Evening star., 1960-11-09


proposed Potomac River COM |
pact yesterday, but the outcome |
wasvstili uncertain today over
the State.
Unofncial returns from LOST
Of the States 1883 polling |
places showed 172,554 voters
favoring the compact while |
1884 were against 1t.
The same situation was true
OF constitutional amendments
which would give Montgomery
County another Circuit Court |
judge and Prince Georges two
more judges. The two nearby
counties gave the judgeship
bills overwhelming approval
but some other areas voted
against the proposals. The big
majorities in the two counties
seemed likely to be enough to
carry the measures, however.
Other Amendments Lead
Two constitutional amend
ments which would allow as
sessment of farms at farmland
values rather than subdivision
values appeared likely to be
adopted. The amendments
numbered 13 and IA on the bal
lot-were being approved about
Q to with 831 of 1888 pre-
cincts reporting over the State.
The outcome of the bitterly |
contested compact hinges on
the vote of Baltimore County
which had not been heard from
today. If that county follows
the lead of neighboring Balti-
more City, the new compact
probably will be defeated.
Baltimore City, with only two
precincts missing, voted 62,177
to 46.070 against the compact.
It also received strong opposi-
ton in st. Marys and Charles
Counties which border the Po-
tomac. The heavy vote in Bal
timore against the compact ap-
parently was due to the edi-
torial stand of the Baltimore
Sun against it.
Opponents of the compact,
which would set up a Virginia
Maryland commission to regu-
late fishing in the Potomac,
claimed the proposed compact
was a "giveaway" to Virginia.
Backed by Area
If the compact is rejected, it
would mean the two States
would be back before the Su-
preme Court in their Potomac
fishing dispute. Virginia went
to the Supreme Court after
Maryland Cancelled an 1875
treaty between the States
which gave Virginians equal
fishing rights in the Maryland
owned river.
The vote in Montgomery on
the compact was 53,715 for and
22,979 against. In Prince
Georges. it was 2S,803 for and
19,543 against.
Charles County voted against
it by a score of 1926 to 1,77l.
and st. Marys voiced its OBJ
lection by a vote of 4.210 to
1908.
The compact was opposed by
watermen and by State Re-
publican leaders. Gov. Tawes
and H. c. Byrd, chairman of
the Tidewater Fisheries Com
mission, were the main pro-
ponents of the new compact,
which had been approved by
Legislatures of both States.
5 Judgeships Involved
The large vote against the
judgeshib measures apparently
reflected objections to legisla-
tors making themselves eligible
for the positions.
The measures, listed as Con-
stitutional Amendments 8 and
IL on the ballot, were passed
by the, 1859 State Legislature.
/. They would set up five new
judgeships and would remove
constitutional bars against
State legislators being named
\ for judgeships which they
create.
Amendment 8, providing two
Judges for Prince Georges, re-
ceived a favorable vote in Mont
gomery of 50,316 to 1882 and
Z. in Prince Georges 49,609 to H.
335.
Amendment II, providing d
Judge for Montgomery, one for
the Eastern Shore and one for
Western Maryland, was ap-
proved in Montgomery by a
vote of TATTOO to 10.758 and IN
Prince Georges 39,096 to 10,303.
Farm Amendment Leads
With 1882 of 1888 polling
places reported, the Prince
Georges County proposal led
l47,806 to 109,982 over the
State. With 1913 of 1888 polling
places in, the other judgeship
amendment led 113, 1874 to IT,
42O.
The farm assessment refer
ence vote, with 831 precincts
reporting, showed: Amendment
13-for 12O,622, against 65,S44.
Amendment 14-for 135 ,562,
against 1888.
The farm assessment amend
ments received overwhelming
approval in Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties, two
areas which would be most af-
fected by them.
Maryland voters apparently
decided that a newly elected
LEGISLATURE will not consider
bills of its predecessor vetoed
by the Governor. With returns
from 954 of the States polling
places, the vote was 102,773 to
80,538 on Amendment 8 which
calIllo~ea