The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-02-27
LEGISLATURE TO RECEIVE
SALES TAX PLAN MARCH 4
Date For Special Session Is Set
By Governor Nice; Casey Pro-
pOsals Meet With Criticism
PRAISED AND CONDEMNED


The Casey report, recommending a
one-cent general sales tax to support
radically-altered state relief set
up, will be presented to the Maryland
Legislature on March A. The legisla-
tors will hold their caucus on the ev-
ening of March 3.
The Casey report is a thirty-page
affair prepared by committee named
by Governor Harry W. Nice and headed
by William ]. Casey, a Baltimore BAN
ker.
Praised and Condemned
Some circles lost no time in praising
the report. Others were equally quick
to condemn it, especially the part rec
ommending the sales tax. Legislators,
for the most part, declined to comment
until they had time to study the report
in detail.
The criticism. and the praise was
directed chiefly at the tax recommen-
dations, little or nothing being said
about the proposed changes in the re-
lief administration. The committee
had recommended that local units be
given complete power in administer
ing relief, in determining the need of
individual cases and in personnel
needed to administer the funds.
"TOkens" May Be Used
Comptroller William S. Gordy, Jr.,
said that enforcement of a one-cent
sales tax would require use of tokens
minted for a fraction of cent. He
said sach tokens would have to be in
denominations down to about one
twentieth of cent to care for five
cent purchases. Governor Nice agreed
with Gordy on the token proposition.
Casey, however, said he felt that
the tax could be collected without use
Of tokens. He said the tax could be
collected by use of "bracket" sys-
| tenn.
"For instance" he explained, all
purchases below, let US say, nine cents,
could be exempted completely. Then all
purchases between certain mini
mum and one dollar could be taxed a
fiat one cent. Purchases between 81
and So could be taxed fiat two cents
and so on"
Jacob L. Kronthal, president of the
Baltimore Retail Druggists Associa-
ton, said, "we are perfectly happy
with the recommendation. We sug-
gested mandatory sales tax to the
Casey committee. The small merchant
has been taking it on the chin from
the gross sales tax. (The State tax
which now supports relief and which
the committee recommended be re-
placed by the sales taxi"
The Baltimore Federation Of Labor
came out against the proposed tax.
1t termed such a levy "discrimina-
tory"
Emanuel Gorfne, speaker of the
1885 House of Delegates, declined to
comment until he had studied the re-
| port in detail. Gorfne was author of a
two per cent sales tax which the House
passed and the Senate killed during
the 1885 session.
Senator O. Straughn Lloyd (R.-
Wicomico) said he would vote against
such law. 81 believe the majority of
the senators will vote against it," he
added. Senator j. David Bale (R.-
Carrol), minority floorleader in the
upper house, said he felt the report
should be "backed one hundred per
cent" by the legislature. "The trouble
with the legislature last year was
that there were so many lobbyists
pulling in every direction" Bale ad-
| ded.
Delegate Thomas L. Popp (R.-Alle-
gany), minority fioorleader in the
House, said he favored a sales tax but
was opposed to the clause requiring it
to be passed to the consumer. He also
said he was opposed to earmarking re-
ceipts of such a tax to any specific
purpose.
The gross receipts tax which now
supplies relief revenue expires March
81. The Casey committee recommend
ed that the receipts levy be continued
for two months and that the sales tax
become effective June 1 for one year.
World Day of Prayer
Worlds Day of Prayer will be OBJ