Evening star., 1946-12-21
Baltimore Mayor Asks
Stand of0'C Conor, Lane
On Race Revenue Bills
By the Assoeiated Press

BALTIMORE, Dec. 21.-Mayor
Theodore R. McKeldin of Baltimore
today awaited a reply from Gov.
O'Conor and Gov.-elect Lane to a
request for Qualification of their po-
sitions on proposals to devote some
time at Fridays special session of
the General Assembly to race reve-
nue measures.
The session was called to consider
emergency appropriations to carry
State departments in danger of ex-
ceeding their budgets through the
current fiscal year. Gov. O'Conor's S
proclamation convoking the session
made no mention of a Legislative
Council proposal to enact modified
recommendations of the Sherbow
Commission relating to racing reve-
nues.
In search of new revenue sources,
the Baltimore City Council last
week levied a 5 per cent tax On the
pari-mutuel pool at Pimli6o. The
measure was passed, however. with
the understanding that Mayor Nc
Keldin would veto it If the special
session should enact the Sherbow
proposals on distribution of State
tax funds among the municipalities.
Tax Would Net SI,250,O0Q
About s1,250,0o0 would be added
to the city's Golfers under either
the Sherbow proposals or the Coun-
cil's tax.
Mr.. McKeldin's letter to Gov
O'Conor and Mr.. Lane cited dis
turbing reports Of proposals to in
troduce and adopt at the forthcom-
ing session certain amendments to
the existing law designed to with
draw from the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore its authority
to tax racing in Baltimore City for
the year 1947."
IF such legislation should emere
from the special sessions" he saio,
without concurrent legislation
adopting the racetrack proposals OF
the Sherbow report to assure Balti-
more City of a minimum of 81 $780,
900 as its share, and without reason
able certainty that the regular ses-
sion (starting January - will adop:
the rest of the Sherbow commits
sion's program to give Baltimore
City in all minimum of $4,000 ,00t
in additional revenue, the city woule
find itself in a very serious emer
gency."
Study to Take Several Days.
In Annapolis, Gov. O'Conor salt
it would be several days before fls'
cal officials finished studying de-
partment requests to be considered
by the special legislative session.
After studies had been completed
by Budget Director Walter N. Kirk
man, Controller j. Millard Tawes
and Chief Deputy Controller Joseph
O'C. McCusker took up the task OF
considering requests in addition to
those needed for State salary raises
and the welfare department.
The Governor declined to state his
views on the question of whether the
special session should take up the
racing revenue plan recommended
by the tax distribution commission
headed by Judge Joseph Sherbow.
Hasn't Received Proposals.
The chief executive said he had
not yet received copy of the coun-
cil's proposals.
High State officials have met tc
discuss the possibility of treating
the racing revenue problem at the
special session. It was reliably
learned that the consensus was the
Sherbow report was of such far
reaching Importance that dealing
with only part of it might throw the
whole plan out of balance.
The Sherbow report, if made law
would require some 20 separate bill.
and at least one constitutions
amendment.
Meanwhile, at the secretary ol
States office, attaches were pre-
pairing kilograms to be dispatched
to the legislators stlmmoning them
to the extraordinary meeting which
the TSovoryeny. r,roc1aiynad Thursday