Evening star., 1947-03-23
Maryland Sales Levy
Killed, Leaving State
Without Tax Program
By J. B. Zotmon
Star Sfoff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. IL. - Lie
House of Delegates today killed
the Governors Q per cent sales
tax bill by voting 66 to 81 against
a favorable report by the Ways
and Means Committee.
AS a result, the General Assembly
is without tax program with only
eight days remaining in the session.
An unfavorable committee report
on substitute tax plan passed by
the Senate was adopted yesterday
by the House.
Learning of the House action on
the sales tax bill, the Senate de-
cided to create a committee to meet
with Gov. Lane and see what might
be done about tax program accept
able to both the chief executive and
the Legislature.
The Governor met the group to-
night. 1t included Senate President
Joseph r. Byrnes, 5th Baltimore
district; Majority Leader L. Harold
Sothoron, Prince Georges County;
William P. Bolton, Baltimore
County; Joseph M. George, Queen
Annes County. Democrats, and Rob-
ert B. Kimble, Allegany County,
Senate minority leader David K.
Mclaughlin, Washington County,
and Stanford Hoff, Carroll County,
Republicans.
Earlier the Senate rejected a sug-
gestion by Senator Wilmer c. Carter,
Democrat, Of the 3rd Baltimore
district, that both houses recess for
two weeks and then take up re-
manning problems.
Senator Carter said every one was
tired and scarcely fit to work.
The House vote on the sales tax
bill climaxed a two-hour debate by
more than q dozen delegates.
Flood Of Protests Cited.
Leading off in the fight against
the favorable report was Edward H
White, jr., Democrat. Of Wicomico
County.
Pointing out that q similar bill
in the Senate had been sent back
to its Finance Committee, Mr.. White
declared:
"Quite a fe wlegislators apparent
ly have forgotten they are here to
represent the people and not just a
few persons. I have a sworn state
ment from the chairman of the
Baltimore City Retail Merchants
Association that the organization
has received $4,000 letters protesting
against sales tax"
He urged the delegates to consider
the tax recommendations Of the
minority party.
These included proposals for an
increase from IL to per cent in
the corporation tax; reduction in
State income tax exemptions to
meet the Federal level; an increase
in income tax rates from ~ per
cent to per cent; an increase from
to 8 cents per gallon In the beer
tax; a cents tax on each package
of cigarettes; Is cents tax on
smoking tobacco; 5 cents amuse-
ment tax and a cents per gallon
tax on soft drinks. The program
was estimated to raise $18,750, 900
a year.
Praises Senate Bill.
Perry 0. Wilkinson, Democrat, of
Prince Georges County, said the tax
program approved by the Senate
wednesday was fair one because
| it proposed to tax luxuries.
"You can't conscientiously tell
me-" he shouted, you can call a
tax equitable which places tax on
shoes, clothing, furniture and other
necessities"
| A prediction that the 10000 Mont
gomery County residents who work
in Washington would shop there if
sales tax is imposed was made by
r. Duncan Clark, Republican of
Montgomery County.
Declaring that such levy would
bankrupt his county, Mr. Clark as
serted, there is no doubt a sales tax
hits the low income man.
From Oliver r. Guyther, Demo-
crat, of st. Mary's County, came a
demand that the proposed budget for
the next two fiscal years be cut
drastically.
Pointing to the recommended $2,-
SOC, 900 increase in the appropriation
for the State Welfare Department,
Mr.. Guyther charged that such an
increase was unnecessary in these
times of relative prosperity.
J. Raymond Burlington, jr., Demo-
crat, of the 3rd Baltimore district,
said that although So per cent Of the
funds provided in the budget would
be used for education, most of this
amount would go to DR.. H. c. Byrd,
University of Maryland president,
whom Mr.. Burlington described as a
super lobbyist.