Evening star., 1941-02-25
0'Conor' S Proposal
To Even Teachers
Pay Faces Fight
Plan to Make State
Beur Entire Burden
Goins Support
BY the Associated Press.

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 25-Gov.
O'Conor's proposal to equalize COL
ored and white school teachers
salaries, principally through a s.
cent increase in the tax rate of l9
counties, appeared headed for trouble
in the General Assembly today.
Increasing numbers of county
delegates were reported lining up
in favor of legislation. sponsored
by Delegate Elmer M. Jackson. jr.,
Democrat, of Anne Arundel, to make
the State bear the entire burden of
the equalization.
In lieu of increasing the counties
tax rate, proponents of the Jackson
bill offered a measure last Friday
to impose a 21z cent per gallon
excise tax on whisky manufactured
in Maryland.
They pointed out that such tax
since repealed-yielded $2,457,4S4
in 1889
Involves S950,000 Expenditure.
Gov. O'Conor's equalization plan
involves the expenditure Of $3.50, 900
during the next biennium, $3.50 900
of which would come from increas-
ing the counties tax rate Under
his program, Baltimore City would
receive a total of S250,000 of the
S950,0O0. as compensation for losses
in revenue from the repeal Of the
securities tax.
In addition to the increased county
tax rate, the O'Conor proposal in
wolves a special tax on half-mile
race tracks and the use of antici-
pated excess liquor revenues and
reversions from the State Depart
ment of Education's budget.
A bill sponsored by Delegates Paul
o. Miles and Frederick H. Houck,
Baltimore County Democrats, and
j. Howard johnson. Democrat, OF
Wicomico, provides that any surplus
from the whisky excise tax would
revert to the State treasury.
Opposition to Track Levy.
Proponents of the measure pointed
out that the proposed half-mile race
track levy, as we'll as the boost in
the county tax rate. could be aban-
doned If the excise tax were passed.
Opposition already has been ex-
pressed to the race-track levy.
Anticipating flare backs from Gov.
O'Conor's proposal, administrative
sources indicated the Governors
supplemental budget would be held
back to await legislators reaction.
Meanwhile, the Governor sum-
moned State Roads Commission
members to Annapolis to confer with
Baltimore Association of Commerce
representative on plans to eliminate
the "bottleneck" on Eastern avenue
in Baltimore and on other proposed
projects involved in the States
highway defense program.
Says U. S. Is Receptive.
Gov. O'Conor set the stage for the
conference on defense highway con-
struction with assertion last night
that the Federal Government was
in a receptive mood so far as such
work in, Maryland was concerned.
He disclosed for the first time
that he had appointed a special
Federal officials on possibilities for
obtaining financial assistance. that
the committee had been active over
the week end and had made marked
advancement yesterday.
The committee reported Govern
ment authorities were cognizant of
the particular Importance" of
Maryland's situation and that funds
probably could be obtained to aid
in construction along Eastern ave-
nue. to the Glenn Martin plant and
for access roads in the vicinity of
Fort George G. Meade.
Senator James j. Lindsay, Demo-
crat, of Baltimore County authored
legislation which would require any
one-even the song-writer himself
to obtain $4,000 license before COL
lecting royalties on music. Mr..
Lindsay said the bill was aimed at
principals in the A. S. c. A. P.-B.
NJ l. feud.
A bill to allow temporary rate in
crease or reduction orders by the
Public Service Commission was in
troduced in the House, along with
bills to require pawnbrokers to
f1ngerprint their clients and to
establish regulations for the storage
and transportation of explosives and
inf1ammable materials.
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