Evening star., 1943-03-25
0Conor Asks
Lee giis|ature for
; Million More
Sum Would Place
Maryland Expenses
Above 100 Million
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
BALTIMORE, March 25.-The
Maryland General Assembly today
received Gov. 'o'Conor's supple
mental biennial budget calling for
an additional 100000 outlay and
boosting the estimated State ex-
penditures beyond the s1eo, 900 900
mark.
1t is the largest supplemental re-
quest in the history of the State,
largely because of its provision to
transfer funds to pay the wartime
bonus for school teachers and State
employees.
Meanwhile. bill to provide heavy
penalties for any person interfering
with production or delivery of food,
which passed the Senate after spir-
tied debate by an 1911 vote yester-
day, was sent to the House of Dele
gates for consideration.
The supplemental budget included
number of appropriations de-
signed to meet the costs of new
functions provided by pending legis-
lation.
Bonus Largest Item.
The bonus appropriation was the
largest single item, calling for an
outlay of approximately s2,830, 900.
In its original form the bonus allot-
ment did not appear in the general
budget, being listed as a fund set
aside from the present treasury
surplus.
1t was discovered, however. that
the proposal to pay bonus for serv-
Ice already rendered the State was
unconstitutional, and the plan was
revised to provide for a salary ad-
1ustment beginning July l.
The Legislature has broadened the
bonus bill to include unclassified as
well as classified employees. This
raised the estimate Of the funds
needed by more than $325,OO0.
In addition, the special budget
message included the following pro-
posed appropriations:
For pensions for retired judges,
S90,2S5; public school equalization
fund, $82,083; Department of Re-
search and Education, $4,000.
Department of Forests and Parks
for fire prevention funds), $136, 900,
and $8,725 needed to make up pen
sion deficiencies for two judges de-
MED retirement pay by an error in
bill passed two years ago.
$94,425, 900 First Asked.
The general budget as submitted
to the Legislature Carried appropria-
tions totaling s94, ,425. 900, but several
items were not included-principally
the bonus allotment, a $4,000 900 re-
serve for postwar reconstruction, a
81, DOT, 900 war emergency fund and a
81, 600, 900 general emergency fund.
The food bill passed by the Senate |
was identical in form to. one passed |
by the 194l Assembly and vetoed
by Gov. OConor. Foes of the meas
ure predicted the same end would |
befall it this time.
The measure, sponsored by Sem |
ator J. Wilmer Cronin of Hartford, |
and said by him to have the backing
of the State Grange and Farm Bu-
reau, would make violations punish
able by fine nDt to exceed $1,000 |
or six months imprisonment, or
both.
The bill would make it unlawful |
for any person or group of persons
ITO wilfully or maliciously interfere
directly or indirectly with the pro-
duction and transportation of food
In the State.
Seen Aimed Against Labor.
The principal foe of the proposal, |
Senator Robert B. Kimble of Al
legany, charged it was directed |
solely against" organized labor.
The Senate, in a session which
was largely routine, received IA new
bills and passed finally on.13. 4
The House of Delegates ground |
through routine DAY session dur
ing which II bills were introduced
and score of committee reports
adopted.
Two Senate bills eliminating age
restrictions for membership in the
State Guard, and recognizing the
Maryland Minutemen as an organ
lied reserve were among q bills
passed by the lower house.
Any able bodied" male citizen
would be allowed to enlist in the
Guard under the proposal.