Evening star., 1962-02-26
Towes' Top
Items Reported
In Trouble
BY PAUL HOPE
Star Staff Writer

ollIy 1IClllS-puUllC dCCOIllIllO-
dations and reapportionment
bills-are in deep trouble, while
some of his other proposals ap-
pear to have smooth sailing.
The death blow to public ac-
commodations legislation, which
would prohibit racial discrim-
ination in hotels and reStau-
rants, apparently was admin
istered last week in the House
judiciary Committee.
The committee tabled the
bills after lawmakers from the
Eastern Shore asked that their
counties be exempt from the
legislation. Though there may
be a move to petition the bills
to the House floor for a vote,
the legislation seems to be dead
for this session.
Special Session Looms
At first Gov. TaWes was in
clined to seek a vote of the full
House to see what the lineup
would be, but after comforting
with legislative leaders he ap-
parently decided to let it ride.
The Governor plans to call a
special session for March 8, the
day after the current 30-day
meeting is scheduled to end, to
deal with public accommoda-
tions.
The Governor hopes to get
enough support at the special
session to at least enact a
public accommodations mea-
sure for these counties which
want it. 1t may be difficult
to do even this since a majority
of General Assembly members
would have to vote for it.
The Assembly is struggling
again with reapportionment of
House seats. AS in past years, it
seems likely that the rural
counties will be able to thwart
the wishes of the urban areas.
Reapportionment Bill
A House subcommittee, head
ed by Delegate Alger Y. Barbee,
Democrat of Montgomery, has
worked out a reapportionment
bill from the Welter of meas
ures which were introduced. He
will present it this week to
the House Judiciary Committee.
MIR. Barbee characterizes the
subcommittee draft as com
promise plan" which he hopes
might get a little support from
the smaller counties.
Gov. Tawes pleged to put the
full weight of his office behind
reapportionment, but so far
there has been little evidence
of pressure from the chief ex-
cutlve on the legislators.
The TaWes-supported bill to
provide State plan for insur-
ing accounts in savings and
loan associations seems likely to
win Assembly approval without
much trouble. The only oppo-
sition came from Federally in
sured savings and loan firms
which said a State insurance
plan should not be considered
until the Maryland savings and
loan situation becomes more
Stabilized"
Insurance Vote Nears
The insurance bill has won
preliminary approval in the
House of Delegates and is up
for final passage there this
week. Then it will go to the
Senate.
The Tawes-backed bill to
provide new controls on sale of
stocks and bonds also seems
likely to be enacted without
trouble. It has been approved
by a Senate committee and is
scheduled for floor action this
week.
A proposal to tighten REFER
endum procedures has travelled
a rocky road so far, but a
watered-down version was ap-
proved last week by the Senate
Judicial Proceedings Commit
tee. This, too, is one of the
Governors top priority items.
The bill which came out of
committee would raise the
number of signatures necessary
to put a General Assembly,
passed bill on referendum from
10000 to about $4,000. AS orig
inally proposed. the bill would
have increased the signatures to
about $4,000. Committee men,
bers protested this was entirely
too high.
Teacher Pay Issue
A controversial teacher pay
bill was introduced last week.
Although it may produce fur
ry of debate, it seems unlikely
to garner enough support for
passage. Gov. TaWes is opposed
to it. His May Democratic pri-
mary opponent, GeorPe P. Ma
honey and Mahoney supporters
in the Legislature are for it.
The bill would increase the
minimum State teacher salary
scale to $4,000-$6.000. 1t would
cost STA million next year.
So far, election-year politics
has been kept pretty well under
wraps during the session. Three
legislators on the MahSrey
ticket have issued a few state
ments critical of the Governor,
but they have gone along with
most of his program.
A proposal by one Mahoney
man, Delegate Carlton r.
Sickles. for a grand inquest"
on the savings and loan situa-