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is distinctly unwise and what we need to
have is an expert geographer to tell us
what it means.
We may be strapping the State down to
something it does not want to do and some-
thing Delegate Adkins does not want to do
either.
THE CHAIRMAN: Is there any further
discussion?
Delegate Marvin Smith.
DELEGATE M. SMITH: Mr. Chairman,
I would hope that this amendment would
pass and let us simmer down and recog-
nize this as a serious matter insofar as
some parts of the State are concerned.
Now, I do not see any real problem with
this the way it has been laid down. I can-
not share my brother's feeling with refer-
ence to Cecil and Harford. There we are
talking about the Susquehanna River, not
the Chesapeake Bay. There is nothing in
here about the Susquehanna River at all.
Now, to talk in terms of Bay bridges and
so on when you have tolls of $1 and $2 and
what have you becomes a serious matter,
and this amendment is not a frivolous
amendment.
There have been suggestions in these
halls within the last couple of weeks that
senatorial districts or House of Delegates
districts, might be created that would em-
brace lower eastern shore and lower west-
ern shore counties, and that would be a
fundamentally wrong thing.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any delegate
desire to speak in opposition?
Delegate James.
DELEGATE JAMES: For the first time
tonight I learned that the headwaters of
the Chesapeake are really not included in
the Chesapeake Bay. I have lived there all
my life, and I always thought when I
looked over the Susquehanna fiats I was
looking over the Chesapeake Bay. Cecil and
Harford are divided by the headwaters of
the Chesapeake Bay.
This amendment is ridiculous if Cecil
and Harford are ever considered to be a
part of a congressional district.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any delegate
desire to speak in favor of the amendment?
Delegate Raley, do you desire to speak
in opposition?
Delegate Carson?
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DELEGATE CARSON: Mr. Chairman,
I do not want to belabor the point, but
there is no question of geography here.
Harford and Cecil on their northern bound-
ary for about twelve miles are separated
by the Susquehanna River, on the southern
they are separated by eight miles of the
Chesapeake Bay; that part of the Bay is
sometimes called the Susquehanna Flats.
But there is no question that that is part
of the Chesapeake Bay. It is on every map
and it is so considered by the legislature
in all their enactments.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: Mr. Chairman,
I have no desire to create silly amendments
as one delegate has said. That was not of-
fered to be either silly or ridiculous.
This amendment was prepared in coop-
eration with the staff of my Committee. It
is not offered here frivolously. It is not
offered here to unduly occupy the time of
the commission.
I would like permission to withdraw the
amendment in light of the problem it has
created in Cecil and Harford Counties, and
I should like the right to offer a subsequent
amendment if it is not offered today, and
if not I shall offer an amendment on a
second recommendation.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins, the
Chair is very anxious to dispose of the
Committee Recommendation this evening,
and it is very anxious that we not have
amendments offered by the Committee of
the Whole on the second reading.
May the Chair suggest if perhaps we re-
vert to the traditional distinctions between
the eastern and western shores of Mary-
land that have been in the Constitution
since 1776, that you could perhaps accom-
plish the purpose of your amendment, at
least you could get a vote of the Commit-
tee of the Whole.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I think, sir, that
that probably would not do it because Cecil
County is on the eastern shore and the
county adjoining is considered to be on the
western shore.
THE CHAIRMAN: That is perfectly
true, but it would at least test the senti-
ment of the House, unless you want to ex-
clude one of the counties on the eastern
shore and one on the western shore.
May I suggest that if you withdraw your
amendment, you can consider that sugges-
tion, and if you deem it wise, you can have
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