Evening star., 1962-02-08
Trouble Facing Bill
On Restaurant Bias
Exemption Pleas
Are Expected;
Hearing Slated
BY PAUL HOPE
Star Staff Writer

star starr writer
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. "a pub
lie hearing has been scheduled
for next Wednesday on a bill
to bar racial discrimination in
Maryland hotels and restau-
rants.
The so-called public accom-
modationS" bill is one of the
most controversial that will
come before the lawmakers at
their 30-day session which got
under way yesterday.
Despite backing from the
Legislative Council and the
Governor, the bill appeared in
trouble even before it began its
course through the legislative
mill.
Introduced yesterday, the bill
was referred to the judiciary
Committee of the House of
Delegates. House Speaker Perry
o. Wilkinson asked Committee
Chairman Ridgely Melvin, Dem
ocrat of Anne Arundel, to give
top priority to the measure.
Mr.. Melvin set hearing for
3 pm, Wednesday in the House
of Delegates chamber at the
State House.
/ Must Be Statewide
1t appeared likely that the
bill may Gle because some coun-
ties are almost certain to ask
that they be exempted from it's
provisions. State officials have
said that if this happens the
bill will be unconstitutional,
since only Statewide legisla-
ton is legal at the current short
session of the Legislature.
Gov. TaweS has committed
himself to calling a special ses-
sion of the General Assembly
to enact the legislation for
those counties and cities which
want 1t if the bill is turned
down at the regular session.
Speaker Wilkinson, Demo-
crat of Prince Georges County
said the recent actions of
"agitators from out of State"
have not dashed the prospect
of the bill being passed. Sew
eral Delegates from the rural
Eastern Shore had told report
erS that the Freedom Rides on
the Eastern Shore during the
last few weeks have stirred up
opposition to the public accom-
modationS bill.
Compulsory Insurance Urged
In another legislative devel-
opment today, running mate
OF George P. Mahoney said
that a proposed State savings
and loan insurance program
should be made compulsory
rather than voluntary.
Speaking for the anti-admin-
lstration group of candidates,
Delegate Blair Lee III, Demo-
crat of Montgomery, said the
! bill proposed by Gov. Tawes
would create the illusion that
all savings accounts are in
sured when in fact they would
not be-"
This was one of the positions
taken on Gov. TaweS' top
priority" program by three
legislators who are running for
Statewide offices on a Demo-
cratic primary ticket headed by
Mr.. Mahoney, candidate for
Governor.
! Under Gov. Tawes' savings
and loan insurance plan. the
firms would contribute to an
insuring fund on a voluntary
basis.
Mr.. Lee, candidate for United
States Senate, said that a State
savings and loan insurance
program "unquestionably is a
good idea but our feeling
is that it should be compul-
sorry"
Inquest" Sought
Delegate Carlton R. Sickles.
Democrat of Prince Georges.
and a candidate for Repre-
sentative -at-large, said he will
pursue his proposal for a
grand inquest" by the House
of Delegates of "all the facts"
Ct the current savings and loan
controversy.
Mr.. Sickles and his running
mates, who include State Sena-
Tor Samuel w. Barrick for at
tN"1av general, believe that an
irVeStigation by the Legislature
would clear the air on a matter
which has become heavily in
volved in politics.