Evening star., 1947-02-11
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor sioff Correspondent


ANNAPOLIS, Feb. H. Some
members of the General Assembly
indicated today they would support
2 per cent consumers sales tax
after commissioners from 10 of
Maryland's Is counties Endorsed the
proposal. >
The Endorsement was given yes
terday at meeting of county COM
missioners from 16 Maryland coun-
ties in Carvel Hall. Commissioners
from three counties, including
those representing Montgomery and
Prince Georges, said they would ia
vor the tax if adjacent Jurisdictions
adopted a similar levy. Two coun-
ties opposed the tax and one did
Z not vote.
Meanwhile, two other standout
questions were scheduled to come
UP at today's session.
Vote on Juries Due.
Chairman Bolton of the Senate
Judiciary Committee said the body
would return a favorable report on
a. bill which would allow women to
1T on juries. He predicted it would
win a "very close ballot" when it
comes up for final Senate ap-
prova1.
Senator Dulin, Democrat, of Anne
Arundel said the women's jury bill
looked as If it would pass by a 1914
margin in the Senate.
The much-disputed oyster bill
may come up for final vote today if
an amendment striking out the pro-
viso that Maryland could try Vir-
ginians poaching in the Potomac
and substituting authority for
Maryland to confiscate the boats of
Virginians violating the Potomac
oyster laws is readied in. time.
The House also was due to act
on an already approved Senate
resolution setting up a commission
of Marylanders and Virginians who
would try to settle for once and
all the Potomac "oyster stew" which
has plagued the relations between
the two States since Colonial times.
OyStcE Dill way faSS.
Legislative leaders predicted both
the oyster bill and the resolution
would pass.
The tax question was the big
topic of conversation, however.
The action of the various boards
OF county commissioners will be
reported at meeting Wednesday
of the Board of Revenue and Esti-
mates and the Governors Advisory
Council. The two groups are ex-
pected to make a recommendation
to the Governor after the meeting.
At present, it is reported, the
Board of Estimates and Advisory
Council favor a combination of
other taxes rather than a sales tax.
These include taxes on tobacco
products. soft drinks and other So
called luxuries and, perhaps, an in
crease In the States 2 per cent in
come tax.
County commissioners who voted
for a sales tax were those from
Anne Arundel, st. Mary's, Calvert,
Baltimore, Carroll. Frederick, How
ard, Somerset, Washington and
Worcester.
Opposition Voiced.
Commissioners from Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties, said
they would oppose such levy unless
a similar tax is enacted in the
District of Columbia The Cecil
County commissioners opposed it
unless Delaware puts such a tax
into effect.
Voting against the proposal were
commissioners from Wicomico and
Kent Counties. The Hartford County
commissioners did not vote.
The various commissioners also
advocated an additional l cent tax
on gasoline, bringing the State total
to cents. Proceeds of the new tax
would be distributed to political sub
divisions throughout the State for
the construction of farm to market"
roads.
Also indorsed was fiat fee for
automobile license tags and a fixed
excise tax on automobiles. Bills
pending before the General As
sembly call for a $40 annual regis
tration charge and a IS tax on
new cars.
Policy Change Sought.
The group also called for elimina-
ton of the present limit of $4,000
on which roads can be built without
contract. They said more mileage
could be constructed in many cases
by the use of county labor.
Unanimous opposition was voiced
to a House bill giving the State tax
commissioner authority to fix sal
aries of supervisors of assessments
and Of assessors.
There was considerable discussion
of a proposal to increase the State
income tax but no action was taken.
In addition, the group contended
that the State should reduce ex-
penditures.
The commissioners approved the
report of the Sherbow Commission
on the distribution Of approximate
ly SIS 900 900 in State-collected reve-
nues to counties and municipalities
Budget Cut Again.
Gov. Lane, who told the Legisla-
ture he already had cut the budget
drastically, took another swipe at
it yesterday and eliminated one
$4,000 item-the salary of nurse
at the. executive mansion.
The budget had listed the posi-
ton of nurse (mansion)" at 1900
a year. Gov. Lane in a letter to
President Byrnes of the Senate and
Speaker Sybert of the House asked
that the job be abolished.
The Governors daughters are
Dorothy, aged 81, and Jean, 18.
Rsu