The Republican., 1935-01-17
GOVERNOR NICE ASKS FOR
S3O,629,OOO RELIEF FUND
Chief Executive Expresses His
Opposition Against Further
Taxation of Real Estate
UTILITIES ARE AFFECTED

Annapolis, Md, Jan. 16-Governor
Harry W. Nice today asked the Mary
land legislature to provide $30,629,000
on emergency revenue during the next
80 months-an average of $957,156 a
month.
To provide that revenue bills are
to be introduced seeking to impose
state income tax, taxes on collateral
inheritances, higher levies on gross
receipts of public utilities and rear
rangement of state taxes on race
tracks, with the tax on wages being
boosted from per cent to 71a per
cent.
All the bills, except that boosting
the tax on gross receipts, are classed
as emergency legislation, would be-
come effective on date of passage and
would require a three-ffths majority
for passage.
Against Real Estate Taxes
The Governor recommended against
any further taxes on real estate. An
additional rate Of 461a cents per $100
valuation would be required for the
emergency revenue, he said, which
would make the state rate 6812 cents
per $100 valuation.
The bills are drawn and are in the
hands of Senator ]. David Bale (Rep.
Carroll), awaiting only formal intro
duction before being sent to the Sem
ate Finance Committee for the battle
which most observers feel sure is
awaiting them.
Of the emergency revenue, $685.
900 is asked for the remaining eight
months of the fiscal year from Febru-
ary to September 80. That figure
comprises the following items: Emer-
gency requirements for this year: un-
employment relief, $4,80O,0O0 (eight
months at $500, 600 month ,; e$2,229,-
900 to meet the deficit as estimated
by the Comptroller; and $1,500,000
necessary to restore the necessary
working reserve.
$11,050,000 A Year
The Governor asked $11, ,050,000 for
each of the two years in the biennium
beginning next September 80. That
amount is broken down by years as
follows:
Emergency unemployment relief,
$7,000,000; old age pensions, $3,000,-
900; administrative cost of unemploy-
ment insurance, 100000; care of the
insane and feeble minded, $500,000;
and replenishment of oyster beds (ad-
ditional to budget appropriation of
$1OO,0O0), $150,000.
The Governor devoted considera-
BILE part of his message to discus
sion of three per cent sales tax but
did mot recommend this form of tax"
He added: 81 submit it only as one
of the possibilities which have been
suggested for raising emergency rev.
enue."
He said that information and data
received by him indicated a yearly
yield of approximately $6,0O0,000
from a three per cent sales tax.
Regarding the Federal relief situa-
ton, the Governor told the Assem-
bly,:
Permit me to remind you that the
Federal Governments representative
have informed me that by February
1, 1885, the plan that our state will
employ to raise the $7,200,000 annu-
ally for emergency relief must be in
force and effect"
Closing his message, he said:
81 deplore the imposition of addi-
tional tax burdens. The necessity,
however, is acute and absolute, and
your duty and mine, imperative.
Il disavow the slightest intent to
invade your domain of choosing the
method of raising public revenues.
Believing it my duty, however, I am
submitting to you plans of taxation
for raising revenues required by the
condition of the state and its peo-