The Republican., 1932-12-01
COUNTIES FORMULATE TAX.
RELIEF PROGRAM MONDAY
Seventeen Are Represented at
Meeting Held at Annapolis
Legislative Program Outlined
CANNOT BE DEFERRED

Asserting that they had no in
tention of unloading" on Balti-
more city a part of their State
tax burden, representatives of
seventeen, counties of Maryland
meeting at Annapolis on Monday
to plan reduction of county lev
les, decided to appoint a commit
tee to meet with city represen-
tatives for a conference in their
adopted program.
AS outlined at the close of the meet
ing, which recessed on call of the
chairman, the program of the coun-
ties representatives involved:
ALLEGATION of l cent of the 2-cent
gasoline tax maintenance fund to the
counties in the same manner as the
11a a-cent construction fund tax now
is distributed-for expenditure by the
respective counties on county roads.
Reduction of the legal school levy
rate for equalization fund participa-
tion from 81 cents to 40 cents in the
counties.
Changing the State statutes to
make petty larceny ($25 or less) a
misdemeanor instead of a crime, to
permit trial by magistrates and lower
the county costs for keeping prisoners
awaiting trial.
Diversion to the counties of all
fines for automobile violations COM
mitted within their boundaries.
Bills embodying these proposals will
be drafted by members of legisla-
tive committee and copies, it was an
nounced, would be sent to the County
Commissioners in all parts of the
State within a week or ten days.
Of the States twenty-three coun-
ties, all except six were represented at
the meeting by members of the boards
of commissioners and counsel to the
boards. In some cases, more than one
member of a board was present. The
counties represented were Allegany,
Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline,
Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick,
I Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's st.
Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Washing
ton, Wicomico and Worcester. A let
ter was received and read from the
board of Garrett county in which the
members stated that public business
prevented their presence at the meet
ing.
Legg Named Chairman
Former State Senator j. H. G.
Legg, of Queen Anne's county, was
named permanent chairman, and The
odore Panteleo, an employe of the
Anne Arundel county roads depart
ment, was chosen permanent secre-
tary. The meeting was held in Car
vel Hall.
Mr.. Legg, who is counsel to the
Queen Anne's board, said "the time
has come to act, because we can't de-
lay this thing any longer"
"We have come here to represent
the people back at home and we
haven't come to see what the great
Executive is going to do or to talk
about the report which was made In
The Sun yesterday (the report of the
Hollander Tax Survey Commission)"
he added.
Says Counties Must Be Heard
"The County Commissioners are re-
sponsible to the people of their coun-
ties, and they should not wait to see
what somebody else is going to do.
You know better what the people
want, what they need. The Board of
County Commissioners is just as SOW
ereign power as the great Execu-
tive so far as local government goes
far more capable than great COM
missions to tell the Legislature what
the people of the counties Of this
State want.
"I don't imagine he'll Governor
Ritchie) finish his great plan until he
hears from the twenty-three counties
of the State. 1 say the great Execu-
tive and even the great members of
the State Roads Commission Brooke
Lee) will have to listen when the
counties come forward presenting a
solid phalanX.'
Suggested by Balch
The appointment of the committee
to acquaint Baltimore authorities with
the aims and proposals of the county
groups was suggested by Herbert c.
Balch, of Talbot county, counsel to the
Eastern Shore Association of County
Commissioners.
Mr.. Balch said:
"The organized forces of the admin
istration have seen the way the wind
is blowing and have started to work.
The administration forces, perhaps
properly, have organized, and we are
attempting to form legislation per-
haps to affect Baltimore city, and any
Doc,o