Evening star., 1961-02-11
~
LEGISLATORS Seek
To Double Salaries
Delegates Vote
1888 for Rise
In Maryland
BY PAUL HOPE
BY a Star stan Writer

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 11.-Mem-
bers of the Mouse of Delegates
decided yesterday they were
worthy of their hire and asked
Maryland voters to double their
salaries.
But before 79 delegates cast
aside their modesty to put ttNir
votes on the line for a pay
raise, several colleagues took
issue with the proposal and one
suggested that the fringe bene-
fits are pay enough.
In fact, Delegate Carl Bach
arach, Democrat of Baltimore
City, implied that some legis-
latorS use their positions for
personal gain.
Abiding to conflict-of Inter
est implications that have
swirled through the State
house the last several days over
pending legislation. Mr.. Bach
arach said some legislators
might "even pay for the op-
portunity" to serve and use the
Legislature "as a private
corporation"
He also said that some
lawyers in the Legislature do
work for the State Roads Com
mission and that there "are
other emoluments."
Voted, 10 to 80
The legislation approved by
a 1888 vote would raise sal
aries from $1,000 a year to
$4,000. It needed "a votes to
pass, since it is a proposed
constitutional amendment re-
quiring a three-fifths vote of
the Legislature to put it on a
referendum ballot. 1t still must
be approved by the Senate and
will require approval of at least
18 of the 20 State Senators.
Delegate Carlton r. Sickles,
Democrat of Prince Georges,
who introduced the bill but
does not plan to run for re-elec-
ton, said the opportunity to
serve in the Legislature should
not be limited to those who can
afford to come down here"
Even with this increase it
will continue to be financial
burden to sit in this House."
Mr.. Sickles said.
The Legislature is in session
for three months in odd years
and 80 days in even years.
Legislators get $2O-a-day ex-
penses during the session, and
those who serve on the Legis-
lative Council and it's commit
tees receive extra pay for
between-Sessions meetings.
Value Their Work
Il think the service I render
to the State of Maryland is
worth $780," said Blair Lee
III, Democrat of Montgomery.
Delegate Jerome Robinson,
Democrat of Baltimore City,
said that "a laborer is worth
his hire" and that the bill
before the House was mot a
pay grab"
Delegate Alger Y. Barbee,
Democrat Of Montgomery, put
a value of $4,000 a year on
his services.
Delegate Hervey Machen,
Democrat of Prince Georges,
said he did not see how the
Legislature could approve a pay
raise for itself while telling
State employees and teachers
that I'VE can't afford" to give
them raises.
We've given school teachers
and public officials salary in
creases every year and We'll do
it again this year." countered
Delegate Robert P. Cannon,
Democrat of Wicomico.
Delegate Gale Cohill, Demo-
crat of Washington County,
said he would feel derelict in
my duty if, coming from an
economically distressed area, I
did not oppose it,"
The Nearby Vote
Among the IL delegates from
M ont omery and Prince
Georges, only three opposed the
pay raise. One abstained.
Opposing it were Charles w.
Woodward, Democrat of Mont
gomery, and Lansdale G. Sass
Ger, jr., and Mr.. Machen, Dem
ocratS of Prince Georges. Paul
B. Garbelman, Democrat of
Prince Georges, a legislator for
only little more than a month,
did not vote.
At the conclusion of yester-
days session, Mr. Robinson,
acting as Democratic floor
leader, pleaded for an end to
the bitterness which has per-
vaded the Legislature for the
last several days in a battle
over an insurance company.
Il see in the offing clouds
OF suspicion and uglineSs which
could tear this House and Sen
ate asunder and undermine the
legislative processes" he said.
The fight has been over a
bill which would curb the ac-
tivities of Security Financial
Insurance Corp, a firm run
by several Baltimore County
Democratic leaders which in
sureS deposits in savings and
loan associations.
He said there have been "a
| Oreot doo1 of i,,,olo,,a,,;a -