Evening star., 1950-11-11
Sales Tax Lifted
In maryland on
Items Under Sic
Restaurant Meals,
Soaps and Boby Oil
Also Are Exempt
BY J. B. Zotmon
Stnr Sfnff cnrrssnondenA c

Beginning December Mary.
lands 2 per cent sales. tax will b,
removed from all purchases cost
ing less than 81 cents.
In addition, housewives n,
longer will have to pay the tax OF
soap. soap powders and baby oil
and powders, nor will persons eat
ing in restaurants have sales ia,
pennies added to their bills.
The increase in the levy's pres.
ent 14-cent exemption and thu
elimination of the extra item.
from the tax were authorized yes.
terday at a special session of ths
General Assembly. called by Gov
Lane to fulfill his campaign
pledge. 1t was signed into Law
less than an hour later.
81 Million Cut.
In q message to the lame duck
legislators, many of whom will not
be on hand when the States law
making body meets in January
the Governor, lame duck" him.
self as a result of his defeat by
Theodore r. McKeldin, said his
proposed changes would reduce
revenue by approximately 81 mil
lion annually.
But even so, he added, the State
could expect to have a surplus OF
$4,671, ,925 on July l, 1851.
He explained he was limiting
tax revisions to his proposals be-
cause:
"The new administration will
be faced with requests for addi.
tional appropriations which will
include not only requests for the
expansion of existing services, but
also the possibility of substantial
appropriations for civil defense
It would not only be unwise but a
disservice on my part not to give
heed to these possibilities"
Thanks Legislators.
At the conclusion of his talk be-
fore a joint session of the House
and Senate, the Governors voice
broke as he thanked the lawmak-
ers "for the service you have rem
dered to the people of the State -
He quickly regained his COM
posure, however, and wore a broad
smile as he left the House cham
ber.
His request that members of the
Legislature limit themselves to
easing the sales tax was obeyed, as
the General Assembly passed only
two other bills. One was a COM
panion bill making the use tax
conform with changes in the sales
tax law and the other appropriated
up to $4,000 to pay for expenses
OF the 512 hour session.
Since the District of Columbia
sales tax conforms with the pres
ent Maryland levy, it is believed
likely that Congress will pass legis-
1ation to make similar changes in
WaShington's tax.
Lane, McKeldin Confer.
Before the Legislature convened,
Mr.. McKeldin conferred with the
Governor for the first time since
Tuesdays election.
Afterwards Gov. Lane told re-
porters:
'We have had very frank dis
cuSsion of a number of matters,
all Of which have been, as we see
it, in the interest of the people of
Maryland.
Frank and friendly" added Mr..
McKeldin.
Mr.. McKeldin had attended a
caucus of Republican legislators,
at which they agreed to support
Gov. Lanes sales tax proposals,
since the changes were in accord
with those pledged by Mr.. Nickel
din during his campaign.
In their procession caucus, the
Democrats, who control both
houses. agreed to conf1ne legisla-
ton to the sales tax.
The House then settled down to
consider the sales tax revisions
which had been reported favor
ably by the Ways and Means Com
rnittee.
McLeish Votes "No."
When the measure came up fol
final passage under suspension oi
the rules, only one voice was raised
against it. Delegate George G
McLeish, Democrat, of Prince
Georges County, who was defeated
in his race for reelection, said hi
was voting mo- because "I be.
lieve this bill arose out of a vicious
primary and general election cam.
paign."
Inadequate consideration ha.
been given this Dill, ne declared
''It should have been held ovel
until the regular session in Jan.
uary."
The measure then went to the
Senate, where it was passed with.
out opposition.
Earlier, in electing officers fol
the special session, the Senate
named Majority Leader L. Harolc
Sothoron of Prince George County
who also was defeated for re-elec.
ton, as it's president.
Mr.. Sothoron replaced Joseph r
Byrnes, Democrat, of Baltimore
who has been Senate president fol
the last four years.
Six-Week Jail Term