Evening star., 1941-02-06
Maryland House
Gets Tax and
Guard Bills
Favorable Action Due;
Other Measures
To Be Pushed
- the Associated Press.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 6.-The
administration tax bill and amend.
ed State Guard bill were before the
House today, apparently assured OF
good reception after the tax bill
passed the Senate without debate,
q to 2. Only Senators Clifford
Friend and Joseph Wilmer voted
against the tax bill, which went to
the House with only minor changes.
The Guard measure carried an
amendment, sponsored by the c. I.
o. and approved by the adminlstra-
ton, to prohibit guardsmen from
accepting gifts and gratuities.
With the favorable Senate action
on this major legislation, it was ex-
pected the O'Conor administration
would attempt to speed up other i'm
portant legislation such as the bud
get and remaining defense bills.
Wide Variety of Subjects.
Committee hearings yesterday
afternoon took up nearly all avail
able rooms in the State House and
covered a wide variety of subjects,
including the budget, fireworks,
finance company and installment
sales legislation and roadside beau
tiication.
A bill passed the House, 79 to 81,
providing that Is months abandon
rnent be considered grounds for di-
vorce in the State instead of the
present three years.
Speaker Thomas Conlon and 20
Delegates introduced measure re-
quiring any employe who handles
or prepares food for human con-
sumption" to pass certain health
requirements, including annual
blood tests.
A bill introduced by Delegates
John Clark and John Novak would
add five new sections to the Mary
land Fair Trade Act. 1t would
make it an unfair trade practice
to advertise, offer to sell or sell any
merchandise at lower than cost
price.
Oppose Fireworks Bill.
officials of the Triumph Explo-
sives Co. of Elkton appeared before
the House Judiciary Committee to
argue against House bill %. which
would regulate the sale of fireworks
IN Maryland.
Arguing on the opposite side was
John w. Avirett, I'd, president of
the Maryland Society for the Pre-
vertion of Blindness, who contend
ed the bill would keep fireworks
out Of the hands of the children
of Maryland"
Harry S. Middendorf, president OF
the Baltimore County Taxpayers
League, told the House Ways and
Means Committee that Gov.
O'Conor's new budget should be cut
to the level of the 1940-41 budget.
He declared taxpayers would be
heavily burdened by the defense
program and that there is no ex-
cuse for increased" State expendi-
lures.
Ezra B. Whitman, chairman of
the State Roads Commission, pro-
posed to the Senate Finance Com
mittee that heavier taxes be placed
on trucks and trailers, to bolster the
fund available for construction of
new roads.
S1,0O0,O00 Available.
He disclosed that only $1,000 900
of the State funds to be received by
the commission this year will be
available for new construction.
Senator James j. Lindsay spon-
sored legislation to set up sliding
scale of pensions for Maryland
judges. The measure provides for
retirement of judges at 10, or at
the age of go if they have served
20 consecutive years. Judges who
have served Is years or more would
receive $4,000 annually as pension,
service of 10 years but less than IS
would draw $4,000, service of from
5 to 10 years would draw $4,000,
service of less than five years would
draw $2,40O.
Senators John G. Callan and John
Pat Feehley advanced a bill in
creasing sick leave for State classi-
fed emnloves from Is to 30 dayS.