Evening star., 1947-11-09
Lane 10 Sign 50 Bills
Including Sales Tax al
Ceremony Tomorrow
BY the Associated Press

/
ANNAPOLIS, Nov. 8.-Gov. Lane
will sign Monday new sales tax
act fixing the exemption at IA cents
and about so other bills approved
by the General Assembly which ad-
! journed shortly after l am. to-
day.
The ceremony, to be attended by
Senate President Joseph R. Byrnes,
House Speaker c. Ferdinand Sybert
and other State legislative officials,
Is scheduled to take place in the
morning.
Highlighted by an 18-minute fill
buster against a bill to allow police
men to "frisk'' suspects for con-
cealed weapons, the special session
ended with Gov. Lanes program
enacted almost as ne presented it.
Program Goes Through.
There were tense hours. in the
three-day session, and at times
some phases of the program seemed
to be on shaky ground, but in each
showdown the administration had
more than enough votes to win.
After Gov. Lane signs the new
sales tax act, the tax will be col
lectible only on purchases costing
IA cents and over.
The other legislation offered by
Gov. Lane which met with serious
objection was a bill to allocate
$500,000 more to the public welfare
department., and an amendment to
the Baltimore City tax bill which
allows the city to tax gross receipts
of buslines.
The Baltimore impasse was re-
solved by rider prohibiting tax
alton OF intraState buses entering
the city. Both houses passed finally
last night the act which allows the
city to levy any taxes it pleaSes be-
yond those specifically imposed by
/ the State. This measure was the
major purpose Of the session.
Statewide Bills Included.
Most OF the measures upon which
Gov. Lane will act next week are
Of the local emergency" types, but
several Statewide bills are included
One allows the State Road Com
mission to use portion of the
500, ,000, 900 road bond issue for free
ways of the Ritchie highway type
instead of limiting construction to
express highways.
Several departments and institu-
tions will get 100000 additional a
year. Baltimore City was given
authority to hold referendums on
an $8,000000 building program for
public health clinics and an addi-
tional $2,500,OOO stadium loan.
The Legislature memorialized
Congress to appropriate funds for
completion of the Savage River
dam in Allegany County.
Baltimore County was allowed to
impose various taxes on luxuries
and utility bills.
Tobacco Authority Authorized.
The special session also:
Created State Tobacco Authority
to regulate the marketing of the
Southern Maryland tobacco crop.
Amended State oyster laws to plug
loopholes in existing laws.
Voted $125, 900 for matching Fed
eral grants for municipal airports.
Turned down a proposal for a
$2,000,000 legislative Office building,
and recommended that a commits
sion be created to study the project.
Legislators from Maryland's leaf
producing counties said the tobacco
bill would protect farmers against
sharp price changes by empowering
the State authority to open and
close sales markets.
AS amended In both houses, the
bill would call on the authority to
recommend legislation to the l949
General Assembly to improve tobac-
CO handling and sales procedures.
Other bills passed included
measures:
] Empowering Anne Arundel Coun-
ty board Of education to borrow up
to 100000 for school improve
ments and to tax the county citizens
to pay off such q loan.
Providing that oyster shucking
houses turn over 20 per cent of
shells from oysters to the State for
replacement oyster beds, or to pay
an equivalent sum of money.
Allowing transportation on school
buses of children attending paro-
chial schools in Anne Arundel
County.
Authorizing construction Of .
Chesapeake Bay CROSSING o. slly
type. eliminating its restriction to a
bridge. &@~4