Evening star., 1936-03-07
Adjournment Move Hangs
Over Committees in Search
for Solution.
PLANS TO BE WEIGHED
BY MEMBERS MONDAY
Rural Legislators Bluntly Tell
Baltimore That It Must Pay
Own Levies for Relief.
BY JACK ALLEN,


deliberations finds the State Assembly
still cropping for some amicable solu-
ton to the relief fund problem.
The consumers sales tax levy is dead
definitely so-and a number Of
substitute plans are being pondered.
Several of these are in the hands OF
finance committees and will be taken
up Immediately when the Legislature
reconvenes Monday.
A suggestion that an amended form
of the current per cent gross receipts
tax be enacted has found favor in
several quarters and may be formally
offered shortly.
The latter plan would provide for
one-half of per cent gross receipts
tax with a base of the present levy
broadened to include the sales of public
utilities. Levies on beer or whisky
would be included if the receipts pro-
posal alone proves inadequate.
Adjournment May Kill Revenue.
Four relief tax bills that were killed
off during the 1885 session are to be
taken up in committee following the
after indications that the extraordi-
nary session might end at any minus,
without anything being done about
welfare needs.
One proposal calls for a $1-per-
barrel tax on beer and is sponsored
by Senator Milton L. Veasey of Wor-
cester. Senator Wilmer F. Davis of
Caroline has offered a 10-cents-per-
gallon tax on whisky. A 10 per cent
levy on cosmetics and toilet articles
bears the name of Senator Clifford
Friend of Garrett. A 2-cent tax on
each package of cigarettes is provided
in a bill presented in the House by
request.
Indications are that the county
members are planning to jam the beer
tax, and possibly whisky tax, down
the city members legislative throats,
and if the county members are able
to maintain their present lines they
may succeed.
Plans Go to Committees.
The three Senate measures will be
considered by the Finance Commit
tee at meeting called for Monday
night, while the cigarette tax sugges-
tion is before the Ways and Means
Committee in the House.
Both committees must pass upon
any tax plan offered and will start
work on the relief question when they
return. Several hearings are to be
held to receive the pleas of county
and city officials in whose hands rests
the task of caring for Maryland's des-
titute
Mayor Howard w. Jackson has been
asked by Senator John G.. Callan to
appear before the Finance Committee
and the remainder of the Senate, sit
ting as committee of the whole, to
explain the plight of Baltimore City,
which would be left in a critical con-
dition if no plan is worked out.
The Association of County Welfare
Boards is to be heard by the House
. Ways and Means Committee on Tues
day at pm. in the House chamber.
Bloc Threatens Adjournment.
A county bloc, feeling that the
counties can care for their own needy
and should not be taxed to help Bal
timore carry its tremendous burden,
was reported yesterday as threaten
ing to end the three-day-old extraor-
dinary relief session at any minute
by adjourning sine die without pass
ing any sort of legislation.
, That, if it had materialized. would
have left the State without relief rev.
enue after the present l per cent
gross receipts tax expires on March
81 and would have returned the re-
lief load to the counties and cities.
Legislators from Baltimore are still
confronted with the task of convinc-
ing county members relief must be
continued and the six city Senators
are to confer over the week end in
an effort to hit upon some means of
accomplishing this.
Senator Davis, speaking on point
Of personal privilege. voiced the
sentiment of other county members
Of the Upper House went he said:
Every county in the State can
look after its own relief and we
will not impose taxes repugnant to us.
Baltimore City may as we'll know it
now. If relief is wanted in Balti-
more City, Baltimore City must real
ize that it will have to take relief
with tax on luxuries and beer or
get no relief at all.
Its time for Maryland to realize
that we will not impose taxes on the
counties when we know the counties
,y,I1o
They tell us that the problem is to
raise money for relief. For whom?
For Baltimore City, of course"
Nice Warned Speed Essential.
Another development during the
day bore out the prediction that the
city group must act swiftly.
Senator j. Allen Coad, majority
floor leader. met Gov Harry w. Nice
in the hall shortly before the Senate
met and warned him to get his bills
in Immediately if he had any for
introduction.
1.-THE legislature" Coad told the
Chief Executive, lis liable to blow
up at any minute" The Governor
went Immediately to his Office and
got his bills, including the Executive
Mansion remodeling appropriation
measures, downstairs in less than
an hour.
Nice, stunned by the suddenness
with which the Senate killed the
per cent consumers sales tax indorsed
by the Governor and his so-called
Casey Relief Committee, previously
had washed his hands" of the re-
lief situation.
The Senate killed the bill by
adopting an unfavorable report from
the Finance Committee and applied
legislative "clincher." When no move
to reconsider this action was made
today, the deadline for reviving the
issue. he said future relief moves