Evening star., 1952-02-28
Maryland House Votes
Auto ConiiscatiOn In
Liquor Tax Evasion
BY 9 s'sH esUs,psndsn, s' The S,s'

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 9s.-A
Heuse.approved bill providing for
conhscation Of any motor vehicle
carrying liquor into Maryland
without payment OF the States
$l,26 per gallon tax was on Its
way to the Senate today.
The measure, along with two
companion bills. was passed de-
cisively by the House last night,
All three are sponsored by Dele
gate John +. McNulty, Democrat,
OF Anne Arundel County.
The two other bills would In
crease penalties for persons con.
victed of bottlegging and set up a
special enforcement unit in the
State Controllers office.
Veto Overridden.
Other legislative developments
included: at.
l. The Democratic dominated
House voted, 1891, to override
Republican Gov. McKeldin's veto
OF a bill to transfer State Police
expenses from highway Of gen.
eral funds. The measure now goes
to the Senate. K
2. The House passed and sent
to the Senate bill calling for a
constitutional amendment to limit
SO-day sessions in even years to
consideration Of State finances. AT
present, In additional to financial
questions, such sessions also MAY
take UP legislation involving erner.
gencies and the general public
welfare.
3. The Senate passed and sent
to the Governor a bill relieving
radio and teievisi0h stations Al
responsibility for llbeious state.
fnehtS made BY political cahdl.
dates over theif bf0ad6astiha IA.
ellities.
Budget Form Approved.
g. The Senate adopted A fav0ps
able committee report on A i9F0s
posed constitutional amendment
70 pt6vlde for q performance
type Slate budget instead OF the
present ilheEltem enc Fhe Tlleass
lfe was drafted by the 6ebel0lf
Commission
,Fhe meter vehicle eenhseatian
pHl was passed By a vote OF 90 10 0,
Am9ha these v9tlng AGAINST the
measure were Menta9mePV Beles
safes Julian p, King, Mrs, Leana
M, Rush and Robert A, Wallace,
Phey also cast their ballets
against the two ether ligueF bills,
when were adopted by tallies OF
l9e'T and esrl4, respectively,
Mr., MeNHlty told reporters the
Htate ls losing 9l,6 million O year
as q result OF Marylanders hring-
lng liquor into the Free state
from the District of Columbia,
Under State law, he explained.
1t is illegal to bring more than
two-fifths OF whisky a month into
Maryland without paying the
State tax.
Sees Curb on MOOnshine.
He expressed the hope that es-
Establishment of a special enforce
ment unit would help put the
brakes on such a practice, as well
as aid in eliminating illegal dis
tilling in Maryland.
With reference to the bill to-
transfer State police expenses.
Montgomery officials said their
county stands to gain $4,000 a
year. If the Senate also overrides
the veto.
No figures could be obtained for
Prince Georges County.
In his veto message, the Gov
ernor said the transfer would be
"unrealistic and unwise."
He contended the primary duty
Of the State police Is to patrol
highways, and therefore the cost
OF the department should be borne
by the motorists who use the
roads.
But House Majority Leader A.
Gordon Boone, Democrat, Of
Baltimore County, described the
message as "a masterpiece Of am
biguity," and he accused the Gov
ernor Of wanting TO rob the
motorists"