Evening star., 1947-03-15
Senate Judiciary Unit
At Annapolis Backs
State Rent Control Bill
BY the Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 15.-The Sen
ate Judiciary Committee voted to-
day to report favorably an enabling
act bill to permit cities and counties
to set up rent control legislation If
national controls are abolished.
The bill, originally introduced by
Senator Ellison, Democrat, OF Balti-
more, earlier had been sent back to
the committee after being unfavor-
ably reported.
AS written now, the measure would
let local governments determine
whether they wanted to adopt rent
controls. 1t also would permit them
to continue the national control
regulations if they chose.
Possible Emergency Cited.
Senator Ellison argued that the
bill was necessary because of the
emergency which would exist if
Federal controls were abolished. y
Baltimore City Senators, who Sen
ator Ellison said favor the meas
ure, will discuss it before it is sent
to the floor.
Meanwhile hundreds of persons
focked into the Statehouse to at
tend a hearing on Gov. Lanes pro-
posal for constructing a Chesapeake
Bay bridge and a five-year highway
modernization plan.
Other Hearings Called.
Hearings and conferences also were
called this morning and afternoon
on such matters as amendments of
the State unemployment compen-
sation laws, rent control and oysters.
The Saturday meeting is part
of an accelerated plan designed to
keep the legislative calendar clear
of last minute jam by the time
the statutory session ends this
month.
/ The Senate met last night to keep
apace of its work and adopted re-
ports on some 40 bills and passed
% others without debate.
Tax Measure Prepared.
One measure prepared for vote
would revise the system for dis
tribution of State income tax reve-
nues, a part of the Sherbow Com
mission report. The Senate Finance
Committee reported favorably on
the legislation to give the city of
Baltimore and the counties IL per
cent of all investment income and
.625 per cent of all investment in
come collected from individuals in
their localities.
At the same time, Chairman Boil
ton, Democrat, of Baltimore County
announced the Judiciary Committee
was withholding from the floor for
the time being the so-called rip
per" bill to oust Motor Vehicle Com
missioner w. Lee Elgin. During the
day, Mr.. Bolton said the group had
approved the bill and would give 1t
favorable report.
Minority leader Kimble, Repub-
lican, OF Allegany County, in an
nouncing his intention to fight it,
declared the plan constituted "po-
licital persecution" of Mr.. Elgin,
who backed former State Controller
J. Millard Tawes against Gov. Lane
in the 1916 Democratic primary.
The Senate approved a favorable
report on a bill to outlaw strikes by
public employees of the State and its
political subdivisions, but there will
be more argument.
Work Overtime on Sales Tax.
The Senate committeeman worked
overtime on Gov. Lanes proposed
2 per cent sales tax bill, but they
were not ready to present it on the
floor and may meet again today in
an effort to get it ready for formal
submission.
During routine session yester-
day afternoon, the House approved
Is bills and accepted favorable re-
ports of committees on SO other
pieces of legislation. ...
During the afternoon, the Senate
received 13 new measures, one of
Wh1ch was the ADMINISTRATOR pro-
posal for an increase to rs per cent
in personal income taxes and to 4
per cent in the State corporation
income levy.
the increased rates are expected
to add more than $4,000, 900 annu-
ally to State revenue to meet edu-
cational and other State department
tai costs.
Other administration bills reach
ing the floor call for abolition of the
Maryland tuberculosis sanitorium
and transfer of its authority to the
State Board of Health. A second
would permit veterans under 81
years of age to execute contracts
and perform other business now per-
mitted only by persons over 81.