Evening star., 1961-02-18
Members Irked.
But Censure
Move Fails
By PAUL HOPE
Star staff Writer

counts and editorial criticism
of some of their activities, met
in a secret session yesterday to
debate whether it should CEN
sure the press.
1t decided not to, but only
after an hour-long meeting
during which members said
they got some things off their
chests" behind closed doors.
Legislators have been growing
increasingly sensitive about
press coverage since a bitter
battle started two weeks ago
over an insurance company
run by three delegates and
other Democratic leaders from
Baltimore County. The fight to
curb activities of the company
has rocked the General AS
sembly as nothing else has in
recent years.
Some legislators also have
complained Of editorial COM
ment about a bill passed by
the House last week to raise
the lawmakers salaries from
81 800 to $500 a year.
Frivolity Charged
Main target of the criticism
at the closed meeting yester-
day was an editorial in the
Baltimore Sun entitled "Cen-
tennial Frivolity," which dealt
with the General AsSembly's
move to Frederick on Wednes-
day for a Civil War centennial
celebration.
The editorial referred to
"overworked and underpaid Cor
so they say legislators" taking
the day off to go to Frederick.
It was reported that legislators
were irritated about their trip
being thought frivolous" when
they considered it a solemn oc-
casion.
It was reported that there
also was criticism of some of
the reporting and editorial
comment on the legislative
fight over the insurance COM
pany which lists House Demo-
cratic Floor Leader A. Gordon
Boone among its stockholders
and directors.
The House put such a tight
lid on its rare meeting that
one legislator, Delegate Parke
Geiger, jr., Democrat of WASH
ington County, had a hard time
getting back in after he left the
chamber to go to the wash
room. Mr.. Geiger cooled his
heels for five minutes outside
the main door when the guard
insisted he was told not to let
anyone in. The delegate finally
was let in by a guard at a side
door.
During its open session, on-
ponentS opened their attack on
the administrations savings
and loan regulatory legislation
with the introduction OF q
counter proposal.
The new bill was designed as
a substitute for the so-called
Case bill which has strong back
ing from Gov. TaweS.
Two main proposals of the
Case bill are missing from the
new one sponsored by Delegates
Murray Abramson and Sol j.
Friedman, Democrats of Balti-
more City, and Robert P. Cam
non, Democratic of Wicomico.
These are provisions which
prohibit the formation of multi
stock savings and loan aSsocia-
tionS and would bar associa-
tionS from investing in second
mortgages.
The Case bill would set up a
new agency with broad powers
to regulate the savings and
loan industry in Maryland for
the first time. The counter
proposal would set up the new
agency but would water down
its powers considerably.
No Full Accord
The new bill does not repre-
sent the thinking, however, of
all opponents of the Case bill.
Delegate Marvin Mandel, Dem
ocrat OF Baltimore, and one of
the most severe critics of some
provisions of the Case bill, said
the new measure is not strong
enough.
The House gave final ap-
proval yesterday to a bill which
would set up controls for the
home Improvement industry in
Prince Georges County. The
bill, which now goes to the
Senate, would give the County
Commissioners authority to
adopt regulations for aimed at
"fly-by- might" contractors and
frauds in the home repair busi-
ness.
Senator j. Alvin Jones, DEM
ocrat Of Baltimore City, intro
duced a bill which would make
it a crime for newspapers and
radio and television stations in
Baltimore to refer to a persons
color in reports on crimes. Mr..
Jones is the only Negro in the
Senate.
A bill giving the Montgom-
cry County Council authority
to engage in urban renewal
projects was introduced in the
House by the county delega-
tion.
A bill which would transfer
the Frostburg State Teachers
College to the University of
Maryland is expected to be in
troduced in the Legislature
next week. A spokesman for
Gov. Tawes. who has indorsed
the proposal, said the bill is
expected to set off heavy legis-
lative debate. Proposal of the
transfer already has resulted