Evening star., 1937-01-06
NICE RECOMMENDS
PAY RESTORATION
Legislators Hear Program
Which Would Continue
Present Aid Tax.
BY JACK ALLEN.
STAN Correspondent Of The Star.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. January 6-Res-
toration Of all 1888 pay cuts. con-
tinuation of the present relief tax pro-
cram and an increase in the State
police force were recommended by
Gov. Harry w. Nice today in his
address converting the regular 1887
session Of the Maryland General As
sembly.
He also set forth in clear terms he
felt appropriations to State depart
n,ents should be increased, but Of
fered no suggestion as to the source
that should be tapped to provide the
additional revenue, apparently with
holding his views for his budget
message later.
The budget message, which must be
delivered within 20 days. will carry
in detail the Governors proposed in
creases for various agencies.
"It is easy to realize" he declared,
"at the very outset that the shrinkage
in the States normal income and the
subsequent curtailment of many activi-
ties have put us in the position after
nearly four years OF drastic economy
where many necessarily neglected
tasks must be faced if We are really
to take care of certain fundamental
needs"
Hits Critics.
In his address the Governor took
the critics of his administration to
task after reviewing the work of all
State departments during his admins
tration and pridefully pointing out as
"a most noteworthy achievement" that
no agency has exceeded its budgetary
allotment during 1886 fiscal year.
Men in public Office" he stated.
"become the frequent target of at
tacks born of misunderstanding that
az times seems almost wilful. I think
it can be conceded that an apparently
consciously determined misconstruc-
ton has been used so frequently by
some of my opponents as to make it
facetious.
IT have endeavored to be fair con-
ecientious and certainly have labored
to the limit of my ability to give a
sound, honest and efficient admin
tstration.
In the main, such criticism has
been based upon a blind partisan
hostility.
Il hope, however, that our critics
will have sufficient sense Of fair play
as not to try to make it appear that
this recitation of our achievements
(yours and mine) has been submitted
In any spirit of SNUG self-satisfaction."
Allays Sales Tax Fears.
Nice's recommendations that the
present relief tax program be con-
tinued set to rest, for the present. at
least, the fears of many merchants in
Montgomery, Prince Georges and other
counties adjoining non-Sales tax COM
munities that another attempt would
a straight sales tax adopted for relief
needs.
1t had been reported in many
quarters that Gov. Nice would en-
deavor to have such levy enacted as
q substitute for the present program,
which consists of levies on beer,
whisky, cosmetics. amusements, auto
mobile titling and increased corpora
tion franchise taxes. It was adopted
over his recommendation of straight
sales tax for relief purposes last year.
Discussing the restoration of pay
cuts imposed on school teachers and
classified employees, the Governor told
the legislators with the funds at my
disposal I shall do my part. but for
the balance those deserving groups
must look to you"
Would Halt designations.
Nice said that half of the classified
employees on the pay roll in 1888 and
many school teachers as well have
left the service for more lucrative
fields" and declared the wage cuts
should be restored to prevent addi-
tional designations.
He said only 10 of the IS men now
on the State police force are left for
road patrol work after the necessary
assignments are made for other
routine duties of that department. He
said the personnel of the force should
be increased by so men.
Consideration, he said, should be
given the report of the commission
studying the road problems of the
State. He said the report would
present an entire fiscal set-up which
would permit Maryland to accomplish
in the course of time a road program
such as it has Intellectually" en-
deavored for years to carry out.
The Governor declared the program
could be projected with no increased
outlay to the taxpayers" He said that
Maryland in the past has been SPEND
ing money in "hand-to-mouth man.
rier" in futile effort to develop such
schedule.
Jail Crowding Pointed Out.
Nice further said the Legislature
also should give serious consideration
to the report of the commission which
has been studying overcrowded condi-
tions and idleneSs In the State penal
institutions.
He suggested another commission
be formed to make a complete study
Of the entire fiscal structure OF the
State and its subdivisions and en-
deaVOr to formulate Improvements in
coordination and centralized control.
He asserted program of that type
would lead to substantial savings.
His other recommendations in
eluded:
Increase in the budgetary allot-
nnents for care Of insane persons and
sale Of bonds for construction addi-
tional facilities needed for proper hos
pitalization.
Appropriation Of funds for 1000
additional beds for colored tubercular
patients.
Steps be taken to make reason
able provision for boys and girls who
graduate from colored high schools"
Gov. Nice charged. In this respect,
the State has never met its obliga-
ton"