Evening star., 1947-03-17
SpeedupBe
In Maryland
Legislature
Senote Floor Fight
Likely Today Over
Pct. Sales Tax
BY the Asseeiafed Press

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 17-Leglsla-
tive leaders planned today to work
delegate and Senators overtime for
the next two weeks to clear the
hundreds of bills remaining for dis
position by the adjournment dead
line March 81.
Most of the high controversial
questions of the Senate still must be
debated-and leaders have served
notice that two meetings a day will
be held If necessary.
A Senate floor fight is expected
today when the Finance Commit
tees favorable report on Gov. Lanes
2 per cent consumers sales tax bill
is submitted as a special order of
business.
The bill-which would raise an
estimated $18,000,000 annually in
new revenues-was amended by the
committee to exempt products used
by farmers in producing crops and
livestock.
Minority Leader Kimble, who
blocked vote on adoption Of the
report Saturday by moving 1t be
made special order Of business for
today, is expected to lead the fight
against the measure.
Floor Leader Needed.
The administration was placed In
the position of finding floor leader
for the bill, when Senator Sothoron,
the majority leader, placed himself
among its oponents.
The same situation exists in the
House, where Democratic Floor
Leader Humphrey is expected to vote
against the measure.
Democratic spokesmen predicted
that at least Is of the % Senators
would vote for a sales tax. They
conceded there would be a sharper
division in the House.
Several hundred persons from all
sections of the State attended a
stormy two-hour hearing on the
sales tax before the Senate Finance
and House Ways and Means Com
mittees last week.
Keystone of Fiscal Drive.
The bill is the keystone for much
of the other financial legislation be-
fore the House to provide the S91,-
100000 asked by Gov. Lane in his
regular budget.
This means the $4,000, 900 roads
program bill, the supplemental bud
get which is due to ask additional
financial aid for the University OF
Maryland and the State Depart
ments of Health and Welfare, and
the proposal for higher teachers
salaries all must mark time while
the sales tax bill works its way
through the Legislature.
Another potential fight on the
Senate calendar is special order
of business to deal with an unfavor-
able report on a Legislative. Council
Sherbow Commission bill to divert
to the various subdivisions the $780,
900 now going annually into State
Golfers from court recording fees.
Afternoon Sessions Called.
The House and Senate were called
back from a weekend recess for ses-
sions this afternoon-the first Mon
day afternoon meetings OF the ses-
sion.
There was a possibility the con-
troversial bills dealing with leasing
of Chesapeake Bay oyster beds
might reach the floor during the
week.
One oyster measure sponsored by
the Tidewater Fisheries Commission
would permit the leasing OF bay bot
toms to private interests. The other,
born out of opposition to the bill
by Tidewater county legislators,
would explicitly ban leasing.
Another bill resulting from the
commission leasing plan would
abolish that body and set up in its
stead a Cheapeake Bay authority
with similar powers and duties. Its
sponsors stated it was designed to
oust the present commissioners.
There has been a movement to
compromise by killing all three bills
and substituting joint resolution
to ask the Governor to appoint an
impartial five-man commission to
study the problem.