Evening star., 1962-04-30
Extra Session
Delay Draws
3-Wuy Attack

DIAL 1N1OfLEr April OO NAEJ'
Hume and George P.
Mahoney, the two chief candi-
dates opposing Gov. Tawes in
the Democratic gubernatorial
primary, attacked the governor
yesterday for not calling an
immediate special session Of
the legislature to act on reap
portionment.
And a Montgomery County
Republican candidate for Con-
gress demanded that Gov.
Tawes speed reapportionment
by dropping further contest Of
the court suit and thus termi-
mating the case now.
Newton 1. Steers, an invest
ment company head who lives
at 6601 River road, sent Gov.
Tawes a telegram yesterday in
which he said:
The only excuse for your
further delay is your desire to
benefit from the malappor-
toned county unit vote which
will determine your nomina-
ton"
Governors Position
The Governor on Saturday
said he hoped to call a special
session to reapportion the leg
stature by June / provided
certain court action in the mall
apportionment litigation can be
taken care Of by then.
On his statement Mr.. Hume
said:
Now with a clear mandate
from the Maryland Court of
to act promptly in get
ting fair representation re-
stored in Annapolis, the Gov
ernor is once again dragging
his feet. stalling and finding
excuses"
Mr.. Mahoney suggested Gov.
Tawes stop playing politics
with reapportionment and meet
the issues fairly and squarely
for the sake of the good repu-
tation of the State of Mary
land"
Steers Critical
Mr.. Steers, who is running
for the Congressman-a at-large
seat, is one of the plaintiffs in
the reapportionment suit now
pending before Anne Arundel
County Circuit Court Judge o.
Bowie Duckett. The court has
been ordered by the Maryland
Court of Appeals to decide
W h e t h er Maryland's urban
voters are the victims of dis
elimination in the apportion-
ment of the General Assembly.
The Governor pushes re-
apportionment when it suits
him but is fighting it in court"
said Mr.. Steers. THE Judge
could hand down a decision
today If Gov. Tawes would
concede judgment and quit
the suit"
Mr.. Steers said his telegram
demanded that the Governor
confess judgment which would
terminate the case. A scheduled
conference Friday between
attorneys for the State and the
plaintiffs could be eliminated
if the Governor were to act as
Mr.. Steers asks, he said. The
State is expected to agree at
the Friday conference that
malapportionment exists, thus
paving the way for final court
disposition of the case.
The Bethesda Republican
called for quick summoning of
q special legislative session on
reapportionment.
He said there is still time
albeit Short-to do so before
The May 18th primary.
Gov. Tawes told a news con-
terence during the week end
hat he will summon a special
session after the courts declare
Invalid those sections of the
State constitution dealing with
representation.
Hearing to Be Set
The Maryland Committee for
Fair Representation brought
the suit to force the legis-
ature to reapportion itself.
Judge Duckett dismissed the
suit last year but the Court Of
Appeals sent it back after the
committee appealed.
Judge Duckett said he would
confer with attorneys Friday
'egarding the states answer
% the suit. and would set a
hearing date as soon as the
answer is filed. The jurist also
aid he would ask the Court of
Appeals to assign another Judge
o hear his regular docket. so
lie could concentrate on the re-
Ipportionment case.
Residents of the populous
Maryland counties surrounding
'altlmore and Washington
ontend l9 counties with only
4 per cent of the states pop
Ilation control both houses of
he legislature, in violation Of
he constitution.
If Judge Duckett rules a per-
inent section Of the constitu-
ion void, the governor said,
le plans to call a special legis-
ative session otter the May IS
Urinary.