Evening star., 1961-05-16
Urges Change
In System as
Drives Mount
By PAUL HOPE
Star Staff Writer

Finan of Maryland said today
that the States referendum
laws are being abused and that
more signatures should be re-
quired before a bill passed by
the General Assembly could be
placed on the ballot.
His comment reflected a
growing feeling among State
officials that the referendum
provision of the State consti-
tuition is being abused this year.
Petitions are being circu-
lated to place four major pieces
of legislation enacted by the
recent session of the General
Assembly on referendum. These
are the congressional redis-
tricting act. savings and loan
regulatory measure, a bill put
ting the new Baltimore Munich
pal Court into operation. and
a bill tightening eligibility for
unemployment benefits.
The requirement for only
10000 signatures is a ridicu-
lously low figure" Mr.. Finan
said.
Under the Maryland consti-
tuition, a bill passed by the
General Assembly with GER
tain exceptions) is subject to
a vote of the people if 10000
voters sign a petition asking
that it be placed on referen-
dunn.
Figure "UnreaIistic"
In view of population trends,
the 10000 signature provision
is unrealiStic," Mr.. Finan said
He pointed out that Maryland
has more than 3 million people
and approximately IL million
registered voters.
Mr.. Finan noted that the
constitution requires signatures
of 10 per cent of the voters of q
county or of Baltimore City to
place a piece of local legislation
passed by the General Assem-
bly, on referendum.
He said he thought the re-
quirement for placing a State
wide bill on referendum should
be at least 10 or Is per cent OF
the registered voters in the
State. This would require
10000 or 180, 900 signatures.
Mr.. Finan was particularly
critical of the movement to
place the savings and loan law
on referendum. The measure,
which is scheduled to go into
effect June l. would give
Maryland its first regulation
of the savings and loan IN
dustry.
Payment Reported
1t has been reported that
some of the people circulating
the petitions are being paid
four cents a name to get the
signatures. Mr.. Finan said it
is illegal to pay for a signature
but not illegal to pay the per-
son circulating the petition.
The savings and loan petitions
and those seeking a referen-
dunn on the Baltimore Court
bill repeatedly are being circu-
lated by the same people. The
forces behind the petitions have
not identified themselves.
The movement to place the
bill Tightening unemployment
insurance eligibility on referen-
dunn has been undertaken by
the Maryland-District of Co
lumbia AFL-CIO. During the
fight over the bill at the recent
session of the General Assem-
bly,, organized labor spokeSmen
said Maryland officials who
were pushing the legislation
were out of step with the ma
tional administration.
The movement against the
congressional rediStricting act
was started by the Montgom-
cry County League of Women
Voters and is getting consider
able support. Republican lead
ers have Endorsed it.
A bill passed by the General
Assembly requiring public
transportation of parochial
school students in Baltimore
County also is the target of a
referendum movement in that
county.
In Cambridge, the Dorchester
County Seafood Workers Asso-
citation announced today it had
gained enough support to force
a referendum on a bill passed
by the 1861 General Assembly
that would prohibit private
leasing of oyster bottoms in
Dorchester County.