Evening star., 1951-03-30
Mcke|din Gets
State Budget for
S163 Million
Teachers Pay Raise
Remains Unsettled;
| Floor Actions Seen
By stof Correspondent Of The Sior

BY Stoff Correspondent Of The Star
ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 30.-Mary-
lands $163 million budget for the
next fiscal year is on Gov. Nc
Keldin's desk today.
The House last night passed the
appropriations measure-$18 mil
lion higher than that of any prior
year-and the Senate made it final
when it concurred in a minor
few minutes later.
Leaders of both houses imme-
diately laid plans for final ad-
journment Saturday night-or not
later than Monday when the Leg
islature, under the law, must quit
sine die.
But there are a few fights yet
that must be settled between the
Governor and Senate
Democrats.
Biggest is the question of how
to finance pay raises for State en-
ployes. The Governor offered a
bill transferring nearly So million
of general funds to the motor
vehicle department. But the SEN
ate Finance Committee amended
the measure in what the executive
called an emasculating fashion.
House Refuses Change.
The House. however, refused to
accept the change and stood by
the Governor in a unanimous
short roll call vote. A Senate and
House committee of three men,
bers each will settle the question
finally and it appeared likely to-
day that the Governor will
emerge the winner.
Another pay raise problem
that of the State school teachers
still is troubling both parties.
The teachers want a $500-a-year
boost and legislators have
searched but have not found
enough to pay even part of the
proposed advance.
In a last-minute move, DR..
Thomas G. Pullen, State superin-
tendent of schools. will appear be-
fore the House Ways and Means
Committee today to urge adoption
of a pay-raise plan. DR.. Pullen,
1t was reported, will attempt to
get the bill to the floor, no matter
what action the committee takes.
Bonus Issue Ahead.
Money measures due for floor
action behind the budget include
bills calling for bond issues total
ing $22 million and a $50 mil.
lion bonus.
The bond bills provide for con.
struction project amounting to
S18 million, $25 million for civil
defense and SIS million for new
building at Johns Hopkins Hos-
pital.
Another fiscal measure, and one
that may provoke lengthy debate,
calls for $5-million bond issue
for a State Office building in An
napoliS. Baltimore wants the Of
flee building and so does Southern
Maryland. 1t shapes up as city,
county battle of the first order.
Among non-fiscal bills awaiting
action is proposal to give broader
powers to the University of Mary
land Board of Regents. The
measure was due for House debate
last night, but was delayed after
IA rostrum conference between
Speaker Luber, DR.. H. c. Byrd.
president of the university; Ma
jority Floor Leader Boone and
Delegate Perry o. Wilkinson.
Democrat, of Prince Georges
County.
Delegate Raises Point.
Delegate Charles M. See. Re-
publican, of Allegheny County
took the floor on a point of per-
sonal privilege to inquire what was
going on. He moved to have the
Speaker clear the House floor of
all persons not authorized under
the rules to be there.
DR.. Byrd, in the course of MIR.
Sees remarks, walked across the
House floor and seated himself in
a chair.
Mr.. See did not say his move
was directed at DR.. Byrd and later
withdrew his motion. The Alle-
gheny legislator did say, II want
the business of the House trans
acted by those who are supposed
to transact it,"
Plans to lease oyster beds
throughout the State have run
onto legislative reef. The SEN
ate last night passed a bill to
transfer leasing authority from
the Tidewater Fisheries Commis-
sion to the General Assembly it.
self. The Senate action followed
strong protests from watermen
against any leasing plans. They
fear that if carried out the pro-
posal would give control of oyster
beds to private packers and that
they would be forced to work for
commercial interests or abandon
their trade.