The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-02-03
STATE
CAPITAL

Audit OF Auto Records.

|
Audit OF Auto Records.
Annapolis
A little skirmish in the House, re-
sulting in a victory for the Admins
| tration forces-62 to 42-was precipi
tated by the introduction by Delegate
Hall of Baltimore of an order calling
| for an audit of the Motor Vehicle Com
missioner's accounts.
Mr.. Hall and Floor Leader Gambrill,
| Of the House, headed the opposing
forces. Mr.. Roberts, Prince Georges
sided with Hall.
Styled as a "trifiing memorandum"
| the report of Automobile Commission
er Baughman was hotly attacked by
Mr.. Hall.
Commissioner Baughman last year
spent $154,000 derived from the opera
ton of the titling law for which sum
there has been no audit made and for
the expenditure of which no report
has been made, Mr.. Hall stated.
In his report the Commissioner
merely groups the expenditure Of these
| luu0S SOhCl al hOouoS AAoll SoAA
tinued, and in the report $4,000 is
charged to salaries and S21, 900 to Office
expenses. There remains, Hall said,
balance on the books of the Com
missioner of $4,000, which, he states,
he intends to hold for the operation
| of his Office and not turn over to the
| State Treasurer.
| TN, &c ho onti nf fh @
Commissioner Of spending the money
taken in by his office without render
| ing an account, Mr.. Hall charged that |
it was being used to keep "cossacks"
in Baltimore, the arraignment being |
directed against the State police
Floor Leader Gambrill came to the
defense of the Commissioner by NOV
ing that the order be referred to the
Ways and Means Committee. The
question was hotly argued, Mr.. Hall |
being supported by Delegate Roberts
Of Prince Georges and Delegates |
Kelly and Dimarco of Baltimore City. |
The bonus bill introduced in the
| Senate by Senator Norris is intended |
| to dispose of for all time the vexatious |
question of a soldiers bonus so far, at |
| least, as Maryland is concerned. The
| bill provides for referendum. The |
question, it is explained, is thus put
squarely up to the people. If the peo-
pie vote eyes," four companion bills |
were introduced as suggestions for
| providing revenue. While the bonus
bill itself carries bond issue and pro-
vides for a tax levy n order to meet
the requirements of the law and make
the bonds salable, yet the amount OF
that tax levy will be made up if any
of the major revenue producing bills
is passed, it is stated.
The pole tax alone, If passed, would
net s1,000,000 year, according to the
estimate. The inheritance tax bill
would net s1,0O0,OO0. The gasoline
tax would net $1,0OO,O00 per year.
There is a provision in the bills
that when the bonds are paid off that
particular tax ceases
Some important measures are to be
SOlu6 III IuS IIOuSS, OLueIo
in the Senate. Among these measures
are the police bills for Baltimore City,
the gas tax bills, the Public Service
Commission bills, the State police bill
and other departmental legislation.
The more important of the measures,
such as the gas tax bill-or rathsr
bills, for there are two of them-the
bill which would assess a gross re-
ceipts charge upon the public utilities
for the maintenance of the Public
Service Commission and the city po-
lice bills, have already been discussed
i'll some detail. The State police bill
defines the power of that establish
ment and limits the number of the per-
sonnel to IS.
All women employed in the State,
except domestics, would be brought
| under the protection of the Ten-Hour
| Work law for women under the terms
of bill introduced in the House
amending that law. The measure was
| submitted by the State Board of La
| Dor and Statistics. The amendment
would make the law applicable to
women working in packing plants,
| lunchrooms, telephone Offices and other
establishments not now within its
reach The existing law applies only
| to manufacturing, mechanical, mer
camille, printing, baking or laundering
establishments
State banks will be extended all the
powers Of trust companies under bill
prepared by the State Bank Commits |
sioner and introduced in the Senate. |
The bill is said to have been designed |
to put State banks on a plane with ma |
tional banks, which, under an amend |
ment to the Federal Reserve act, pass |
ed in 1918, are authorized, upon appli- |
cation to the Federal Reserve Board, |
to conduct a trust and fiduciary bust |
ness. The power is not extended TO
mutual savings banks.
Lines have already been drawn for
the fight for and against the Women's |
Equal Rights BILL introduced in the
Senate by President Norris and re-
ferred to the Committee on Judicial
Proceedings. The delegation favoring |
the bill will urge an early hearing be-
fore the Judicial Committee. The op-
ponents attack the equal rights bill
in all of it's provisions, particularly
the clause that qualities women for
jury service. Indications are that both
sides are prepared for a strenuous bat
tie.
Maryland will prosecute in the Grim
inal courts, instead Of by civil action,
persons doing business or selling goods
without license, If measure intro
duced in the Senate becomes a law.
The bill is one of the departmental