Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-01-17
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY
FRIDAY, JANUARY II, 1947
Deadlock Ends,
House
Settles 10 Work
30 Stote SuIes Tax
Discussed as Well as
Cigarette Levy
By J. B. Zotmon
Star stan Correspondent.

Cigarette Levy
By J. B. Zotmon
Star stan Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 17.-With set
Element of the two-week deadlock
over selection of Baltimore delega-
ton chairman, the House of Dele
gates today prepared to speed work
on two bills passed by the Senate
yesterday-the first measures to pass
either house since the General AS
sembly convened January /.
One of the bills eliminated exemp-
ton of honorary members Of the
State Militia from jury duty The
other provided that negotiable in
struments which fall due on holi-
day become due the following BUSH
ness day, including interest for that
day.
Sales Tax Discussed.
Discussion of other ways of raising
revenue in the Assembly today CEN
tered on the possibility of enacting
a 2 per cent sales tax to raise
$4,000 900 needed to balance the
1859 budget.
Also mentioned as a possible new
source of revenue was a or 3 cent
tax on cigarettes. Representatives
of State tobacco sales interests
called on fiscal officials to advise
them they would not oppose such .
tax.
Lawrence B. Fenneman, attorney
for the wholesale tobacco dealers of
Maryland and the Retail Tobacco
Dealers Association, said 2-cent
tax on cigarettes would net the
State between $4,000. 900 and s7.o00,-
900 and Scent levy would produce
about 100000.
A cigarette tax, plus levies on
amusements and other luxury items,
would raise the needed amount
without resort to the sales tax, Q
fiscal officer said.
Yesterday a revenue raising scheme
was presented by Delegate Chester
G. Kosakowski. Democrat, of Balti-
more, who called for referendum
in 1948 on the question of eliminate
ing Maryland's constitutional ban
on lotteries. The measure would
give the Legislature power to au-
thorize lotteries by the State, munic-
qualities, organizations or indi-
viduals
No legislation affecting areas close
to Washington was introduced yes
terday. The Montgomery County
delegation met last night with rep
resentatives of the County Charter
Committee to discuss possible repeal
of the Lindsay Act prohibiting nom
partisan elections.
Several Bills Discussed.
Earlier, the Prince Georges County
delegation discussed several proposed
bills but took no action.
| Perry o. Wilkinson, delegation
chairman announced the delegation
will meet with representatives of
the county League of Women
Voters at 8 pm. Thursday in the
State House to discuss a minimum
wage and hour bill introduced by
the Legislative Council.
The fight over leader of the &C.
member Baltimore delegation ended
with an announcement by ]. Ray
mond Burlington, jr., Democrat, Of
the Sd Baltimore district, that he
was withdrawing.
Mr.. Burlington had been backed
by 10 members of the delegation in
opposition to the selection by Speak
er G. Ferdinand Sybert of Charles
F.. Argabright, Democrat, of the 5th
Baltimore district as temporary
chairman.
In his announcement, Mr. Buff
fington said his action was taken
with the expectation that Speaker
Sybert would choose a permanent
chairman.
Among 10 bills Introduce in the
House yesterday was one by ]. Bern
ard Carrick, jr., Democrat, of the 9Th
Baltimore district, which would
make it misdemeanor for any one
participating in an athletic contest
to accept bride to throw" a game.
The punishment would be a fine Of
not more than $1,000, three years in
prison or both.
Result of New York Case.
Mr. Carrick said his bill was in
spired by the recent conviction in
New York of Alvin j. Paris on
charges of attempting to bride two
New York Giant football players to
throw" the championship game
with the Chicago Bears.
The Maryland code now makes IL
illegal for any one to bride or at
tempt to bride an athlete, but there
is no provision for punishment of the
athlete who throws contest for his
own gain.
/ Meanwhile the Senate Chesapeake
Bay and Tributaries Committee ap-
proved bill giving Maryland au-
thorities power to prosecute Virgin
ians as well as, Maryland residents
arrested for violating oyster laws in
the Potomac River.
With only one dissenting vote, the
committee sent the measure to the
Senate for second reading. The lone
vote against the bill was cast by
Senator Harry T.. Phoebus, Republic
can, Of Charles County. He ex-
planned he did not want to be re-
recorded as 'favoring a bill which
would outlaw dredging in the Po-
tomac River" For years Somerset
County legislators have been at
tempting to pass legislation opening
the Potomac to dredging.
At hearing Wednesday before
members Of the House and Senate
Chesapeake Bay and Tributaries
Committee, Chairman Edwin War;
field, IT,, Of the State Board Of Nat
ural Resources charged that there
was a total lack Of cooperation by
Virginia authorities In enforcement
of Potomac River oyster laws.
At present Virginia residents ar
rested by Maryland authorities and
charged with clustering violations
are returned to Virginia for prose-
cution. Marylanders arrested in Viz
ginia on similar charges are re.
turned to this State.