Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-26
Assessment Measure
Is Nearing Final Vote
In Maryland Senate
Favorable Report on
State Guard Bill Is
Adopted by House
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 26.-The much
debated bill providing for continuous
assessment of property for tax pur-
poses was step closer to final Sem
ate action today as the Maryland
General Assembly convened for it's
final session of the week.
Despite efforts on the part of a
number Of county members to side
track the measure, the Senate
adopted favorable Finance Com
mittee report on the bill during yes
terday's Commute session, and in
dicated it would approve the bill
when it comes up for final vote.
The bill, substitute for a similar
measure offered with Legislative
Council support early in the session,
would provide for the division of
each county and of Baltimore City
into five districts, with all property
to be reassessed every five years.
Senator James J. Lindsay, Finance
Committee chairman and minority
leader, offered the substitute at
amendment stage, declaring the
principal objection to the original
measure-that it gave too much
power to the State Tax Commission
had been virtually eliminated.
Then the county Senators oppos-
ing the measure, as it now stands,
began their battle
Lose Battle to Amend Bill.
Senator Wilbur r. Dulin, Demo-
crat, of Anne Arundel offered an
amendment which would have ex-
empted his county from provisions
of the bill until after the war. The
amendment was rejected by voice
vote.
In quick order, Senator Wilmer
Fell Davis, Republican, of Caroline
offered an amendment which would
have postponed the effective date of
the projected act in six counties un-
til June 1945. Senator Thomas F.
Johnson, Democrat, of Worcester
offered one that would exempt his
county and Senator Fulton Waller,
Democrat, of Wicomico moved that
the bill be recommitted to the FL
nance Committee for further study.
All their proposals were defeated
by the Senate.
Another big batch of local bills
was introduced in the House, which
adopted a favorable report on an
emergency measure placing the
special military police unit of the
State Guard under regulations of
Maryland military authorities.
Administration officials drafted
the guard bill after State Guard
Adjt. Francis Petrott said 80 SEN
tries on the Havre De Grace bridge
walked off the job in protest against
a dismissal order for five military
police officers.
State Guard Adj. Petrott said
the bill would prevent such action
in the future because bridge guards
and others would be subject to mill
tary punishment for rules infrac-
tons.
Will Confer on Situation.
Meanwhile. Senator Joseph M.
George and Delegate Earle r. Bur
kins, chairmen of the Senate and
House Militia Committees, said a
joint meeting of the two groups
would be held to discuss all phases
of the State Guard situation.
Senator George added that the
Federal district attorney would be
asked to investigate reports that a
State Guard officer had sold Gov
eminent ammunition to Guardsmen
and had kept the money.
Two officers of the special mill
tary police, who came to Annapolis
three days ago to protest dismissal
orders, made the accusation, he re-
called, and said they had receipts
to prove their case. ,
At a joint meeting of the House
judiciary Committees, three men,
berS of the Bond Commission and
Attorney General William c. Walsh
urged passage of a Senate bill.
based on the Bond Commissions
report, which would reduce the size
of the Court of Appeals.
All four speakers declared that
reform of the State judiciary was
needed urgently and that the bill
under consideration was the best
method of effecting that reform,
Opponents will be heard Thursday