Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-03
Assessment Bill
Is Passed by
State Senate
Compensation Plan
For Injured Workers
Sent to O'Conor
AZ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, March 3. - Tht
Maryland State Senate passed alonf
to Gov. OConor today bill to in.
crease workmen's compensation
benefits In cases of total permanent
disability and sent to the House Of
Delegates another which would pro-
vide for continuous property assess
ments.
Both the measures drew the fire OF
some Senators, the. workmen's COM
pensation bill in particular precipi-
tating hot debate in which most OF
the criticism was directed at the
Legislative Council.
However, on the final vote. only
one Senator-Joseph A. Wilmer, Re-
publican, of Charles-cast ballot
against the compensation proposal
while only three-Robert B. Kimble
Republican, of Allegany, Robert Full
ton Waller. Democrat. of Wicomico
and Wilmer Fell Davis. Republican
Of Caroline-voted against the as
sessments bill.
The discussion of the tax assess
ment bill, which would provide for
revaluation of all property once
every five years, was brief. Under
the proposal. the State would be d.
vided into five geographical divisions
and one section would be reassessed
each year.
Assessment Bill Debated.
Senator Davis asserted that "the
State Tax Commission has not
proved we have had unfair and in
equitable taxation in Maryland" and
charged the bill was simply a mod
ern idea to centralize authority.
A declaration that the Eastern
Shore counties were solidly opposed
to the bill came from Senator Wal
Yer, while Senator James j. Lindsay,
Democrat, of Baltimore said the
measure actually gave the counties
more authority than they have at
present. He deplored "the attempt
to raise sectional opposition" and
called the plan:
zone of the most constructive,
sound pieces of legislation which
the 1913 General Assembly will have
an opportunity to pass"
The Legislative Council, which
drew up the compensation measure,
was attacked by Senator Lindsay,
who said 1t was an example Of the
type of legislation the council never
should have handled.
THE council has gone far afleld,
and I submit that it was not the
function of the members of the
Industrial Accident Commission,
perhaps some of them with axes to
grind, to recommend such legisla-
tion," the Baltimore Senator said.
r. Workers Aid Bill.
Senator's Davis and E. Milton Alt
field. Democrat of Baltimore, de-
feslded the council, the latter as
serting that the Legislative Coun-
Gil deserves the thanks of the people
Of Maryland: It has done a very
creditable job in preparing this
4Ck16k0VlOA
The bill would increase total pay
msnts from $1,000 to $500, raise the
minimum weekly benefits from So to
$40 and the maximum weekly ben
efits from $40 to $23.
Nineteen other measures were
approved by the upper chamber.
Two joint resolutions were adopted
and seven new bills were introduced.
The House passed 20 measures,
had Is introduced. All measures
passed by the House were either
local or Legislative Council meas
ures.
One would amend the constitution
to remove the necessity of the Cen
eral Assembly's giving consent to
gifts or sale of land to churches and
to all gifts made to churches or
institutions in wills.
The measure permitting employ
ment of prison labor in State insti-
tutions and departments was ap-
proved by the Senate.