Evening star., 1941-02-01
0'Conor TaxCut
Plan Threatened
By2ProposaIs
Teacher Pay Parity
And New Division
Of Tax Funds Sought
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 1.-Two
unforeseen moves to tap the esti-
mated S7OO0,00O treasury surplus
threatened today to throw a legis"
lative monkey wrench into Gov.
O'Conor's plans to reduce taxes
and balance the budget at the same
time.
That surplus was the keystone OF
Gov O'Conor's promised reductions
in State income taxes-the reser-
voir from which he would make up
for decreased revenues and still
keep his s1oe, ,664 900 budget for
the 1942-1943 biennium balanced.
But yesterday there appeared in
the Legislature two proposals that
would throw the budget out of ball
ance and endanger the hope OF
reduced taxes, even though they
would benefit colored school teach
ers and governments of Baltimore
City and the counties.
The Senate Finance COMMITTEES
tossed one bombshell into the works
by recommending a revision in tina
distribution of income tax revenue
and Elmer M Jackson, jr., Demo-
crat of Anne Arundel, hurled what
may be another by introducing q
bill to have the State pay the SAL
900 expense incurred by Anne
Arundel County when a Federal
Court ordered the pay of white and
Negro school teachers there equal
lied.
The Federal Court order, later
upheld by the Supreme Court, would
apply equally to other counties if
the question were raised there, Mr..
Jackson said.
It was estimated that if equalizing
the pay of white and Negro teachers
throughout the State were paid
from the State funds, it would cost
total of $4,000 annually.
Implied Demand Ignored.
Action of the Finance Committee
was entirely unexpected and con-
trary to all the advice Gov O'Conor
had proffered; contrary, even, to
an implied demand.
BY a 12-to-2 vote. however. the
committee overrode Gov. O'Conor's
wishes and recommended to the
Senate that 70 per cent Of the in
come tax revenue go to the State
and 80 per cent to the counties.
instead of the 1925 division pro-
posed by the Governor.
Gov. OConor had baked at the
70-30 plan when it was broached
last week by Finance Committee
Chairman Roe.
At the Governors insistence Mr..
Poe abandoned the 70-30 plan. but
it came up in committee again
Yesterday and Mr.. Roe voted mo"
on a plan similar to the one he had
suggested. The only other dissent
ing vote came from Senator Louis
N. Phipps, Democrat, of Anne
Arundel.
The Governor had figured that on
a 1925 split only SLIPS 900 a year
would have to be drained from the
surplus. But under the 70-30 di-
vision the surplus reservoir would
have to yield S1,46o000 a year.
When informed of the Finance
Committees action on the income
tax distribution, Gov O'Conor said
he would confer with his fiscal
aides.
Its question whether 1t can be
done without impairing the States
financial condition" he said. "I
will have to be definitely assured by
them that it can be done safely be-
fore will approve it."
The 70-30 recommendation will
be taken up when the Legislature
reconvehes Tuesday.
Home Guard Amendment Sought.
On Tuesday, too, members of the
Senate Militia Committee said, an
effort will be made to have the
Senate reconsider a c. L O.-spon-
sored amendment to the Home
Guard bill approved yesterday.
The amendment forbids the
Guard members to accept any pay
or gifts from an individual, aSso-
citation or corporation. This pro-
vision is contained in the model
Federal bill from which the State
measure was copied.
Five Senators sponsored the
amendment The committee had
said it was opposed to any changes
in the measure.
Two "anti-strike" bills we're intro
duced yesterday One, by Delegate
Luther P. Jefferson, Democrat. of
Cecil, would call for prison sentences
or fines for persons going on strike
or inducing" a strike at defense
industries.
The other, from Senator Clifford
Friend, Republican. of Garrett,
would ban sit-down strikes.
Delegate Nicholas J. Ropka,
Democrat, of Baltimore. sponsored
another labor measure designed to
promote the equality in bargaining
power between employer and en-
ploye for the purpose of diminish
ing the causes of industrial disputes
by encouraging collective bargain
ing"
3-Man Labor Board Proposed.
A three-man Labor Relations
BOdTQ WOulQ De eStaDuSleQ 10 en-
courage collective bargaining. Board
members could be appointed by the
Governor. with the Senate's con-
sent. They would receive $4,000 a
year. The boards Office would be in
Baltimore.
The perennial bill to abolish
Maryland's whipping post for WIFE
beaters went down to defeat again
under a SO to AZ vote In the House.
Only two weeks ago, the Delegates
adopted favorable report on it, so
to so. Sixty-one votes would have
been required for final passage.
A bill to regulate rather than pro-
hibit fireworks in the State was in
troduced by Senator Cecil Squier,
Democrat, of Cecil, who urged his
colleagues to defeat prohibitory fire.
works legislation sponsored by the
Legislative Council.
Mr.. Squier, asserting the liveli-
hood of hundreds of Cecil County
residents depended on continued