Evening star., 1937-04-01
LEGAL GAMBLING
URGED FOR RELIEF
Maryland Legislature Would
License Bookmakers and
Pjn-BaI| Machines.
~ the Associated Press.

0y the Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md, April IA
brand-new relief tax program, in
volving Statewide legalization OF
bookmaking, proposed licensing OF
pin-bau and vending machines, stamp
recording tax, and reregistration OF
all automobile operators, emerged ear
~ today from joint session OF the
Legislatures two money committees.
The program, decided upon after a
three-hour meeting ended shortly be-
fore am, would net an annual
revenue OF approximately s5,o6o,OoO.
1t was designed to supersede an
earlier schedule Of proposed taxation
which include levies on soft drinks
and patent medicines, as well as the
relief taxes now in effect.
Opposition Is Developing.
Senator j. Allan Coad, Democrat,
st. Marys, and Delegate Kent R.
Mullikin, Democrat, Prince Georges,
chairmen of the Senate Finance and
the House Ways and Means Com
mittees, respectively, were instructed
to draw up bill embracing the pro-
gram for introduction in both Houses
later in the day.
Although the licensing Of book
making would be Statewide, any
county desiring exemption would be
accorded this privilege, the joint COM
u1ittee group decided.
Meanwhile, opposition began de-
veloping today among county MEM
bers of the Legislature to proposal
to place under supervision OF the
Board of State Aid and Charities the
spending and ALLEGATION of all State
funds for relief and allied purposes.
Relief Omnibus Bill"
That proposal is included in the
relief omnibus tax" bill introduced
last week by Senator Coad.
The law which expired at midnight
last night provided that so much shall
be set aside for old-age pensions, aid
for dependent children, aid for the
needy blind and that the remainder
shall be distributed so per cent to
Baltimore City and 40 per cent to the
various counties for relief. The dis
tribution to the counties was made on
a basis Of population not on basis of
relief needs.
And the counties could use those
funds for general governmental pur-
poses and not for relief if they so de-
sired. Many counties with small re-
lief loads made such use of those
funds.
Coad's proposed bill, however, pro-
vldes that any distribution to the
counties shall be distributed on the
basis of need (relief need) as de-
termined by the Board of State Aid
and Charities
Other Provisions in Bill.
The bill also provides:
The controller shall set aside such
sums as may be necessary to meet the
quarterly ALLEGATIONS approved and to
be made to the local units on warrants
Of the controller approved by the Board
of State Aid and Charities for the
payment, or contribution to the pay
ment of, old-age pensions =; aid
to dependent children =; general
public assistance (direct relief to the
unemployed, employables, or both;
also the cost of administration for the
investigation and certification of per-
seTls eligible for work on governmental
projects. Administrative costs
as to disbursements under this sub
section, plus the administrative costs
of program for assistance to the needy
blind. shall be paid out Of the funds
derived from local sources, or out Of
allotments from State funds, or both,
as the Board of State Aid and Char
tiles may prescribe.
THE Board of State Aid and Char
flies shall have the power to transfer
available money from the State appro-
priations made for any of the several
forms of relief administered by 1t to
any other of the funds so administered
to provide for unforeseen shift in cases
from one category to another, or to
cover other needy persons who do not
fall into the various categories Of pub
lie assistance specifically mentioned in
the social security act"