Evening star., 1947-10-29
Legislative Unit
Approves B
Bills
Tobacco Measure
Indorsed by Council
For Special Session
BY the Associofsd Press

BY the Assecioied Press
BALTIMORE. Oot 29.-Thirty-
three bills, ranging from one to
create a five-man MARYLAND to-
oacco marketing authority to a
to allow authorities to
'frisk" suspects In making arrests.
were approved by the Legislative
Council yesterday for submission as
measures at the forth
coming special session Of the Gen.
eral Assembly.
The council approved a bill to
regulate dumps in Montgomery
County and another for an in
creased tax rate In Laytonsville, It
adopted unfavorable reports on a
measure to change the tax year Of
Berwyn Heights and to authorize
the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission to set up a $4,000, 900
storm drainage system.
The council will hold another
meeting on Monday to consider a !.
measure to grant Baltimore City
special taxing powers - the pro-
claimed reason for calling the spe-
cial session starting next Wednes-
day-and on at least Ave other
proposals.
Bills to Be Screened"
On the Monday agenda is discus
sion of series of measures looking
toward construction of new legis-
lative building at Annapolis, for
which the council yesterday ap-
proved a $4,000, 900 bond issue.
There is possibility many Of the
measures approved so far by the
council may not be introduced or
may, not get out of committee II
submitted. A source close to Gov.
Lanes administration indicated the
bills would be screened" to deter
mine if they we're really OF an emer-
gency nature.
The tobacco marketing bill. SUBJ
mitted to the council by Senate Ma
jority Leader Sothoron, Democrat,
of Prince Georges, would give the
five-member body authority to reg
ulate marketing practices and in
crease sale of Maryland tobacco.
The authority would supplant the
Office of the State tobacco commits
sioner
1t would have power to fix the
days and hours of auction sales and
set rules of procedure on the selling
floors.
Killings of Policemen Cited.
The "frisking" proposal, originally
introduced as Baltimore City
measure, was expanded to State
wide bill. 1t would permit courts
to accept as evidence concealed
weapons found on prisoners when
caught
1t was given Council approval
despite objections from Delegats
Robinson, Democrat, of Baltimore,
who said II might affect "constitu-
tional immunities and privileges"
Senate President Byrnes, Demo-
crat, of Baltimore, defending the
measure, pointed out it applies only
to spot search for concealed weap-
ons and added:
"At least six or eight policemen
have been killed at call boxes
incidents which would not have
happened if the men they had been
holding had been frisked."
Sales Tax to Be Aired.
Other Statewide bills given ap-
proval included those which would
give the counties 90-instead of 30
days-within which to file annual
reports to the State controller at the
end of a fiscal year, and to reduce
residence requirements for blind per-
sons receiving public assistance from
three years to one year.
Apparently the legislators will
have their work cut out for them II
they wish to finish up in two or three
days, as they have figured, for the
sales tax controversy is due for an
airing at the special session, too.
Delegate Pollack, Democrat, Of
Baltimore said in statement he had
As votes lined up for repeal of the
2 per cent levy on retail sales. There
we're reports the administration was
considering an amendment to the
measure by increasing the 9-cent
exemption to around ii cents.
Mr.. Pollack has advanced as an
alternative to a sales tax program
designed to add needed revenues by
licensing bookmakers, among other
things.
Completion of Dam Urged.
The Council also recommended
unanimously that the Legislature
adopt a resolution calling for COM
pletion of the Savage River Dam in
Garrett County.
Adopted by the Council with q
favorable report was a measure to
approve certain bequests to re-
ligious and charitable organizations.
The Council adopted an unfavor-
able report on a measure to author
ize the study Of county wholesale
liquor dispensary plan in Allegany
County.
The Council resolved that a bill
to reduce taxes on savings banks be
recommended for passage In 1949,