Evening star., 1947-03-25
Maryland Delegates
Vote Sales Tax, 73-47,
After Bitter Debate
BY the Assoeioted Press

ANNAPOLIS. Mar. 25.-The scene
OF the no-quarter fight over a sales
tax, with the State administration
holding the edge after a remarkable
comeback, shifted to the Maryland
Senate today.
The % Senators will battle again
on the levy sought by Gov. Lane who
estimates it will bring in $18, 400 900
year.
Last night the House of Delegates
reversed its stand and passed by a
73-to-47 vote the per cent sales
tax, after rejecting it IS to 81 last
Saturday.
Gov. Lane had insisted the pro-
gram must he approved to carry out
the States health, school and roads
program, but the House did not give
it favorable vote last night until
after bitter accusations of admins
tration pressure and equally as Bit
ter denials.
Before passage was achieved in
the House, opponent after opponent
arose on the floor to charge pres
sure" was exerted by the admins
tration and that legislators had
sold out"
Amendment Approved.
Proponents replied with accusa-
tions of deliberate lies" poor
sports" and scandal mongerS."
Before moving the legislation back
to the Senate the delegates ap-
proved an amendment by Delegate
Newcomer, Republican, of Wash
ington County to permit the State
controller, wherever practicable, to
use tax tokens or prepaid receipts
In the collection system. -
The bill before the Senate would
exempt from the tax foods sold for
off-the-premise consumption feed,
livestock, governmental sales and
such other items as gasoline and
amusement now taxed.
Republican ranks in the House
were split on the reconsideration of
the tax bill Sixteen members of
the minority party voted to recon-
slider, while seven were in favor of
the bill Saturday. Several Demo-
Gratis also shifted.
Delegate See, Republican, of Allie
gany County, a blind member of
the Assembly, brought the debate
to head during the afternoon with
the contention that sales tax sup
porters were seeking to beat" him
Into submission.
Mr.. See asserted that an admin
jstration spokesman called his Su-
periors in the Maryland Workshop
for the Blind and said that if the
tax plan failed the workshop might
have insufficient funds for its op-
Grafton.
While the House was occupied
with the taxation issue, the Senate
went through a routine session,
passing IS bills and advancing tol
the passage stage one to create a \
commission to coordinate stream
pollution control.
AS amended after debate, the
pollution bill provides that the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission would not be required
to pay more than $250,000 annually
toward keeping streams and rivers
free OF pollution.
Oyster Bill Approved.
In the Senate, the Chesapeake
Bay and Tributaries Committee ap-
proved a House bill which would
permit Virginians accused of illegal
oystering in the Potomac River to
be tried in Maryland courts.
The measure, introduced in the
House by the st. Marys and Charles
County delegations, was identical
with one which -preoipitated con-
troversy in which Gov Tuck of Vir-
.ginia intervened and asked Gov.
Lane to try to forestall action.
The earlier bill finally was passed
in way which would permit Mary
land to confiscate boats of Virginia
violators but would turn the law
breakers back to Virginia courts for
trial.
This measure was sent to the
Governor. but he has not yet
signed it,