Evening star., 1933-01-27
SEEK FURTHER CUT
IN STATE BUDGET
Effort Gains Ground in Mary.
land House as Senate Takes
Fight to Committee.

BY Staff Correspondent Of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, January 27-E-
forts to reduce the estimates contained
In Gov. Ritchies budget gained ground
among the members of the House Of
Delegates yesterday, while the cham
pions of governmental economies in the
Senate carried their fight into the sec
ond budget meeting of the. Finance
Committee.
Delegate Francis A. Michel. former
Speaker of the House, was devoting con-
siderable time to a detailed study of
that document and said he might be
able to suggest improvements"
Ever since he has been relegated to
the floor. Delegate Michel has let no
opportunity pass to challenge any
measure which appeared to involve an
increase in taxes. Yesterday, for ex-
ample, he had a Washington County
bill recommitted to the Ways and
Means Committee after receiving ia
vorable county delegation report, be-
cause he feared it would provide for
CreatlOn OF new JODS.
Pleased by Legislative Cut.
One item in the budget is particu-
larly gratifying to the former Speaker.
It is an allowance of only $209,OOO Tor
expenses of the 1885 Legislature, as
compared with the $233 900 appropriat-
ed for this session Mr.. Michel at
tempted to put through economies
which would have cut the current Leg
D. ytyr1r fll
1885 allowance figure.
Anyhow, they can't raise the Cover
nor's estimate" he remarked.
A proposal to reduce the pay OF state
employees on a scaled basis in ratio to
their salaries instead of applying the
straight 10 per cent cut recommended
BY Gov. Ritchie led to a prolonged dis
cussion at the Senate Finance Commit
tees second budget meeting YESTERDAY
The plan is understood to have the
backing of a triumvirate OF champions
of further budget NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Mcintosh of Baltimore County, Roe OF
Queen Anne County and Coad OF st.
Marys County-and appeared to be
drawing support from other quarters.
Sees S5OO,OOO Salary Saving.
Senator Coad estimated that the pro-
posed scale calling for cuts as great as
IS per cent in the G!gher salary brackets,
would add a quarter of million dol
lars to the savings under the budget
figures, making a total OF proposed saw
ings of approximately $500,000 in pay
reductions.
This method of approach to the
economy program was held by the sup
porters of the plan to be more equitable
than a fiat cut and would protect the
small wage earners from undue hard
ships.
Gov Ritchie gave this plan some con-
sideration in framing his budget, but
found it impracticable. He said in his
message:
"An exhaustive study has been made
by the State employment commissioner
of various alternative methods for max
ing salary contributions, in the hope
that employees in the lower brackets
could be exempted, or some graduated
scale adopted. Unfortunately, no method
will realize the necessary funds except
a straight 10 per cent contribution. and,
subject to certain advisable exceptions,
this will begin with the month OF April,
1888"
Budget Studies to Continue.
State Purchasing Agent Walter Kirk
man, who helps draft the budget, met
with the Finance Committee to explain
its provisions. Senator Lansdale q
Sasscer, chairman of the committee,
said it would renew its budget studies
prAmptly next week. At that time the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House plans to initiate It's budget meet
ings.
A Joint committee, consisting Of rep
resentatives of the two groups, will
later attempt to agree on uniform
program Hearing will be held, at which
heads Of the various departments will
be asked to explain the appropriations
requested and be asked if further
maintenance and operation economies
are not possible.