Evening star., 1947-03-21
Mary|and's New
Tax Bill Up for
House Hearing
Report Due Today
On Income Scales
Approved by Senate
By J. B. Zotmon
Stnr Stnff Cofresnondent

House Ways and Means Committee
as Democratic leaders marshaled
their forces to push the bill through
the General Assembly by tomorrow.
The new tax program was pro-
posed by II Democratic Senators
Wednesday night as substitute for
Gov. Lanes per cent sales tax bill,
which has been recommitted to the
Senate Finance Committee.
Meanwhile, the House yesterday
passed and sent to the Governor a
bill qualifying women for service
on Maryland juries in all but IL
counties. The action marked the
successful culmina ton of a 25-year
fight by women for the right to sit
on juries.
A public hearing on the new tax
bill was to be held today before the
Ways and Means Committee, and
members of the group said they
planned to report the measure out
this afternoon.
Speedy Action Urged.
Speedy action is imperative be-
cause we are near the end of the
session." said Speaker C. Ferdinand
Sybert, Democrat, of Howard Coun-
ty, and Majority Floor Leader Leroy
Pumphrey, Democrat, of Prince
Georges County.
Mr.. Pumphrey expressed conf
dence that the Governor would sign
the bill, despite the latter's support
of 2 per cent sales tax. Any other
action, Mr.. Humphrey said, would
disrupt the Senates entire fiscal
program.
The new bill is designed to raise
an estimated S21,000,O00 year
through revision of the State in
come tax and enactment of new
levies on liquor, beer, soft drinks,
cigarettes and other tobacco prod
ucts.
The Senate quickly approved the
bill Yesterday, with only two dis
senting votes, after adopting fa-
vgrable report by the Finance Com
m1ttee and suspending the rules to
permit final action on the measure.
Senator Wilbur c. Garter, Demo-
crat, of the Sd Baltimore district
said he was opposing the measure
because the combination of taxes
provided in it constitute IAN injus-
'tice and inequity I can't go along
with"
Ellison Recorded Against.
The other opposing vote was cast
by Senator Daniel Ellison, Repub-
lican, of the 4th Baltimore dis
trict.
The new bill calls for increased
taxes on alcoholic beverages to be
collected in the same way as the
present ones. Liquor taxes would
Jump from S1.25 gallon to sl75
and be paid by the manufacturer,
wholesaler or dispensary.
The beer tax-increased from 3
cents to IA cents gallon, would be
paid by the manufacturers or deal
ers, with stamps on barrels and
crowns on bottles denoting payment.
The cigarette tax would be l cent
on 10 or 2 cents on the ordinary
package. Tobacco and cigars would
be taxed at l cent on each 10 cents.
These imposts would be collected
by means of tax stamps to be issued
to wholesale and retail dealers.
An entirely new levy-imposed
only by North Carolina and Louisi-
ana-is the soft drink tax. 1t is
| cent on six cents or less and on
sirup to make soft drinks IS cents
a gallon. Drinks made from milk
are excluded under the bill.
This tax would be collected also
by means of crown tax-such as
used now on bottled beer sales.
Would Lower Exemptions.
The final provision concerns the
change in the present income tax
law. This would lower tax exempt
income from $1,000 to $500 for
single persons and from $4,000 to
$1,000 for married persons, and in
crease the dependency allowance
from s40O to $500. These exemp-
tions are the same as those apply
ing at present under the Federal
income tax law.
A proposed amendment for a
graduated State income tax was
introduced in the Senate by Sen
ate President Joseph r. Byrnes,
Democrat, of the 5th Baltimore dis
trict.
The amendment would be offered
to the voters in the 1948 general
election, A similar proposal was
defeated in 1888.
Counties exempted from the wom-
ems jury service bill are Allegany
Carroll. Garrett, Queen Annes, Tai
bot, Worchester, Howard, st. Marys
Kent, Washington, Charles and Cal
vert.
Although there was no debate on
the bill, several delegates arose tc
explain their vote.
Mr.. Pumphrey, who voted against
the measure, said exemption of the
IL counties would result in con-
fusion.
In her first speech of the ses-
sion, Mrs. Leona Rush, Republican
of Montgomery County said: Il wai
prepared to get up and fight foi
the bill, but I find that is unneces-
sary. Women are important in al
walks of life. and I hope that, il
the bill carries, we can prove tr
the male population that womer
are important also on juries.'
Montgomery Bills Approved.
Among other bills receiving House
approval were three affecting Mont
gomery County. They would
Authorize the county commits
sioners to issue up to S7000.000 ir
bonds for schools. roads and gen.
eral county construction.
Extend the area of the Bethesda
Fire Department and increase the
fire tax from II to IS cents per 500
Prohibit dumps within 3 miles
Of any municipality.
The delegates adopted favorable
committee report on measure to
revise unemployment compensation
law procedure, after striking out q
Senate amendment to require un-
employment compensation boards to
remain in their offices at all times
during working hours