Evening star., 1947-03-28
House Passes Budget
OF Pig Million, Sends
Measure 10 Gov. Lane
BY J. B. Zotmon
Sior SfoH Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. ~. ~ i n e
Maryland House of Delegates early
today passed and sent to the Gov-
ernor the $219, 900 900 State budget
for the next two fiscal years, after
beating down attempts to cut pro-
posed expenditures by $3,400 900.
Also sent to Gov. Lane were two
measures intended to carry out his
five-year road and bridge program
at a cost of approximately $163,-
000,e00.
The Senate earlier had approved
the budget bill without debate and
with only six dissenting votes.
Income Tax Bill Pending,
The House action sent the Gem
eral Assembly over its last major
legislative hurdles before adjourn
ment Monday.
Still pending before the Senate
is bill to increase personal income
taxes from to 2.5 per cent and cor
porate income taxes from is to 4
per cent.
The budget bill was passed by a
vote of 106 to IA under a suspen-
sion of the rules, after the House
approved favorable report by the
Ways and Means Committee.
The first move to reduce the
budget was made by Harry I. War
ren, Democrat, of Baltimore County.
who submitted 26 amendments slic-
ing S1,000,000 from the University
of Marylands appropriation.
DR.. H. c. Byrd, university presi-
dent, was seated in the front of
the chamber when Mr.. Warren in
sisted that the proposal would not
seriously impair the institutions
functions.
Increase In Expenditures.
Declaring he meant no reflec-
ton on DR.. Byrd, Mr.. Warren said
the university spent about $4,000
600 last year, while the budget con-
templates expenditures Of $4,000
600 during the two fiscal years be-
ginning July 1.
In opposing the amendments,
LIE Roy Pumphrey, Democrat, of
Prince Georges County expressed
doubt that the proposed cuts could
be made without causing consider
able" damage to the university. The
amendments were rejected by
voice vote.
One road bill calls for expenditures
totaling $139,000,000, 100000, 900
bond issue and an INCREASE from to
5 cents in the gasoline tax.
"a Million for Bridge.
The other proposes the construc-
ton of group of bridges, including
a s24,00o, 900 span over Chesapeake
Bay.
An amendment proposed by Will
liam G. OMalley, Democrat, of the
Sd Baltimore district, to eliminate
the l cent gas tax increase touched
off heated debate.
Mr.. Pumphrey claimed the
amendment would defeat the en-
tire purpose of the bill"
r. Duncan Clark, Republican, of
Montgomery County urged adoption
of the amendment on the ground
that some other method could be
devised to raise the necessary reve-
nue. He said his county would be
seriously affected by the increase
because of it's proximity to the
District of Columbia, where gasoline
is cheaper.
The amendment was defeated,
however, by vote of 81 to a.
There was no Argument on the
bridge bill, which was passed by a
voice vote.
, The House also approved and
sent to- the Governor q bill to retain
the present 10-cent State real estate
tax. r
A bill to legalize the sale and
discharge of certain fireworks in
Maryland was strongly attacked
yesterday in Senate Judiciary
Committee hearing at which it was
said the measure would "cut the
heart out of the present law"
Representatives of the Baltimore
City Fire Department insisted exist
ing State law had proved "a great
benefit" and that there were but
two casualties in the State in the
last six years.