Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-06
Council Plans
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In MARYLAND
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
star stan Writer

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star stan Writer
BALTIMORE, Aug. 6.-The
Maryland Legislative Council
will sponsor a measure to give
the State Health Department
control over the employment Of
x-ray radiation.
The council, between-sessions
working group Of the General
Assembly, voted without dissent
to sponsor the legislation mod
eled after a proposal prepared
by the American Public Health
Association.
The council also agreed to
study a proposal by Delegate
William E. Burnley, Democrat
of Cecil County, to provide re-
duced rates on automobile liza
bility insurance for drivers who
go two or three years without
an accident.
Mr.. Burkley suggested that
these merit" drivers be given
a 20 to 80 per cent reduction
in their premium rate. He noted
that liability insurance rates
took another Jump recently and
that about 80 per cent of the
States drivers now carry such
insurance because of Maryland's
financial responsibility law.
Practice Elsewhere Cited
Mr.. Burnley said California
is operating under such a sys-
TEN and that it is being con-
sidered now in New York and
Virginia.
The councils judiciary COM
mittee is expected to have In
Surance Commissioner F. Doug
las Sears appear before it to
discuss the feasibility of the
Burnley plan. The proposal
has the backing of the Mary
land Association of Insurance
Agents.
In another action yesterday,
the council rejected a proposal
that plastic bags, used pri-
marily by dry cleaning estab-
liishmentS, be outlawed in the
State because of the number
of infant deaths attributed to
them.
Council President George w.
Della announced appointment
Of a committee to be headed
by Senator George B. Raisin,
Democrat of Kent County, to
study the methods of ham
ding narcotics users.
Harry c. Byrd, Tidewater
Fisheries Commission chairman,
made his first appearance be-
fore the council to answer some
complaints over his plan to sell
the State yacht, Potomac.
Yacht Used by Roosevelt
DR.. Byrd, former president of
: the University of Maryland, said
that repairs were running too
high and operational costs too
, much for the State to keep the
yacht which once was used by
the late President Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
He said the yacht was cost
ing the State 100000 to keep
in operation this year. 1t re-
! quires a crew of II and sleeps
only Z or 8 passengers.
He said he has been negotia-
, ting with some potential bid
derS for the yacht. and believes
) a more adequate vessel could
be procured by the State for
less than 100000.
DR.. Byrd also told the Council
that the commission was seek
, ing to erase public feeling that
it is only an enforcement
agency and that it is under
, taking a broad development
program aimed at increasing
the States sea food production.
The Council action in sup
: port of the radiation control
} bill came after State Health
/ officials and radiation experts
told of the increasing use of
, radiation at a public hearing
last June 3. Some SO States
now have radiation control
laws on their books.
The Council also had been
advised that even medical men
were not generally aware of
the effect their X-ray equip
ment has on themselves and
their patients.
The radiation control pro-
, poSal followed an announce
; ment earlier this week by Dis
trict Health Director DR.. DAN
: ield L. Finucane that his
department hopes to hire a
physicist to keep check of
: steadily rising radiation in the
!; District.
DR.. Finucane also reported
that health officials have drawn
up proposed regulations for
controlling the use of X-ray