Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-04-24

REPORT THROWS
LIGHT ON WORK
OF STATE BOARD

CONTINUED From Page One.)
For the four years crab revenues
averaged S3.697, while to enforce the
crab laws the Commission kept the
State Fishery Force In operation dur
ing the summer at an expense of at
least $4,000 a month, and paid out ST.
$50 to crab inspectors
Deficits In 1921 And 1922
The Came Departments has its own
fund. from hunters licenses, sufficient
TO maintain il and provide for the
propagation of game, but the Commits
,ion's budget as approved by Cover
nor Richie for the next two years,
calls for an expenditure of $139,740 in
1921 and S13S,740 in 1922 in all the
other departments At the present
rate of taxes and licenses on oysters.
fish and crabs, the expected revenues
of the Commission are estimated at
$4,000 annually. This means de-
icit of $54,740 for 1921 and of $53,740
for 1922. To meet these, for which
provision could be made only out of
the general funds of the State the
Commission proposed to the Legisla-
ture these changes in taxes and Ii
censes:
An increase of the bushel tax on
oysters from l cent to 2 cents.
An increase of the inspection tax on
other than Maryland oysters of from
1-3 of cent to l cent per bushel.
An increase of tonger's licenses
from $3.50 to IS a year.
An increase of crabbers' licenses
from 81 to $3.50.
An inspection tax on hard crabs of
) cents per barrel.
An inspection tax on soft crabs of 5
cents per box.
A fish license Of 50 year and up.
Query As To Fair Play
These seven changes would have
brought. respectively $4,000, $1,000
IS, 400 S2.250. $4,000. $$4.200 and So
600 to the Commission in revenues, or
total of $61,S50. The inspection
taxes would necessarily have been
passed on to the ultimate consumer.
and only a fourth of the increased
tevenues would have fallen on those
engaged in catching products which,
before being caught, belonged to the
State at large.
Was ii not fair play inquiries the
Commission. TO propose that those
earning their livelihood out of these
products should pay to the, State at
least enough TO reimburse the State
'or the expense of maintaining it's
Conservation Department for the pro
lection and upbuilding of these indus
tries?"
As to the claim that the crab bust
ness. chiefly located at Crisfeld, could
not bear the tax of cents per box on
soft crabs or > cents per barrel On
hard crabs, it i; said that Maryland
dealers are going to North Carolina in
the early months OF the year, and pre-
vious to the legal catching season in
Maryland, 70 taair supply Of crabs
snd paying that State tax Of 81
cents per dozen on soft crabs. or 50
to 35 cents box. and 10 cents per
gallon for crab meat or 20 tos25 cents
per barrel tax on hard crabs.
Routine Work To Go On
The routine work of the Commits
sion will go on because the State has
appropriated sufficient funds therefor
cut of the general tax levy, which
means CT cou sc a contributi IN from
every individual taxpayer of the
State regardless Of where he lives or
whether he mas an immediate or di-
rect benefit from these industries,
says the bulletin:
Every effort should be made TO cut
the budget items so as to reduce the
amount for which the Commission
must requisition the State. But it
viii be seen by all who stand for fair
play" that the Commission has dcne
nothing more or less than its plain
duty in submitting the revenue bills.
Now is the time to pull together.
The condition of the States water re
sources as reported by the expert in
vostigators and as observed by all
who care to look into the situation,
requires immediate steps to conserve
and upbuild this great asset of the
State. Cast aside the political agita-
tor and let each waterman look at the
real situation for himself. If he has
any criticisms or complaints to make,
let the Commission hear from him.
If he abs any constructive sugges-
tions to submit, they too. win be vel
come.