The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-02-25
Would Revise State
Budget Procedure
Senate Committee AstOunded
Comptroller Did Not See
Estimates

In g report expressing "astonish-
ment" that the States chief fiscal
officer was not permitted to see the
1944-45 budget until it was sub
mitted to the Legislature, a special
Senate committee recommended
sweeping revision of Maryland bud
getary procedure.
The special committee also recast
practically all of the major revenue
estimates made by Governor O'Conor
in the budget for 1914, but advised
the Senate it was impossible" under
present conditions to look as far
ahead as the fiscal year, 1915.
Seven Recommendations
In a list of seven specific recon-
mendations, the special committee adj
vised:
A constitutional amendment estab-
fishing an annual budget and special
budget sessions Of the Legislature in
May Of each year.
Amendment of the income tax law
to permit salary or wage deductions
for failure to pay the income levy
when it falls due.
/ Removal of the post Of State auditor
from the field of political appoint
ments and legislation requiring this
official to submit reports on the
States finances to the Legislature.
A bill to require further reduction
of the income tax if the States reve-
nues exceed a certain figure.
Legislation to permit fifty days
racing at any track during the war
emergency.
Elimination of the provision in the
racing day which prohibits the State
Racing Commission from refunding
the 6,00O-per-day advance license in
the event meets are not held as
scheduled.
Legislation requiring the Governor
and budget director to submit state
ments Of revenue and expenditure to
the State Comptroller for eXamina-
ton before the budget is presented to
the General Assembly.
Committee Astounded
With respect to the last recommen-
dation, the special committee COM
posed of Senator John B. Funk d.,
Frederick), chairman, and Senators
Frank j. Bauer d., First, Baltimore)
and Horace Bowling (R, St Mary's),
asserted
"The subcommittee was somewhat
astounded to learn that the State
Comptroller had not seen the present
budget until it was presented to the
General Assembly,"
In addition to its recommendations
that the Senate disregard certain of
the revenue estimates submitted by
Governor O'Conor, the special COM
mittee criticized the inclusion in the
budget as "cash surplus" of $240,000
item expected from a legacy"
Revisions BY Governor
On some Of the budget items with
which the special committee dealt in
its report, and on which it instituted
the Investigations, Governor O'Conor
had cheat them to the draw" with re-
visions he announced several days
ago.
One of these was on the question
of whether when the State cuts the
fiscal year to nine months in order
to start the new fiscal year 1914 on
July /, there will be left exactly three
quarters of the original 1913 funds as
the Governors budget contemplated.
AS the result of an analysis of
funds made by the comptroller's Of
flee at the request of the Senate
Committee, it develops that there will
be a surplus as of June 80, 1913, of
only $8,187,768 and not $9,062,64S as
the Governor estimated in his original
budget figures. Several days ago the
Governor trimmed this to $8,187,76
Whisky Revenues
III JIIt IldCISI VI dIltlClpdIeu IGNc-
nues from whisky during 1914, the
Governor also was several days ahead
of the special committee in announc-
ing he was dropping his estimates
from $4,000.000 to $3,5O0,00O. The
latter figure is what the special COM
mittee reported it found to be likely.
The special committee found that
estimates of what the State will get
from racing in the current fiscal year
set at $1,750,000 in the original
budget-are approximately 100000
too high. Returns from fifteen days
of racing in the spring at Pimlico,
plus the $8O0,242 already received in
this year from racing, will yield only
about $995,242, the committee re-
ported
AS for the next fiscal year, the
committee is Of the opinion it would
be unwise for the State to count on
more than $4,000 in racing revenue
and this it anticipates might come
from twenty-five days operation of
the Laurel track this fall.
Figures 100000 From Tracks
Any funds above the $4,000 from
racing, the committee suggested,
might be considered as 'income tax"
revenue and applied to the reduction