Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-01
ASSEMBLY TO END
SESSIONS TONIGHT
Bills for Nearby Maryland
Counties All Expected
to Pass. :.
by WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
STAFF C,nrreennndent of The Star.


Stan Correspondent of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, April with a
probability that all legislation affecting
Montgomery anG Prince Georges Coun-
ties will be passed through the final
legislative grinding period today, the
1929 session of the General Assembly of
Maryland. will expire at midnight to-
night by operation of law. Practical
ly all of the legislation for the two
counties adjacent to the District of
Columbia, and part of both of which
Is included in the greater Washington
area, was designed to give these terri
tories city form of government and
to provide for the development and
improvement along city lines.
The Montgomery County legislation
mas been marked by sharp differences
between the delegations in the House
and Senate, with the result that some
OF the bond issues intended to be
provided for schools, roads and an i'm
proved courthouse at Rockville have
been slashed in the Senate. They are
expected back in the House late today,
and it Is probable that the House dele
cation will move to accept the amend
ed measures because they at least do
provide some money. Several amend
ments to town charters, the principal
one OF which was Takoma Park, have
been approved.
Important Measures Passed.
In Prince Georges County there were
number Of bills making it possible to
set up new town governments in several
built-up areas, provided there is APP
proval by the registered voters at ref
erendum. Cottage City was provided
with new city set-up in its charter, SO
as to give officials complete control of
its orderly development Another meas
ure provides for the control of road
houses in the county by the county COM
misSloners, while still another important
measure authorizes the commissioners
to regulate and control the location of
cemeteries anywhere in the county. This
measure was designed particularly to
protect the metropolitan district.
AS to Statewide legislation, the House
has passed and the Senate will act this
afternoon on the repeater for the decla-
rationS of intentions act This would
make it unnecessary for new residents
OF the State to appear and make affl-
davit one year before an election of
their intention to become a resident of
Maryland, but would only have to make
an affidavit on registration day that they
have lived the requisite time in the
State. However, Prince Georges County
because Of its proximity to the District
OF Columbia and the rapid increase in
It's population by absorption of the over
now from the District, was specifically
exempted from the measure as it passed
the House. In Montgomery County, to
take care of this problem, a law has
been passed which authorizes the taking
or police census one year before each
registration. Every one whose name ap-
pears on the police census books will
automatically be allowed to register.
Road Bond Bill Approved.
The Legislature passed the governors
$4,000,000 road bond bill. designed to
provide funds for a gigantic road-build-
ing program. out of which Prince
Georges and Montgomery Counties will
get an. indirect benefit The measure
provides for cutoff road at Laurel to
bring traffic into Washington by way
OF Sixteenth street, over the Columbia
Pike to White Oak, and the Colesville
road to Sligo. The other road will be a
CUTOFF at Hyattsville, opening Rhode
Island avenue direct to that town.
The Senate this afternoon is discuss
ing the bill providing for the placing in
each county seat of deputy clerk of
the commissioner of motor vehicles, so
that residents of each county may
transact their routine automobile licens-
ing business in those places, rather than
going to Baltimore, as is now required.
The bill originally was introduced by
Speaker E. Brooke Lee of Silver Spring, !
and provided for four substations in the |
State, one of them at Silver Spring. 1t |
was opposed by the commissioner of |
motor vehicles, who desired to keep the |
system as at present, but the measure !
means committee to make substation |
in each county seat, and this was |
passed by the House by a substantial !
majority There is understood to be |
some opposition in the Senate.
Four Year-Term Legislature.
This is the first Legislature of the |
State to be elected for four-year term. |
This was the second session of the four |
year term, and before another session is |
held, unless the governor should find it !
necessary to call it into extraordinary !
session, there will be an election The |
Legislature meets biennially for 80 days. |
During the current session the gov !
ernor recommended and the Legislature |
approved a tax reduction to a fiat Is |
cents for the next. two years, said to |
be the lowest State tax rate since 1912. !
This was in the face of the road-build- |
ing program, which is to be financed |
largely out of inheritance taxes col
elected by the Federal Government in
the State. The Federal law permits a
Z State to take 80 per cent of the Fed
eral inheritance taxes, upon Affirmative
action by the Legislature. This action
was taken at the present session.