Evening star., 1939-02-25
legislature
Ready 10 Tackle
Tax Program
Maryland Revenue
Measure to Leave
Committee Shortly
BY the Associated Press.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 25.-The
administrations fiscal program,
calling for increased taxes to bal
ance a sos 100000 budget, will get
the night of way when legislators
return Monday from week end
adjournment.
Terming the fiscal problem "the
most important of all legislation" +"
Senate Majority Floor Leader Dud-
ley c. Roe said the revenue bill
probably would be sent from COM
mittee to the Assembly floor early
next week.
With that phase OF the legis-
lator's job completed, the way will
be cleared for consideration of con-
servation, relief and reorganization.
81 Auto Safety Plan.
Mr.. Roe, chairman of the Senate
Finance Committee studying the
revenue bill, indicated it would be
reported out with amendments
eliminating the proposed re-regis-
tration of motorists at 81 each and
substituting a 81 semi-annual auto
mobile safety inspection plan.
Governmental reorganization, al
ready off to a good start with sew
eral proposals advanced to final
reading. may be widened next week
tc affect the employment commits
sioner's office
The House Ways and Means
Committee has voted in favor of a
bill to replace Employment Commits
sioner Harry C. Jones with a di-
rector and an unpaid board to
supervise the department.
Delegate John S. White. commit
tee chairman, said he had discovered
strong sentiment" to abolish the
civil service system entirely. and
would introduce measure to
change the administration rather
than abolish it outright.
Clear sailing of several reorgan-
ization measures through second
reading meanwhile presaged their
early adoption. Included was bill
abolishing the State Department of
Charities and Board of State Aid
and Charities. and substituting a
new Department of Public Welfare.
Court Changes Asked.
Other bills advanced would install
three full-time judges, at Sc 900 each,
in the Baltimore Peoples Court. re-
placing five part-time judges; over
haul the administration of relief.
and provide referendum on a
constitutional amendment to give
the Legislature power to fix qualif-
cations for lower court magistrates.
The administration measure abol-
ishing the Office of loans commits
sioner was reported out by the Sen
ate Finance Committee, but in an
amended form.
Loans supervision would be trans
ferred to the banking department. as
proposed by the administration, but
would be handled by an administra-
tor with his own staff. The original
measure proposed putting loans
supervision under a regular banking
department employe. which the ad-
ministration contended would be
more economical.
With the legislators gone for the
week end, Gov. OConor had time to
answer the remainder of 2.1OO letters
received in connection with appoint
ments made by him this week.
The Governor still has a vacancy
to fill on the Board of Motion Picture
Censors, and apparently plans to
name Democrat. The other two
members also are Democrats, but
administrative sources said request
would be made that the law requir-
ing a representative of the minority
party on the censors board and the
Conservation Commission be re-
pealed.
Annapolis Center Pushed.
Senator Louis N. Phipps, former
mayor of Annapolis, began a move
yesterday to have the State capital
made Marylands seat of govern
ment in fact, as we'll as in name.
The Anne Arundel County Demo-
crat introduced a resolution which
would require that State police
headquarters be transferred from
Baltimore to Annapolis.
The "make-Annapolis- -real-cap-
ital movement got under way Off
cially at the 1887 Legislature, when
Anne Arundel County Assemblymen
secured approval of $1,000
State Office building here.
The structure is going up rapidly
and the Board of Public Works now
is faced with the task of deciding
which State offices are to be trans
terred here. Virtually all of the
departments, now in Baltimore, have
fought against possible transfer.