Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-25
BILLS ARE DRAF TED
FOR TWO COUNTIES
Montgomery, Prince Georges
Delegates to Present
Measures Monday.
BY GEORGE PORTER,
STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, November 25-
The first group Of municipal bills to be
introduced by Montgomery and Prince
Georges County legislators during the
current session were drafted here yes
terday and are to be presented when
the General Assembly reconvenes Mon
day night
They affect Rockville, Gaithersburg
and Riverdale.
AS explained by DR.. George l.. Ed
monds, chairman of the Montgomery
County delegation, the Rockville bill
will permit that town to apply to the
Public Works Administration for a
$4,000 loan and grant for street i'm
provement and sewer extension. The
town hopes to obtain a grant Of 80 per
cent of the cost of the project and the
bill will give it authority to borrow the
remaining 10 per cent.
In accordance with a request from
Stedman Prescott. corporation counsel
of Gaithersburg, DR.. Edmonds agreed to
present a bill Monday night giving the
mayor and council of that town au-
thority to impose fire tax Of not more
than Is cents per 500 Proceeds would
be used for maintenance and operation
Of the Gaithersburg Volunteer Fire De-
partment.
MuEikin to Offer Bill.
Delegate Kent R Mullikin, chairman
of the Prince Georges County delega-
ton. expects to introduce q bill extend
ing the time for payment of future obli-
cations of the town OF Riverdale from
6 to 10 years.
Yesterdays session was marked by
introduction of eight important meas
ures affecting the Home Owners Loan
Corporation, a resolution of sympathy
for Albert j. Almoney, chief clerk of
the House, formal statement by SEN
ator J. Allen Coad attacking the ad-
ministrations proposed excise tax on
liquor, and an informal discussion Of
a proposed excise tax on beer.
Senator Lansdale G. SaSscer of
Prince Georges County introduced the
Home owners Loan Corporation bills,
which marked the second step in the
administration legislative program.
The bills would place the bonds OF
the corporation in practically the same
status as Federal and State bonds.
They would allow the bonds to be given
as security for State deposits. make
them eligible for investment Of trust
funds, allow insurance companies TO
purchase them as part Of their re-
quired reserve. and make them legal
for investment purposes by building
associations. The State bank commits
sioner, in mis- capacity as receiver, also
would be allowed to take them as de-
posts under one of the bills.
BY a rising vote the House adopted
resolution presented by Majority
Floor Leader James J. Lindsay and
Minority Floor Leader Oliver Metzerott
extending the sympathy of the dele
gates to Chief Clerk Uncle Albert"
Almoney of Rockville, who is unable
to attend the present session because
Of an operation.
The resolution commended Mr..
Almoney for his efficient and valuable
services" over a period of more than
Is years. during which he had EN-
deared himself to the members"
Liquor Bill Offered.
The only other measure offered dur
ing routine meeting of the House
was duplicate Of the State liquor
BILL presented in the Senate Thurs
day. 1t was introduced under the name
of Speaker T. Barton Harrington.
A joint conference between Senate
and House Democrats in the afternoon
failed to determine definitely whether
or not to limit legislation to the Gov
ernors six-point program. The matter
will be discussed again at individual
caucuses of the two bodies next week.
Before leaving for his home in
Leonardtown, Senator j. Allan Coad
of st. Marys County, handed news
paper men a statement opposing Gov.
Ritchie's plan to impose an excise tax
OF sl.10 gallon on liquor and for
titled wines.
Terming the proposed tax most OBJ
Jectionable and unwise" Senator Coad,
who is regarded as a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Governor,
declared it might easily result in the
outright defeat Of its avowed purpose
the raising of revenue.
The price of whisky should be made
as low as poSsible-low enough to take
away all incentive and inducement to
those who might be disposed to con-
tinue the illegal manufacture and sale
Of whisky" the statement said.
mo one knows what the Federal
Government is going to do in the mat
Ter of gallonage tax but even if the
rate proposed of $3.50 a gallon is
agreed upon land it may be consid-
erably more than that, the adding of
a tax by Maryland of Sl10 a gallon
would mean that even the commoner
grades of whisky would have to retail
at approximately So per quart.
Were this to become the case, not
only would bootlegging continue and
lawlessness prevail in connection with !
Every phase of liquor traffic in this
State. but the revenue Anticipated |
would never materialize.
"A tax on whisky Is only another |
AK which the people in the end must |
pay and which will leave them lust |
hat much poorer. do not feel that |
hey can afford at this time any such |
additional tax burden.
If the loss Of revenue alluded to by |
The Governor in his message means a
deficit instead CT surplus in the |
States treasury at the end Of this bud |
yetary pekriod it will be deplorable
But it may be that it is the only |
means by which the excessive cost of |
In this State can be forci-
bly, impressed on the people. Perhaps
The people may take means of their /
OWN to bring about the reduction in !
State expenditures that are essential if |
/ condition worse than that now exist
ng is to be prevented" O..
The beer tax proposal was discussed |
among the Senators, some
If whom favor levy of cents a GAL
on, while others have proposed a fiat
mpost of ST a barrel in addition to
he Federal tax of S. barrel. 1t was
estimated that an excise tax on beer