Evening star., 1963-02-06
House Passes
Hulf-u-Louf
Bill, 8l-34
BY PAUL HOPE
Star staff Writer

oNai ohaAA "lANNA
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. ga half
a-loaf bill to open hotels and
restaurants TO Negroes in Mary
land has passed the House Of
Delegates and has been sent
TO an uncertain fate in the
State Senate.
BY a vote of 81 10 "a yester-
day. the so-called equal ac-
commodations" legislation made
history Of sorts. II was the first
time such a measure has passed
either branch Of the General
Assembly.
With l2 counties having ex-
empted themselves from the
bill, 1t would apply to only half
the State Many supporters ex-
pressed disappointment yester-
day that so many areas were
exempted but voted for the bill
in the belief that half a loaf Is
better than none.
State Senator Joseph w.
Alton. jr.. Republican OF Anne
Arundel. said today he will put
his county back in the bill when
1t reaches the Senate. The Anne
Arundel delegation In the House
exempted the county.
Unit Change In Trouble
Many lawmakers who didn't
like the bill on any terms voted
for 1t only because their coun-
ties were exempt or because It
IS an administration measure.
With q delegates failing TO
vote, the bill received only nine
more votes than the necessary
majority.
While many Of the small
county legislators we're voting
reluctantly for the equal ac-
commodations bill, the rural
lawmakers were having a field
day elsewhere.
In the Senate. the small
counties revolted against a bill
to abolish the States unit sys-
tenn Of voting in primaries. The
bill had sailed smoothly
through the House Of Dele
gates. through a Senate COM
mittee and through It's first
test on the floor Of the Senate.
Supported by Tawes
But just before It came up
for a final vote in the Senate,
several Senators who had
voted for II the first time said
they had changed their minds.
When 1t became apparent that
the bill might be defeated, ad-
ministration forces had the
vote postponed until tomorrow.
The bill is not strictly an
administration measure. but
Gov. Tawes said he supports
it. 1t would end the dominance
the rural counties have had for
more than so years in the Sc
lection OF candidates for State
wide offices.
The House Of Delegates ap-
proved the bill last week by a
vote Of l22 to 9. In its first
test in the Senate, 1t was APP
proved by a vote Of 20 TO 0.
Gov. Tawes said he had no
comment on the Senate action.
Opposes Popular Vote
The small-county Senators
said that, despite the watering
down Of rural strength under
the unit system by reapportion-
ment Of House Of Delegates
seats last year. the small coun-
ties are still better off than
they would be under election Of
party candidates by popular
vote. Unit votes are distrib-
uted on the basis of the num-
Der OF members each county
and each legislative district OF
Baltimore City has in the
General Assembly.
The House yesterday
squelched a move toward call
ing a constitutional convention.
Rural legislators have tradi-
tionally resisted any tampering
with the State constitution in
the belief that any changes
would weaken the influence OF
their areas. Many conserva-
tives from the urban areas also
have opposed calling a consti-
tutional convention.
The bill before the House
yesterday called for creation Of
a commission TO study the need
for changes In the constitu-
ton preparatory 10 calling a
convention. II was defeated
by a vote OF So 10 ~.
All delegates from Prince
Georges County voted for the
equal accommodations bill. and
Montgomery's lawmakers split
9 10 4. Voting against II from
Montgomery we're Republicans
w. Perry Doing. John s. Me-
Inerney and James r. Miller.
| jr.. and Democrat John s. Nc
| Auliffe. Mr.. Miller said he
voted against II because II ap-
piled 10 only half the State.
The others did not explain
their vote.
The Montgomery County
Council yesterday authorized
a public hearing for April 10
on a motion 10 repeal the
county's public accommodations
law.