Evening star., 1948-06-02
Lane Refuses
Veto GAMING
Referendums
Signs All Measures
Passed in Assembly
Special Session
By the Associoted Pres,

BY the Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md, June Gov
Lane yesterday signed all bills
passed by last weeks special session
of the General Assembly and con-
tinued a policy of refusing to veto
referendum proposals to relax local
gambling laws.
The policy was inaugurated after
the regular 1947 session of the Gen.
eral Assembly. At that time the
Governor vetoed all except one local
measure designed to relax gambling
laws. The exception - authorizing
the licensing of slot machines by
St Marys County-provided for a
referendum.
Comments on Bills.
The Governor yesterday took the
opportunity to comment on three
local gambling bills as follows:
Two bills we're passed
granting permissive power to au-
thorize the holding of raffles by
volunteer fire associations, veterans
organizations and charitable groups
under strict local supervision in
Anne Arundel and Howard Coun-
ties.
"A thild measure would license
coin machines under local regula-
ticn in Calvert County and dedi-
cate the licensing revenue to a
hospital. Each of these bills is
subject to a referendum of the
people in the local subdivisions.
"All three bills were passed by
an overwhelming vote of the Cen
eral Assembly. and do not believe
it would be proper exercise of my
veto power if l withheld from the
voters in these counties the right,
granted by the action of the Gen.
eral Assembly, to pass on these pro-
posals at the polls"
Only Excitement in Session.
The three new gambling meas
created about the only excitement
at last weeks special session. They
did not all have the referendum
provision when they started through
the legislative processes.
Included in the bills signed by
the Governor were the two meas
ures he sought when he called the
special sessions.
One of them appropriates general
funds and sets aside special funds
totaling S2,l01,654 to give most of
the States employees 10 per cent
salary increase.
The other makes available $780,
900 in additional funds for the
State Welfare Department and its
program Of aid to the needy.
Also approved was a measure
which will be a benefit to payers of
the State income tax next year.
Those making less than $4,000 may
file the so-called short FORM" with
standard allowance for deduc-
tions.
The short form presently is re-
stricted to those making less than
$1,000.
The new payments will be CAL
culated at 2l2 per cent of taxable
income, as compared with the 2
per cent rate now in effect. The
boost was approved by the regular
legislative session in 1947.
There were II bills in all and
seven resolutions.
Probe of Fisheries Unit.
One of the latter provides for
full-dress investigation of Mary
lands embattled Tidewater Fish
cries Commission. 1t was adopted
to head off threatened bill with
which representative from some
TideWater sections had hoped to
throw out the wrangling three-man
commission. Under the measure
Gov. Lane will name a nine-man
Investigating body by July /.
Another resolution calls for Is
man commission to investigate the
States welfare program. The Gov
ernor suggested it when the We'll
fare Department asked for $780,
900 in additional funds for next
year in face of his recommended
ton for but s50O,O0O.
One of the bills signed by the
Governor permits the State Roads
Commission to use a proportion of
its gasoline tax revenue for road
maintenance rather than new con-
struction. Another exempt spec
tacles and wheel chairs from the
sales tax.
State Building Bonds.
Another act authorized the issu-
ance OF bonds to provide $525 900
for renodeling the State House and
the Court of Appeals Building at
Annapolis.
The overhaul will provide % pri-
vate Offices in the Court of Appeals
Building for the States Senators,
plus committee and hearings rooms
for the House and Senate in both
buildings
The plan also calls for a $4,000
tunnel under State circle to con-
meet the Capitol and the Court of
Appeals Building.
The Road Commission, under an
other new law. is allowed to trans
fer 100000 from its construction
funds for the maintenance of high
ways.
All of the new laws became ef-
fective yesterday.
Bills signed by Gov Lane included
these local measures:
HB.-By Speaker-Empowerin County
commissioners to adopt fre prevention
codes
HB3-By Speaker-Empowering incorpo-
rated municipalities to adopt fire codes
HBS-By Montgomery Delegation-Giv-
Ing the county public utility agent execu-
we authority, as assigned by the County
commissioners. in connection with taxicab
regulations
HB11-By Montgomery and Prince
georges Delegatons-To remove sinking
fund account. outstanding and water sup
ply bonds from the limitation on bond is
sues of the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission
HB1a-By Prince Georges Delegation-I
TO permit assessment Of real estate i'm
provements for parts of the regular tax
HB13--By Prince Georges Delesation-
To regulate trailers and trailer camps in
the county
HBl7-By Montsomery De,esation-
ployes.
HBls--By Frederick Delesation-Di-
recting the Department of State Forests to
buy for S3,533 a tract of Il0 acres on
the Georse A. Townsend property known
as Gath, for creating Of Gathland Park
Hsls.By Montsomery Deleaation-I