Evening star., 1943-02-16
Assembly Gives
0'Conor Budget
Critical Study
Two subcommittee
Begin Work;
Liquor Men Called
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 1.-two legis-
lative subcommittees began what
promised to be a critical scrutiny
of Gov. O'Conor's budget. proposals
for the 1944-5 fiscal year today in
the wake Of a tense Senate session
concerned with bonuses for teachers
and State employees.
The subcommittee named by the
House Ways and Means Committee
did not disclose just what phase of
the budget the nine men would
undertake to study first, but Senator
John B. Funk, Democrat, of Fred
erick of the Senate Finance Sub
committee said his three-man group
would call on liquor industry rep
resentatives for forecasts of busi-
ness. These would give an indica-
ton of possible State revenues.
Both Mr.. Funk and Delegate Will
liam Stronger, Democrat, of Anne
Arundel, chairman of the House
subcommittee, called sessions prior
to today's convening of the General
Assembly.
Will Study Budget.
Mr.. Funk said his subcommittee
would study in turn each of the
major budget items likely to be
affected by the war-primarily,
liquor and racing revenues and
automobile titling and gasoline
taxes.
Although the proposed budget had
been subject to sporadic investiga-
tions almost since the start of the
session, no overall inquiry had been
started until today.
Meeting before crowded galleries
for the first time this session. the
Senate avoided a showdown on the
controversial wartime salary bonus
bill last night by delaying action
on it until Thursday.
The upper chamber thus put off
once more action on the method
of payment of a bonus to school
teachers and other employees of the
State earning less than $4,000 per
year.
Bonus Bill Delayed.
A murmur swept the packed gal
leries when Senator James J. Lind
say, majority leader and Finance
Committee chairman, in a surprise
move, requested that the Senate
postpone voting on committee
amendments to the bill.
In asking that the bonus bill be
made special order of business for
Thursday afternoons Senate ses-
sion, Mr.. Lindsay said he had OBJ
tanned additional information he
wanted to lay before his committee
before the full chamber was asked
to act on the amendments
However, individual members OF
the Senate reported they had re-
ceived numerous phone calls, letters
and kilograms requesting rcorSid-
GRAFTON of Finance Committee
amendments which would make the
wartime bonus payable in 13 month
ly installments, rather than in two
payments of 500 each. Most of
the galleryites were school teachers
and others directly affected by the
bill.
The Senate also is considering
another proposal to increase the sal
aries of all school teachers by $40
per month for the duration of the
war and six months thereafter.
House Has Short Session.
Some observers, recalling that Mr.
Lindsay had been reluctant to delay
action on the bonus bill last Thurs
day when committee amendments
first came up, saw in his action of
last night victory for quick pay
ment Of the bonus.
Except for the surprise bonus
move, there was little action in
either house as the Legislature
neared the current sessions half
way mark.
The Senate passed a bill which
would permit the Governor to re-
lease from the States penal institu-
tions qualified prisoners to work in
State departments and institutions
- particularly hospitals - and re-
ceived bill which would provide for
the licensing of certain vending ma
chimes.
The House, in a 15-minute session,
received three new bills and adopted
a resolution praising school teach
ers 'for their loyalty and patriotism
to the war effort" because of their
aid in the administration of ration
ing programs.
One of the House bills would pro-
vide a constitutional amendment,
subject to referendum, which would
permit the holding of lotteries in
the State. The bill was offered by
Delegate Chester G.. Kosakowski.
Democrat, Of Baltimore.