Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-04-01
Move to Abolish
Unit to Be on
1864 Ballot
BY JAMES b. ROWLAND
Star staff Writer

enacted ny IIle MdIyldllu Icll-
eral Assembly today when 1t
was passed by the State Senate
on a reconsideration vote.
State Senator Gilbert GUIDE.
Republican of Montgomery,
won major victory over the
majority Democratic admins
tration forces who had re-
peatedly fought the bill on the
Senate floor. 1t lost by three
votes Saturday night, but
passed today with a one-vote
margin.
Voters throughout the State
will bollot during the 1864 con-
gressional election on ABOLISH
ing the court, which is au-
thorized in an amendment to
the State constitution. II the
referendum wins, Montgomery
Circuit Judges will handle Or
phan's Court cases on a rota-
ton basis.
One Vote to Spare
. Senator Harry Phoebus. Re-
publican of Somerset, today
successfully moved for recon-
sideration of the bill and the
measure subsequently passed,
10 TO 9, one vote more than is
needed for a referendum on 3
constitutional amendment.
The Senate's six other Re-
publicans voted with Senator
GUIDE.
In arguing for the bill, Sem
ator GUIDE said two Of the three
present judges favor the move,
He later identified them as
Republicans Richard Snyder
and Mrs. Cecil Roeder. Both
were elected for the first time
last November. The referendum
was urged in the Montgomery
G.. o. P. platform. he said.
In voting against the bill
today, Senate President Will
liam James, Democrat OF Har-
ford. said there was plenty of
time before the 1864 election
to ask for a recommendation
from the Legislative Council,
between-sessions study arm Of
the General Assembly.
Urges Other Course
Mr.. James also said he would
> like TO see a bill which would
give other counties the author
ity TO abolish their Orphans
Courts by legislation rather
than by referendum.
State Senator H. Winship
Wheatley, jr., Democrat of
Prince Georges and majority
floor leader, had fought the
referendum bill, asking for a
delay until reports could be
received from county and
State bar associations.
Senator Guide. defending his
bill, had declared that elimi-
nation of the court would
shorten general election ballots
and assure residents that pro-
: bate work was handled by
judges with a legal back
ground. Orphans Court judges
do not have to be lawyers.
County Planning Control
Late Saturday, the Assembly
. enacted controversial legisls.
ton giving the Prince Georges
County Commissioners control
master coming plans.
Originally drafted as a sep
arate bill and twice pigeon
holed by the Prince Georges
delegation, the master plan
authority was tackled onto a
Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
pay raise bill by State Senator
H. Winship Wheatley, jr.
Democrat Of Princes Georges.
Under the bill, the commits.
sion cannot start work on any
master plan until the project
Is authorized by the County
Commissioners. When com.
pleted, the plan must be sub.
mitted to the county heads
who would have nine months
TO approve, disapprove, or re.
turn 1t to planners.
Planners have opposed such
restrictions, saying 1t puts toe
much OF their work under
J county control. The Commits.
sioners, however. have pressed
for the controls. and an appeal
was made privately TO the
: Prince Georges delegation last
week by Commissioners Frank
j. Lastner, M. Bayne Brooke
: and Mrs. Gladys Spellman.
Delegation Split
, Adoption OF coming maps
, now rests with the county
. heads, but the Commissioners
, have complained that they
, need a voice in master plans
since the maps are consid-
cred authoritative documents
in court suits contesting county
coming decisions.
Although the bill was en-
acted by House passage the
vote split the Democratic
Prince Georges delegation
Chairman Edward T. conroy
and Royal Hart opposed the
BILL. while william Goodman
, and Meyer Emanuel abstained.
, The salary provision raised
: the annual pay OF the 10 mem
2 bers of the commission from