The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-02-13
BILLS AFFECTING This
COUNTY IN LEGISLATURE
Several Measures Have Been In
trOduced That Would Change
Existing Regulations
BILLS AT COURT HOUSE

BILLS Al OOOh1 IOOOE
A measure introduced in the House
of Delegates by forty-seven of its
members would provide for instruc-
ton in the high schools of Maryland
for the safe driving of motor vehicles,
a resume of the bills affecting this
county has disclosed.
Bills relating to Garrett county are
on file in the office of A. G. Ross,
clerk of the Circuit Court, and are
added to at the end of the weeks ac-
tivity at Annapolis. They may be
seen by interested citizens.
The measure provides that instruc-
ton in the safe operation of motor
vehicles shall be offered in all county
high schools to students who have at
tended secondary schools for at least
two years. 1t is up to the County
Boards as to whether it shall be a re-
quired or an elective course. Success
full completion of the course shall re-
quire minimum of fifteen class peri
DDS of instruction and five hours of
actual driving experience under super
vision of a member of the Maryland
police force.
Among the forty-seven members
introducing this bill were Delegates
Darwin B. Martin and Martin L.
Groves.
Explains Bill
Mr.. Martin, in a letter to The Re-
publican, explained the reason for his
bill providing for the licensing of pin
ball machines in this county. The
measure is designed to license only
those types of machines that are now
operating in the county free. CAS- long
as we have them l see no reason why
revenue amounting to five or six
thousand dollars a year could not be
used to relieve the over-burdened tax
payer"
The bill provides for licensing from
$40 to $50 per year.
Bill to Appoint Clerk to County
Commissioners
A bill has been introduced in the
Senate providing for the appointment
of the Clerk to the County Commits
sioners by the Commissioners. The
clerk is now elected for term of
four years.
The bill provides for the appoint
ment after the expiration of the term
of the present clerk.
Higher Discounts For Taxes Paid
Early in Year
Senator Clifford Friend has also in
troduced a bill in the Senate relating
to the payment of taxes, the discount
to be allowed for prompt payment
and limiting the amount which the
County Commissioners may appropri-
ate or levy as a contingent fund.
In the bill the Commissioners are
required to fix the rate of taxation on
or before the fifteenth day of January
(instead of February y. All county
taxes would be due February 1 (in-
stead of April y and would be over
due November 1 (nstead of October).
During the months of January and
February discount of five percent
would be allowed; during March and
April discount of four percent would
, be allowed; during May and June,
three percent; July, August, Septem-
Der and October, the full amount
off tnh
interest at one-half of one percent per
month.
A similar bill introduced two years
ago was vetoed by the governor. The
present rates give two percent dis
count to June 1 one percent during
June and July.
The same bill provides that the
County Commissioners shall not APP
propriate or levy more than fifteen
thousand dollars in any one year as
a contingent fund.
Highway Cattle Crossings
The Garrett county delegation in
the House has introduced a bill con-
corning the highway crossing of cat
tie.
At the request of any farmer whose
land is divided by highway and who
drive livestock across the highway.
the State Roads Commissioner is re-
quired to erect signs at each side of
the crossing giving notice of the pres
ence of such crossing. Vehicles would
be required to slow down to 20 miles
per hour and to come to complete
stop if the cattle are crossing at the
time the motorist arrives.
Other bills affecting the county but
mentioned previously relate to sit
down" strikes, authorizing treasurer
to collect Kitzmiller auto taxes, and