Evening star., 1951-02-08
S159 Million
Budget Asked
For Maryland.
McKeIdin DiscIoses
intention to Request
Additional Taxes Soon
BY j. B. Zotmon
Star Sfuff Correspondent

y
Star Sfuff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 8.-A State
budget totaling more than $3.50
million will be submitted to the
General Assembly today by Gov.
McKeldin.
I Pospects were, however. that be-
fore the Legislature adjourns in
April, the expenditures will
amount to many millions more.
This was indicated last night by
Gov. McKeldin, himself, who dis
closed that he will ask for more
taxes probably in the next few
weeks.
The $159 million budget for the
year beginning July l would be
about So million less that Mary
lands total income under present
taxes.
Pay Raises Involved.
It was clear that if pay-raise
demands by State employees and
school teachers are to be answered,
new sources Of revenue must be
found.
The only subject that has RI
vailed money in interest at the
current session Of the General As
sembly was the constitutional con-
vention. And that was settled yes
terday.
The bill to call a convention
was killed by a 64-56 vote in the
House. The balloting came on a
motion to uphold an unfavorable
report of the Ways and Means
Committee.
The action was interpreted by
observers as a protest by the
smaller counties agains what they
believed was an attempt of Bal
timore City and the larger coun-
ties to increase their representa-
ton in the General Assembly.
Proponents Give Up.
Backers of the legislation said
they would give up their fight in
view of the large negative vote.
Nearly all the 56 votes in favor
of a convention came from Balti-
more City and Montgomery,
Prince Georges and Baltimore
Counties.
The principal speech against
the motion was made by Demo-
cratic Delegate Leroy Pumphrey.
the only member of the Prince
Georges delegation to oppose the
bill.
Il have given this matter great
thought and have questioned
many supporters of the proposal
as to what was wrong with the
present constitution and what
they wanted to do to it." he said.
Most gave no answer. And
have not heard one reason for a
change in the constitution that
could not be accomplished by a
simple amendment.
Warns of Log Rolling"
Charging that every subversive
in Maryland wants this conven-
ton" Mr.. Humphrey warned that
this proposition goes to the vitals
of your government"
He also predicted there would
be so much LOG rolling" in such
a convention that it would de-
generate into trading session. Z"
Perhaps I am putting my po-
litical life in jeopardy" he said,
But I don't care. I will not COM
promise with my conscience to get
another term in office"
Others who spoke against the
bill, most of whom came from the
Eastern Shore counties, insisted
the Legislature had no authority
to act on it.
Point to Vote Totals.
They claimed a provision in the
constitution requires that a ma
jority- of the votes cast in an elec-
ton also must be cast on partic-
ular question in order to be valid.
But they pointed out that, al
though about $4,000 persons
voted in the Governors election
last November, only about 257, 900
votes were cast on the question of
a constitutional convention.
In a referendum last November.
zoe, ,439 persons favored and Sc ,998
were against a constitutional con-
vention.
Meanwhile, three Montgomery
County liquor bills moved closer
toward final passage when the
House approved favorable COM
mittee reports. The measures
would set up county department.
Of liquor control, raise beer. wine
and liquor license fees and repeal
a law requiring the use of liquor
board receipts to pay off bonds
issued to build the Liquor Dis
pensary Building in Silver Spring.