Evening star., 1947-11-03
lane i 10 Request
14cExemption
On Sales Tax
State Administration
Lists 7-Point Program
For Special Session
BY the Associofed Press

BY the Assoeioted Press
| ANNAPOLIS, Nov. 3.-The State
administration will sponsor a
seven point program of legislation
to be introduced at the special ses-
sion of the General Assembly con-
vening Wednesday. including an
amendment to the sales tax law
to raise the exemption of cents
to IA cents.
In announcing the program last
night, Gov. Lane said he plans
to ask the Legislature for permis-
sion to present it in person at a
joint session of the House and
Senate, and. to make to them my
recommendations thereon"
Meanwhile the Legislative Council
planned to hold its last meeting
before the special session today in
Baltimore. 1t was expected the
bills containing the administration
program would be presented to the
council for its approval. Several
other matters will come before the
council, including proposal for
bond issue to finance a new
$2,00O,OOO State office building in
Annapolis.
Baltimore to Get Tax Power.
The Governors formal statement
listed the following program:
Il. Grant to Baltimore City on a
temporary basis the authority to
levy special taxes except in certain
fields pre-empted by the State and,
at the request of the city admin
istration, authorize the submission
to the voters in 1948 of a $2,500 900
stadium loan and an $4,000, 900 pub
Tic building construction and bond
issue.
% Raise the minimum figure at
which the sales tax is imposed from
9 cents to IA cents and, in addition,
authorize the Board of Public Works
to increase the minimum figure
within specified limit if continued
revenue collection from this source
justifies reduction in the scope of
the levy.
g. Modify the restrictions now in
the law in the type of road con-
struction which may be financed
from authorized bond issues and
grant the State Roads Commission
broader discretion in the planning
of the new highway program.
a. Provide funds to permit the
State, in collaboration with Balti-
more City, to adjust to a maximum
of $40 per day, if earned, the pay
ments to private hospitals for the
care and treatment of INDECENT
patients.
49, Allocate a sum not to exceed
S125,00 for use as matching funds
for local airport construction where
Federal and local funds are avail
able and construction plans are
complete and approved.
"6 Revise the provisions of the
1947 Construction Loan Act to per-
NIT funds authorized hereunder to
be utilized in accordance with re-
vised structure planning.
"7. Supplement public welfare ap-
preparations to permit an increase
in minimum allotments to the ex-
tent of the raise in subsistence living
costs since adoption of the current
State budget"
Among other bills which State
officials have indicated would be in
troduced at the special session is
one to plug loophole in the States
oyster laws.
The attorney generals Office dis
covered the present law applies only
to licensed oystermen and that per-
sons without licenses can catch
oysters both in and out of season,
except in the Potomac River.
Counties May Ask Tax Privileges.
The office has prepared a measure
to take care of that.
Under the Baltimore City tax bill,
the municipality would have power
to levy special taxes on anything
except incomes, gasoline, motor We
hicles, horse racing, certain levies
on corporations, insurance premiums
and inheritances.
The city would have special taxing
privileges for four years. Gov. Lane
said that a provision is being in
serted so that if Congress adopts
new tax setup to give the State
certain fields of their own in which
to levy taxes, Maryland would be in
position to set up new system
quickly and would not be hampered
in doing so by special laws applying
to Baltimore only
Baltimore County and several of
the other larger counties may ask
for similar privileges at the special
session, it has been reported.
Powers Expire This Year.
Baltimore city's present powers to
levy special taxes expires with the
end of this year and the city must
find about $7,000,000 in added rev.
enues to balance its budget.
The roads amendment would give
the State Roads Commission discre-
ton on the manner in which it
spends the s10o,000,000 from sale OF
bonds authorized by the act.
At present, the law states the
money may be spent only for con-
struction of expressways and con-
trolled access highways accommo-
dating more than 5000 vehicles.
The amendment would allow the
commission to use the money to
construct the types of roads it be-
lieves was most needed, with the
proviso than one-half of the $780,
100000 be used to build highways
having an average traffic of at least
5000 vehicles.