The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-06-04
Maryland's New Re-
lief Law In Effect
Welfare Proposals Call For
Expenditures Of $21,sOO-
600 In Next % Months

Maryland's new 100000 relief
program and about 500 other new
laws went into effect Monday mid
night.
The relief plan was the major duty
of the recent special session of the
Legislature, which was called after
Governor Nice had vetoed a program
the regular session had drawn. Most
of the other new laws are the work
of that regular session.
Chief item in the new relief pro-
gram is a State income tax of one
half of one per cent, falling upon in
dividuals and corporations alike. It
has been estimated this tax will raise
from $1,50O,OO0 to 100000 an
nually. 1t will be levied from jan
uary 1, 1887.
The other items are:
Floor tax of " cents gallon on
whisky.
A levy of rs cents a barrel on beer.
AOA pei CSuL COSm6Llc LAX.
One per cent admission tax.
Registration of automobile driv-
ers. They must register after Janu-
airy 1, 1888.
Legal document stamp tax. The
necessary stamps already have been
provided the courts by the Comp
troller.
Pinball machine levy.
Music box tax.
Tax ON automobile titles.
The automobile titling tax has
been in effect. Some of the other
levies have been used for relief in
the past, but had expired. The reg
istration, the legal document, the
pin ball machine, the music box levy
are new to Maryland.
The program will run for twenty
eight months. The Board of State
Aid and Charities had asked larger
yield plan to run thirty months, but
the Legislature extended old taxes
for two months. then passed the low
er yield program for the shorter per-
iod. The charities board asked for
a $6,400,00O program.
About $21, 100000 for the twenty
eight NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. annually,
including Federal funds added to
those raised by Maryland-will be
available for relief purposes.
Only $1,120,000 a year will be ear
marked for direct relief, the balance
going for aid to dependent children,
old-age pensions, aid to the needy
blind and administration of the fund.
Among the other new laws which
went into effect are ones authorizing
the use of prison labor on highways
and other measures in a program de-
signed to relieve prison idleness; ex-
empting number of the smaller
railroads of the State from taxation
for varying periods of time, and
changing details of procedure in
criminal cases SO that there will be
less red tape and confusion in deal
ings with other States.
Merit System employees have the
beginnings of what is planned as a
complete retirement system. Illegit-
innate children are entitled to receive
aid for dependent children, and their
status is improved in other legal
ways.
Changes have been made in the
laws governing banking, insurance,
divorce and many other matters.
Many of the changes are the usual
technical ones made at each session
of the Legislature to clarity present
statutes or extend or limit their eff
feet.
The State Roads Commission is
empowered to issue bonds to build
toll bridges or tunnels costing more
than $3.50, 1000, and the Supervisors
of Elections may leave the names of
presidential electors off the ballots
at all future elections.
Hundreds of laws governing single
counties or municipalities became eff
fective.
A number Of other bills, including
the State bond issue of 100000
and the Annapolis Office building bill,
with its provision for a 100000
issue, have been held up because Pc
titions have been filed for referen-
dums.