So-called unsatisied iudg
ment fund 1t proposes would b,
built up by 81 fee from insured
motorists, So from uninsured
motorists and one-half of | pc
cent OF premiums from insuranc,
companies. Insured motorist,
would have to pay the fee onl,
the first year-in the spring O
1858 when they buy their Iicens,
tags.
AT the same time, the Housl
approved its version Of the com
pulsory motor vehicle insurance
plan, SO to "a. 1t goes TO tn,
Senate. which already has over
whelmingly rejected a simila
bill.
Gas Storage Advances
] On the local front. the lowe
chamber moved to the Senate
bill which would require Stat
permission and regulation O
underground natural gas reser
volrs in Prince Georges Count,
! The measure is aimed at tn
Washington Gas Light Co
which has options on about Z
per cent of a 7,000-acre trac
near Brandywine. where it plan
to store gas more than 1000 fee
underground.
The House Alcoholic Beverage
Committee gave favorable re
ports TO the four remainin
Prince Georges delegation liquo
bills before it.
No action was taken, hoWeve,
on the big liquor measure intro
duced by the Prince George
Senator. H. Winship Wheatle,
Ir. This bill has passed III
Senate but is expected to die /,
the Alcoholic Beverages Commit
tee. because committee leade,
opposed some Of its more drasti
provisions, such as the dispen
sary system and the prohibition
on all Sunday alcoholic beverag
sales in the county.
Automatic Revocation
The strongest Of the four bill
reported out yesterday woul
provide for automatic revoca
ton OF county liquor license
when the licensee or one of hi
employees is convicted twice il
two years of selling on Sunda
or after hours.
II provides for automatic 80
day suspensions whenever
licensee is convicted of a Sun
day or after hours sale, or upo
Two convictions Of any of his EN-
ployes III two years. The bill
also would require the count
liquor board TO either suspen
OF revoke a license whenever
llcersee is convicted Of gamblin
or whenever two of his employe
are convicted in two years q
gambling.
Another of the Prince George
delegation liquor bills on il
way to the Senate would requir
liquor establishments to loo
their liquor up in closed com
partments on Sundays and dur
ing hours when liquor sales ar
prohibited The third bill woul
require restaurants with sepa
rate package liquor stores 1
close those stores at midnivh
instead Of 2 am. on weekday,
The fourth measure propose
to increase the Prince George
Liquor Board chairmans salar
from 1000 to 81 900 a year. Tn
two board members from 100
to 81 500 and the board attorne
from 81 200 to S2.40O.
Tw0 Eniyfnx Aon,o,