Evening star., 1950-02-15
Lane S Tax Plan
Wins Approval
In Assembly
Senate Group Okoys
Measures to Ease
Levy on Incomes
By J. L. Michael
By }. L. Michael
Stor Stoff Correspondent


ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 15.-Mary-
land Assemblymen prepared today
to give final approval to Gov.
Lanes plan to save taxpayers ST.
250.000 through income-tax reduc-
tions.
Approval yesterday by the Sem
ate Finance Committee were ad-
ministration measures which
would:
Raise exemptions for dependents
from $400 to 5000.
Double the present $1,000 ex-
emption for persons over IS.
Lower the rate on the first $500
of unearned income from 5 to
per cent, where the total income
is less than $4,000.
The bills are expected to come
before the Senate within the next
few days.
In the offing is an attempt by
militant Senators to bring out
local bills bottled up by the Rules
Committee.
Petition Threatened.
Disgruntled at failure to get
these "acute emergency" meas
ures on the floor in this election
year, a group of members of the
upper house threaten to break the
jam with a petition.
Then, they say, they will attack
the rule which specifies that only
the budget matters affecting the
public welfare or emergency
may be taken up at the 3O-day
session.
The restrictions, however, are
constitutional and thus doubt ex-
lists as to the legality of many
bills which may be approved.
One experienced legislative OBJ
server said last night that "at
least 10 per cent of the measures
passed at this session may be
open to court attack on the
ground of constitutionality."
So complicated has the situa-
ton become that confused and
uncertain lawmakers may ask
the voters to revamp the States
legislative calendar. A bill intro
duced yesterday by Delegate Pres
ton, Democrat, of Baltimore
would provide for. a referendum
in November on a constitutional
amendment which would call for
annual 60-day sessions with any
type of bill eligible for considera-
ton.
Veterans Bills Advance.
Other top issues before the AS
sembly are two bonus bills and
Senator Goldstein' s effort to upset
the States real estate assessment
plan. Both veteran bills cleared
Rules Committees yesterday.
Delegate McNulty, Democrat, of
Anne Arundel, said yesterday his
bill had SO sponsors when finally
dropped in the hopper. Sixty-two
votes constitute a majority in the
House.
Senator Goldstein, Democrat, of
Calvert yesterday lashed at the
three-member State Tax Commits
sion for what he termed unfair
assessments.
How can the big three" he
asked, "sit behind big mahogany
desks in smoke-fi filled Office in
Baltimore and know what prop
erty is worth in Calvert County?"
THAT group" he added, has
the greatest powers of any COM
mission in Maryland. There is no
appeal from their decisions. That
is worse than Russia"
Goldstein Motion Fails.
Senator Goldstein was debating
his motion to substitute his bill to
increase commission membership
for an unfavorable report from
the Judiciary Committee. The
motion lost, % to 7.
A bill to make standard time
mandatory all over the State was
killed in the House yesterday. II
was sponsored by Delegate New
conner. Republican, of Washing
ton County. At present Balti-
more City and the counties decide
for themselves.
In resolution introduced yes
terday by Senator Goldstein and
Senator Bailey, Republican, of St
Marys, Gov. Lane was asked to
appoint commission to study the
removal of State Offices from An
napolis to Baltimore.
The Senate Committee on Ju-
dicial Proceedings reported un-
favorably bill to allow cars OF
volunteer f1remen to be classed
as emergency vehicles while an
swering alarms.
Favorably reported by the same
committee was the Jim Crow re-
pealer. Lets get it through the
Senate" said committee members
and "let it be killed in the House,