Evening star., 1952-02-14
Bill fo S4OO
Teacher Pay
Raise Pushed /.
Maryland Senate
UphoIds Veto on
$500 Measure
By ]. B. Zotmon
Sior Stuff Cosrespondens

!
ANNAPOLIS, Feb, 14.-Th,
$300-a-year teacher pay raise bill
was dead today. but its die-hare
supporters prepared to line up be.
hind another proposal this time
for a $400 increase.
The latest measure was intro.
duced yesterday by Senate Presi.
dent George Della. Democrat, o1
the 9Th Baltimore district, shortl,
before the upper chamber sus-
tanned Republican Gov. Nc
Keldin's veto of the controversial
$500 pay raise.
Two other bills calling for In
creased State aid to Maryland's
1.400 teachers are pending before
the General Assembly.
One. sponsored by Delegate
Horace P. Whitworth, Republican
Of Allegany County, would provide
for q $100-$300 salary increase
The other, drafted by the Legisla-
tive Council, would double the
present 500 automatic annual
increase for teachers. -
Three Votes Short.
In yesterdays Senate action,
advocates Of the pay raise bill
mustered Is votes 8 less than the
is required to override a veto
And IL Senators, including
Democrats. sided with the Gov
|ernor. s, -
It was the second time in less
than a week that the veto has
been upheld.
The House voted overwhelm-
ingly to override it last Thursday
but on the following day, the
Senate sustained the veto by q
1913 roll call. The Senate then
agreed to reconsider the question
Added to the Governors strength
yesterday was Senator Bernard
Melnicove, Democrat, of the 4th
Baltimore district. He switched his
vote on the ground the reconsider
alton violated Senate rules and the
bill was. therefore, not legally be-
fore the group.
Funds for the pay raise would
have been obtained by raising the
States corporation tax from 4 to
S per cent. Senator Della's bill
contains no provision for a tar
Jump.
Vote to Uphold Veto.
Among those who voted to sus-
tain the veto were Republican
Senators Dewitt S. Hyde of Mont
gomery County, John r. Fletcher
of Prince George County, James
Monroe of Charles County, Paul
Bailey Of st. Marys County and
David K. Mclaughlin of Wash
ington County.
Senator Hyde later reiterated
that he voted against the bill be-
cause many counties are not
properly assessing their real estate
and are not doing what they can
to increase their teachers salaries.
He pointed out that, under the
States equalization plan for dis
ributing funds to counties for
education, Montgomery's share
dropped from $595,351 during
.1947-48, to $379.555 in the 1950-5l
fiscal year.
Senator Fletcher said his basic
reason for voting against the bill
was the tax increase provision.
He added that the Prince
Georges County commissioners
have told him they plan to in
clude funds for a $30O-a-year
teacher pay raise in their budget
for the fiscal year beginning
July /.
Plan to Speed New Bill.
After the Senate voted to sus-
tain the veto, pay raise advocates
told reporters they will attempt to
have Senator Della's bill pushed
through both houses and placed
on the Governors desk as quickly
as possible.
If the Governor vetoes it, 1t was
said, the Legislature may be able
to override the action, if there il
sufficient time left before the 30
day meeting ends on March s
1t would not take effect, however
until July 1, 1858.
Under the constitution, the Gov.
lernor must act on bill within
six days after it reaches him
Otherwise. it becomes law.
The Governor has indicated he
will reject any other teacher pay
legislation, pending a report bJ
his wly-appointed commission
to study the entire problem Of
school financing.
In other legislative develop.
|ments, the Senate passed the first
three bills of the session and sent
them to the House. One would
include certain synthetic drugs
under provisions of the narcotics
laws.
Police Bill Passed.
The House. meanwhile, passed
and sent to the Senate a bill to
take costs Of the State Police from
general funds. The amount is esti-
mated at nearly 50 million.
The House also received a bill
to compel all motor vehicle owners
to take out insurance before being
licensed.
Another measure dropped in the
House hopper would eliminate the
requirement that bills vetoed after
adjournment be taken up by the
next General Assembly.
In the Senate. Louis Goldstein,
lHon0ryo* ~ No J,yay.k rr,,~&,, sx.