Evening star., 1937-04-22
NICE WILL DELIVER
HIS BILL |NPERSON
Maryland Governor Asserts
majority" of G. 0. P. Back
Receipts Tax.
BY Il Stan Correspondent of The Star

~ " otaA Nofiesponuent OF Jhe Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, April 22.-Gov
Harry w. Nice announced this after
noon a majority of the Republican
members OF the State Assembly have
approved the tax program he prepared
to offer the special session called to
enact suitable and adequate relief
legislation.
The announcement was made by
the executive following a conference
with G. o. P. legislators and State
leaders in his Office and came as he
prepared to 60 before the Assembly
and deliver his program in person.
I was authorized by a majority OF
the conferees," he said, ITO say that
the Republican members of the Gen.
eral Assembly generally approve the
proposed relief bill to be submitted
by the Governor until a better bill Is
proposed.
Non-Partisan Viewpoint.
1T was the unanimous sentiment OF
those present that this problem should
not be approached from the standpoint
OF politics, and that the question OF
relief should be considered from q
bipartisan standpoint and as q
Statewide obligation.
1t was also agreed that no steps
should be taken by those present
toward delaying or preventing the
prompt enactment of q Statewide
measure which will adequately pro-
vide for the care Of those in want"
The belief that gross-receipts tax
sales tax or property tax stand
very little chance of passage" was ex-
pressed by Speaker Emanuel Gorflne
as the session opened this afternoon.
Additional Race Bet Taxes.
he offered legislators a program OF
his own designed to raise $4,000 900
by re-enactment OF the unobjectionable
Items IN the relief measure adopted at
the recent general session and adding
the following:
An additional per cent tax on race
bets, estimated to raise $500 900.
A l per cent tax on cigarettes, to
raise s1,O0O,OOO
A 10 per cent tax on tobacco pro-
ducts to raise 100000
Gorflne. who offered the program
IN a speech following his reelection
as speaker, said the three taxes-plus
all the taxes of the old bill except
the bookmaking levy-would raise
s5.50o,0 900
Sasscer Defends Old Bill.
Senate President Lansdale G. Sascer
OF Prince Georges County came out
in defense Of the relief tax proera m
adopted at the recent general session
as the special session Of the State AS
sembly called to enact substitute re-.
lief program convened this afternoon.
Senator Sasscer declared the prob
lem confronting the Legislature
should be approached "dispassionate-
ly" and mot so rapidly as to prevent
any group upon whom any proposed
tax might be placed from having a
full hearing"
statement was made upon his re-
election as presiding officer in the ,rp-
per branch OF the States lawmakinr
body.
When We adjourned a few days
ago at the regular session I thought
my services as president OF the SEN
ate had ended because at that time
there was no apparent protest voiced
against any Of the features of the
relief program" Sasscer asserted.
'HOWpVor sinro oAio,rvp,o~4
opposition has developed which has
caused the Governor to recall the AS
semoly primarily because of the in
clusion In the relief program of two
OF the items suggested by him in his
message to the General Assembly.
Now that We have been recalled. let
us approach the problem dispassion-
ately and with full conception of our
obligation to the State as q whole.
both as to the amount Of taxes to be
raised and the effect Of its collection
as well IS its expenditure upon all
sections. What may be not burden
some to one section Of the State might
be disastrous to another.
The program adopted worked nc
hardship upon any particular group
and was accepted as means Of avoid
ing the gross receipts tax, which in
reality is nothing more than q special
income tax on one group OF society
the sales tax, real estate tax and
cigarette tax and other items that
we're discussed and found impracticable
at the last session