Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-13
Bills Affectinq
PriinceGeorges
To Offered
One Would Allow
Payments to Towns
For Police Service
By J. B. Zotmon
St,r Sko{f

BY J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. ia bill
which would authorize the Prince
Georges County commissioners to
make payments to towns which
maintain their own police de-
partments was to be introduced
in the House today by the coun-
tvs legislative delegation.
! Also to be presented today by
the delegation are measures to:
l. Permit special improvement
districts in the county to receive
a share of motor vehicle registra-
ton fees in the same proportion
as incorporated towns.
2. Abolish the $500 annual
salary for members of the County
Recreation Board. Each men,
Der. however. would continue to
receive an expense allowance up
to a maximum of $3.50 a year.
8. Allow District Heights to
borrow up to 8 per cent of the
assessed valuation of property in
the town for street improvements
and storm water sewers.
Constitution Bills Offered.
Meanwhile, two bills were in
PRODUCED in the House yesterday
to eliminate a major obstacle in
the path of a convention to re-
write Maryland's constitution.
Sponsored by the all-Republican
Montgomery delegation and Dele
gate Lester Reed, Republican, of
Allegany County. both plans had
the same object-to amend the
constitution so that the vote of
majority of those balloting on the
convention question would be a
mandate to the General Assembly.
A clause in the present constitu-
ton has been interpreted as re-
quiring that a majority of all the
voters taking part in a guberna-
torial election must also favor a
constitutional convention before
the legislature can call such a
meeting.
When the question appeared on
the ballot last November, those
voting for convention out-num-
bered dissenters by almost 4 to l,
but fell far short of a majority of
all who went to the polls to vote
for Governor. This was cited in
the House last week as a principal
argument against calling a con-
vention. And the delegates went
on to kill the bill for a convention
by UNFOLDING an unfavorable COM
mittee report.
Would Come Up Next Year.
The Montgomery delegations
proposal would place the proposed
amendment before the voters next
year and the question of a con-
vention on the ballot again in 1854.
Mr.. Reeds bill also would be
voted on by the people next year
but would defer the next ref
erendum on a convention until
1870, when it is scheduled to come
up again under the present law.
Members of the Prince Georges
delegation said the bill concerning
payments to towns having their
own police departments was
drafted by the county commits
Sioners.
Delegate Perry o. Wilkinson,
Democrat, of Prince Georges
County said 20 towns would be
affected. But he did not know
the amount of money involved.
According to the bill, the COM
missioners would be authorized to
refund to the towns such a pro-
portion of the annual tax ap-
plicable to the county police de-
partment as they believe would be
just and reasonable as recompense
in lieu of furnishing county po-
lice protection in such munich
palitieS."
Prince Georges Delegate Harry
Taylor, Republican, pointed out
the Montgomery County Council
adopted such a plan last year for
Takoma Park.
State Realty Tax Opposed.
Among other bills to be intro
duced today was one by Senator
Louis L. Goldstein, Democrat, of
Calvert County, to repeal the
States Scent real estate tax. The
levy now brings in about $2.4 mil
lion a year, the Senator said.
To make up the loss, Senator
Goldstein suggested that the 2
per cent sales tax be reimposed on
restaurant meals costing at least
$1.25. All food, whether consumed
at home or in restaurants, was
exempted from the sales tax at
a special session of the Legislature
last November.
The House. meanwhile, received
bill to authorize a $40 million
State sweepstakes.
The measure, presented by
Delegate Edward r. Milanicz
Democrat, of Baltimore, would
amend the State constitution