Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-02

nent reapportionment and is
expected to, present its plan to
the Assembly next month. The
big question is whether to try
to tamper with the Senate
membership.
The urban and suburban
areas want more representa-
ton in the Senate. In fact, they
don't even think they got q
fair shake in the stop-gap re-
apportionment Of House, which
was carried out under court
order. A suit to force reappor-
tionment Of the Senate has
been carried to the Supreme
Court but O decision Is not
expected before the Assembly
session ends, q factor that
could complicate the issue.
Congressional redistricting "a
another issue in which the sub
urban counties have q big stake.
Montgomery, Prince Georges
and Baltimore Counties all
would like to have q separate
congressional district Of their
own-and under q strict pop
ulation approach they are en-
titled to it-but chances Of this
coming about are unlikely since
it would involve taking a Con-
gresham away from Baltimore
City.
The last redistricting plan
passed by the Assembly was
turned down November 8 by the
voters on the grounds that 1t
was not a fair plan. Unless the
Assembly can come UP with a
new one, the new congressional
seat Maryland obtained under
the 1860 census may have to
be filled for a long time by at
large elections. as it was this
year.
Road Study Under Way
On roads, the State has un-
dertaken what is probably the
most comprehensive study ever
made of highway needs in
Maryland. The findings will be
reported to the Assembly short
ly after it convenes and will
include recommendations on
how to finance the program.
Road construction funds set
up under the last 12-year
program are expected to be ex-
hausted by 1865. In addition.
maintenance costs have been
soaring. Many officials think
that either the gasoline tax or
some other motor vehicle user
fees will have to be increased.
Strong support has been
building up. for an auto inspec-
ton program aimed at getting
unfit vehicles off Maryland
highways. The State has been
called the dumping ground for
cars that won't pass inspection
in neighboring States and Gov.
Tawes has committed his adj
ministration to support an in
spection plan. Although sew
eral such bills have died in
the Assembly in recent years,
supporters foreSee q good
chance Of passage this time.
AS in the past several years,
legislation is expected to be in
troduced to outlaw racial dis
elimination in hotels and res
taurants. Gov. Tawes has said
he will support the legislation
again this year and with mere
urban-area delegates in the
Assembly, the bill should at
least make it through the House
of Delegates.
Some Of the liveliest debate |
is expected on the Governors
proposal to abolish slot ma
chimes. A commission is study
ing how and when abolition |
should come about and is ex-
pected to have its recommen-
dations ready for the session. |
While it appears that slot ma
chimes probably are on their
way out, the slots interests and
the counties which collect taxes |
from them are not going to give |
them UP without a fight.
The State budget, despite the !
pruning shears being put to de-
partmental spending requests
by Gov. Tawes, is expected to
jump to around the $575 million
mark. The current budget is
1855 million. With a good-sized
surplus expected at the end OF
this fiscal year, Gov. Tawes
hopes to finance the new budget
without any major tax in
creases.