Evening star., 1947-03-29
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For Test Today
Maryland Delegates
Study Lane Plan
For Another Levy,
By J. B.. Zotmon
Stor Staff Correspondent

and the imposition of 2 per cent
tax on goods purchased outside
Maryland for use in the State are
scheduled for final action today in
the House of Delegates. Passage
will complete the administration
legislative program for the session
Approval of the measures, already
passed by the Senate, will clear the
General Assembly's calendar of all
major legislation.
Only some noncontroversial local
bills remain to be disposed of before
adjournment Monday.
Senate Amendment Rejected.
Yesterdays legislative action CEN
tered in the House, which killed a
Senate bill to amend the Montgom-
cry County merit system law by
adopting an unfavorable report by
the Civil Service and Pensions Com
mittee.
The measure would have substi-
tuted three-member, bipartisan
Civil Service Commission for the
present single commissioner.
Earlier, the House defeated a mo-
ton by Anders r. Lofstrand, ir.
chairman of the all-Republican
Montgomery delegation, to substi-
tute the bill for the unfavorable
committee report.
The action was taken despite a
plea by Mr.. Lofstrand for approval
OF his motion so we can 90 home
with at least one piece of legislation
accomplished"
Lofstrand Urges Support.
Declaring every major bill present.
ed by the delegation during the
present session has been rejected
Mr.. Lofstrand. in a semihumorous
vein, asked the delegates to please
come along with us boys from Mont
gomery County"
When a voice vote was taken,
Speaker c. Ferdinand Sybert, Demo-
crat, of Howard County, ruled the
motion was lost. Several delegates
Immediately jumped to their feet
and demanded another vote.
Members of the Montgomery del
egation asked for roll call vote, but
Withdrew their request few minutes
later. Another voice vote was taken
and again Speaker Sybert ruled the
motion killed.
Two voice votes also were taken on
adoption of the Civil Service un-
favorable report with Speaker Sybert
ruling both times the report had
been approved.
Rent Control Favored.
The House also adopted favorable
report on a Senate bill to permit
Baltimore City and 10 counties to
set up rent controls in the event
Federal regulations are lifted.
Counties exempted are Calvert,
Caroline, Cecil, st. Marys, Talbot,
Prince Georges, Worcester. Queen
Annes, Wicomico, Carroll, Dor
chester, Washington and Anne
Arundel.
An attempt by Gordon Boone
Democrat, of Baltimore County, to
table the measure was defeated
S3 to IS. The bill would expire in
June, 1949
Mr.. Boone argued the country
has had enough of controls and
that the Federal Government was
in better position than the State
to judge when rent controls should
be relaxed.
House Approves Bills.
After some debate, the House
also approved bills prohibiting
chlropractors from advertising
through the mails or over the radio,
and permitting funeral directors
with at least 10 years embalning
experience prior to June l, 1912. to
receive embalmers' licenses without
taking examinations.
Another bill permitting Christian
Science practitioners to charge for
their services also was approved.
The measure dealing with en-
balmers was vigorously opposed by
Francis x, Dippel, Democrat, of
Baltimore, funeral director.
He said approval of the bill would
endanger public health since many
funeral directors were not qualified
as embalmers, even though they
may have had the required ex-
perience.
After the measure was passed, Mr..
Dippel thanked" the House for
licensing him and $50 other funeral
directors into a job they cannot
perform.
Elgin Custer Proposed.
The Senate passed a bill intended
to oust Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles w. Lee Elgin from his Job.
Mr.. Elgin, who comes from Ha-
gerstown, the home town of Gov
Lane, was campaign manager for j.
Millard Tawes in last years primary
for the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination.
Under an act of 1e45 Mr.. Elgin S
term would run to May, 1949. As
introduced, the bill would have re-
moved him on April 30. 1t was
amended to make the date June 30.
In supporting the so-called rip
per" measure, Senator L. Harold
Sothoron, Democrat, of Prince
Georges County said there is moth
ing personal in the matter. There
are no reflections on Mr.. Elgin. 1t
is merely that matter of principle
Is involved"
The Senate also was the scene of
an attempt to exempt ice from the
States per cent sales tax
Using an old legislative tactic, the
Senate hauled out a bill already
passed by the House, but considered
extinct as far as Senate chances of
approval were concerned. The meas
ure would allow Baltimore and An
napolis to set up their own milk
regulations.
Everything after the enacting
clause was. stricken out and an
amendment submitted by Senator
Sothoron which declared that ice is
q food" and therefore exempt from
the sales tax.
Senator Wilmer c. Carter, Demo-
crat, of Baltimore contended candy
also should be exempted. Action on
Senator Sothoron's amendment was
postponed for several hours to en-
able Senator Carter to prepare his
amendment.
When the matter came up again
and Senator Carter offered his
fa. ~