The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-01-03
LEGISLATURE OF THESTATE
MEETS AND ORGANIZES
David G. Mcintosh Is Named
President of Senate And F.
p. Curtis Speaker of House

State House, Annapolis, Jan. q
Organized by the Democrats in both
branches, the 1924 session of the Cen
eral Assembly of Maryland convened
at noon today.
Following the election OF David G.
Mcintosh, of Baltimore county, as
president of the Senate, and Francis
P. Curtis, as speaker of the house, the
two houses met in joint session in the
lower branch chamber to receive the
executive message, which was deliv-
cred personally by Governor Richie.
Adjournment was then taken until
early next week.
While the Richie Bruce-Lee forces
emerged from last nights caucus
with the Senate control within their
grasp through the nomination of Mr..
Mcintosh as the party candidate for
presiding officer, legislative sur
prise resulted when the city organiza-
ton suddenly switched the weight of
its influence to the house caucus and
nominated Mr.. Curtis as speaker of
the House.
Mr. Curtis, though a pronounced
dark horse until the barrier was
sprung, came in under wraps, far out
distancing J. Allen Coad, of Saint
Mary's county, who had ruled q fav-
orite until the last moment.
The message Of the Governor was
devoted to the budget and to the State
loans, which will be proposed, leaving
the matters which relate to legisla-
ton and Legislative policies, in
some detail. The budget recommen-
dations and the recommendation for
State loans contrastad these with the
present appropriations for the same
purpose and with the loans made by
the last Legislature.
One OF the Democratic platform
pledges, the governor said, prefacing
his explanations, was such decrease in
the Sta.e tax rate las the most rigid
bU- sensible economy VIII make posi-
BE"
The recommendations I will make
TODAY redeem that promise to the
full" he declared, and then continued:
The capital expenditure requests
which the different departments and
institutions have made aggregate ST.
117,006. I am recommending a State
loan of S1500,OOO, which represents a
reduction Of S9,617,O06. The mainte-
nance appropriations which are asked
aggregate S16,S2O,O77. I am recon-
mending S14,498, $50, which represents
a reduction of S2,321,41S.
THE State tax rate recommended is
p 2-13 cents, which is a reduction of
exactly cents below the present rate
Of, 30 2-13 cents.
The last time that Maryland had
State tax rate lower than p 2-13 cents
was in 1912, when the rate was % IA
cents. In 1913 it was 81 cents. Every
year since then it has been still high
er until the present administration re-
duced it to 80 1-13 cents for 1928 and
80 2-13 cents for 1924. The rate of
81 2-13 cents, therefore, is practically
4 cents lower than the State tax rate
has been in any year since 1912.
This rate represents, moreover, a
reduction Of practically 10 cents over
the seven-year period Of this and the
coming administration.
Compared with the present rate,
the new rate represents a saving to
the taxpayers of S1,755, 900 over the
period of the next three years"
His recommendations, Gov. Richie
told the Legislature, represent, of
course, the "best judgment | have
been able to form upon the financial
needs Of the State during the next
three years. They represent the low
est amounts at which l feel they can
be placed without impairing the pub
lie service and without restricting it's
constructive progress"