Miller, who has resisted calls for a separate investigation, said he is examining state employee labor laws and has come to the conclusion that an independent investigation is needed.

Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach and his four committee chairmen have met privately to discuss the e-mails and phone calls they have received from dozens of worried state workers and to consider what role the Senate will play.

Miller's willingness to investigate comes several weeks after Ehrlich (R) fired longtime aide Joseph F. Steffen Jr. for spreading rumors about Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's marriage on the Internet.

"We're trying to define our role," Miller said in an interview, noting that he is becoming more disgusted with how the Ehrlich administration is treating state workers. "We're looking at some type of independent counsel to look at these issues because what is happening is wrong."

Miller said an investigation should not be a "witch hunt." "We're not going to be in the business of chasing down these O'Malley rumors or who was spreading them," he said. "We'll be looking at the role Mr. Steffen played and if there are others like him in other departments." He is also trying to figure out a way to protect state employees willing to report any abuse.

Miller said that while Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) abused the spoils system at times, the Ehrlich administration is replacing career public servants for political reasons.

Miller's willingness to talk about an investigation, its scope and even its membership was welcomed by Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda.

Frosh has been calling for an investigation since the Steffen story broke in early February. He said his discussions with Miller have centered on a commission made up of a bipartisan group of lawmakers and led by an experienced, independent investigator.

Frosh would like to grant the commission the power to subpoena witnesses, he said, because, that way, state employees could testify without fear of being fired. Miller was noncommittal on subpoena powers, Frosh said.

"There's a growing consensus that we need to do something and there's a growing consensus on how wide the scope of the investigation should be," Frosh said.

Senate Finance Chairman Thomas McLain Middleton agreed.

"We need to make sure these people are being brought in to do the people's business ó not politics," said Middleton (D-Dist. 28) of Waldorf.

Frosh took particular exception to an Executive Order released two years ago that directs state employees to report any corruption or abuse to Jervis Finney, the governor's legal counsel.

Finney is conducting an internal investigation into the Steffen matter, but Frosh said the Executive Order -- which was distributed again recently ó puts state employees in a "no-win situation."

"If you tell them about the abuses, you could get fired, and if you don't, you could get fired," Frosh said.

Finney refused to comment on the call for a second investigation. Appointments Secretary Lawrence J. Hogan has blasted the administration's detractors as partisan ax grinders who are upset that a Republican is in charge after nearly four decades of Democratic rule.

Miller said his concerns have increased since several new reports on the administration's hiring and firing practices were published last week.

The Port of Baltimore has come under fire after a 29-year-old former figure skater was given a position in the port's legislative affairs division. Capt. E. Lorenzo Di Casagrande, vice president of Mediterranean Shipping Company Inc., wrote a letter alleging incompetence with the port's new political hires -- a revelation that made waves in Annapolis.

Democrats were also enraged after James J. White, the Port's executive director, resigned Feb. 24.

"Longtime public servants with extensive maritime experience at the port are being fired arbitrarily and being replaced with Republican figure skaters," said Del. Peter V.R. Franchot (D-Dist. 20) of Takoma Park.

Franchot, who along with House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis has been leading the charge for an investigation, praised Miller's pro-investigation comments.

"The fact that the Senate president is saying this should be applauded because there is tremendous abuse going on in agency after agency," Franchot said.