Evening star., 1949-02-04
School Finance
Poses New Task
ForLegis|ature
Measure Freezing
Maryland Income Ia,
To Be Signed Soon
By J. B. Zotmon
Staf Stof Correspondent

other knotty problem - school
finances-after depositing the State
income tax bill on Gov. Lanes desk.
The income tax question was the
big problem until yesterday, when
the House put its final approval on
an act freezing" the State tax on
earned income at 2 per cent.
The administration backed bill
will be signed within the next few
days by Gov Lane.
1t will take immediate effect, and
relieve taxpayers from paying the
212 per cent rate that automatically
went into effect January l.
Brings Up School Problem.
While the House was agreeing to
technical amendments the Senate
had tackled to the income tax bill,
Senator P. c. Stromberg, Democrat,
of Howard County was telling his
colleagues across the hall:
4 il ::fThe counties are faced with the
desperate problem of how to provide
needed new school construction"
He said the counties are already
at the point where they cannot float
new bond issues easily.
Urging the legislators to study
the problem, Senator Stromberg as
serted:
Despite the fact that we are oc-
cupied with other problems, the
question of public school buildings
and the operation Of our public
school system is the biggest problem
facing the State and the indlvid-
ual counties. I can't impress too
deeply the seriousness Of the situa-
tion."s
Bad" in Bigger Counties.
He claimed the situation is bad"
in the larger counties. such as Mont
gomery and Prince Georges, as well
as in the smaller ones.
At another point Senator Roy
Tasco Davis, Republican, of Mont
gomery County noted the presence
in the State House of Richard H.
Lansdale, former Delegate from.
Montgomery County, and asked per-
mission for Mr.. Lansdale to be seat
ed in the Senate. His request was
granted
! Meanwhile, it was learned ne
gotiations are under way between
the State Roads Commission, Fed
eral officials and Maryland's con-
gressional delegation with view to
obtaining Federal funds for access
roads to military installations.
I The disclosure was made by
Joseph M. George, member OF the
commission. in testifying before the
Senate Finance Committee against
a bill to allocate one-half of the
receipts from the per cent motor
vehicle titling tax to the counties
and Baltimore for road improve
ment.
Refers to Patuxent Bridge.
MIR. George, a former State Sena-
tor from Queen Anne's County,
referred specifically to the proposed
Patuxent River bridge between
Charles and Calvert Counties and
the Washington Baltimore free~ay
He said the bride would link two
Navy installations while the pro-
iected freeway would connect Wash
ington with Fort Meade.
Committee Chairman Sothoron
said, however, he saw no chance in
the world of getting an appropria-
ton for Maryland above that given
to all the States"
He suggested that the District
of Columbia increase its gasoline
tax l cent, contending that the
lower gas tax in Washington re-
suits in a s3,5OO0OO annual loss to
the State in gasoline taxes.
zoo Millions insufficient.
Mr.. George told the committee
that the 5000 10000 in bonds and
revenues to be used in the States
road program during the next five
years will accomplish only about
lone-quarter of the needs.
Also appearing against the bill,
sponsored by Senator Louis L. Gold
stein, Democrat, of Calvert County
was Robert E. Clapp, special as
sistant attorney general for roads.
Mr.. Clapp said the measure would
upset the commissions plan to
finance the road bonds and would
affect their sale.
Senator Edward D. Storm, Dem
ocrat, of Frederick County, who
failed Wednesday in an attempt to
include in the income tax bill a
provision cutting the rate on in
vestment income, introduced sep
arate measure yesterday to ac-
complish that purpose.
I 1t would reduce the 5 per cent
investment income tax to pei. cent
on the first $1,000 and would apply
on 1949 income.
Other Bills Offered.
Other bills introduced yesterday
included three sponsored in the
House by the Prince Georges Coun-
ty delegation. They would:
Eliminate an obsolete local law
dealing with tax collection.
Increase the number of guards at
the Upper Marlboro Jail from two
to three
Prohibit installation of public
utility equipment in any project
under construction in the county
unless a building permit is obtained
The Senate Hygiene Committee
held hearing on a measure which
would provide that unclaimed bod
les from> any section of the State
be turned over to State Anatomy
Board.
The board would consist of rep
resentatives of the University of
Maryland Medical School and the
Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine.
Chiropractors Ask Share
Representatives of chiropractors
sought to amend the measure so
they would be allotted a reason
able" share of unclaimed bodies
Dentists sought representation on
the Anatomy Board, although they
agreed that in the past they had
been allotted cadavers for study.
! DR.. Edwin S. Stafford, associate
professor of surgery at Johns Hop
kins, replying to charges the med
ical profession is trying to establish
a legal monopoly" on bodies. said
the question was merely to pass the
l..