Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-01-22
IMPORTANT
MEETING HERE
FRIDAY 18th
Mayor Ross Calls Representa-
tives From Worcester Cities
To Discuss Gasoline Tax
IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED

A meeting of tremendous impor-
lance to the citizens Of the four in
corporated towns in Worcester Coun-
ty was held in Pocomoke City last
Friday night on the second floor Of
the Fire Engine house.
The meeting was called by Mayor
Ross and the following city officials
were present: Mayor Elliott and Coun-
cilmen Townsend and Laws from
Ocean City. Mayor Powell from Ber-
lin. Mayor Byrd and Councilmen
Timmons, Perdue and Hudson from
Snow Hill. Mayor Ross, Councilmen
Robertson, Dryden and Mock and At
torney Godfrey Child from Pocomoke.
Senator Milton L. Veasey and Dele
gates Clarence Robertson and Ralph
Dennis were also present.
The matter of incorporated towns
and cities sharing in Maryland's gas
tax revenue was thoroughly discuss
ed and on motions duly seconded the
following resolutions were adopted.
First: The four Incorporated towns
Berlin, Ocean City, Pocomoke and
Snow Hill) should share in Wor-
cester County's portion of the gas
tax revenue.
Second: The division among the in
corporated towns should be on a
basis of each town total tax assess
ments in proportion to the combined
assessments of the four towns.
Third: Twenty (2O) per cent of Wor-
cester County's allotment of the gas,
tax revenue, each year, should go
to the Incorporated towns.
Under the old law incorporated.
towns and cities in Maryland receiv-
ed from the counties portion of the
revenue derived each year from the
levy on road and bridges. Under hat,
law Pocomoke's allotment finally
reached an amount in the neighbor-
hood of three thousand dollars an
nually. The present law, which gives
the state supervision of the county
roads and bridges, is not specific in
so far as municipalities are concern
ed. While the law says in substance
that the Incorporated towns are en-
titled to their portion of the gas tax
revenue allotted to the county, yet it
also says that before any amount can
be paid to an Incorporated town the
Commissioners of the county must
make specific recommendation to the
state authorities. In other words,
if there is no recommendation from
the county commissioners the citi-
zens of the incorporated towns, while
paying their share of the tax, re-
ceive no direct benefit from the reve-
nue. derived therefrom.
On January 9, 1887, the Maryland
League of Municipalities was organ
lied at Annapolis. The purpose Of
the League is to enable city officials,
through state, district and county
to work as units in behalf
of the citizens of their respective
communities. Mayor Phipps of An
napolis is President of the League
and Mayor Truitt of Salisbury is Vice
President representing the first dis
trict which is composed of Worcester,
Somerset, Wicomico and Dorchester
Counties. Through the meetings Of
the League it has been developed that
Prince Georges county is the only
county in the state where the incor-
porated towns and cities receive por-
tion (fixed by law of the gas tax
revenue. A special bill was passed
fixing the amount and method of divi-
sion in order that there should be no
in Prince Georges
county in connection with a fair and
equitable distribution of this revenue.
The incorporated towns and cities in
the other counties through the state
may, if the county commissioners so
elect, get a portion of this revenue, or
they may never get any portion of
the fund. This is not the case, how
ever, with regard to Baltimore-Balti-
more receives 1920 of the gas tax
revenue and the last annual distribu-
ton fixed Baltimore's allotment at
more than three million dollars while
two and a quarter million were divided
the counties of the State.
A general meeting of the Maryland
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