Evening star., 1952-03-01
Senate Group
Asks MckeIdin
To Trim Budget
81 Million Cut Is Aim
Lawmakers Slash
Health, Welfare Fun,
BY Tho A.sosia,sd Press

iQay 70 Trim ABOUT " mllllon fromi
Gov. McKeldin's $177 lnillionl
budget for 1858.
The Senate Finance Committed
yesterday voted ia on SYSTEM
for trimming the Governors rec
lord budget and getting it started
toward enactment. They actually
trimmed but $425, 900 from appro-
lpriations the Governor had ap-
lproved for the States various de-
lpartments and agencies, and asked
the Governor by resolution to see
that another SIS million is whit
tiled out.
They figured this was 3 per cent
lof departmental appropriations
that can be cut.
About SAG million in the budget
cannot be touched. It includes
some Of the outlay for schools
land the judiciary. for example.
One Of the big cuts was 800, 600
taken from the Department of
Health for medical services it
provides the poor. The original
request was $1,525, 900. Another
500. 900 cut was in Welfare De-
Ipartment funds for public assist
|ance payments to the needy.
Budget System Bill.
The Senate passed and sent over
to the House four bills Of a set
designed to give the State a whole
new budget system. They were
recommended by a commission the
Governor appointed to suggest q
|streamlining Of the States ad-
|ministrative organization.
They require the Governor toI
submit q "one-package" budget
each year-instead Of a dribble
|of budgets, supplemental budgets,
construction bond bills and budget
amendments.
They also require State agen-
|cies to put q price tag on all their
various functions and activities,
instead Of merely listing how
much they need for workers, sup
plies, materials and equipment.
Senator'S yesterday crossed party
lines In voting to retain the prop
erty tax as a support for State
bonds. A bill to wipe out the levy
was thrown aside, 1873.
Oyster Leasing Ban.
A proposed one-year ban on
private leasing Of oyster ground
advanced through the House and
made progress in the Senate.
delegates voted S6-17 to declare
the moratorium beginning June /.
Later the Senate Chesapeake Bay
and Tributaries Committee ap-
proved a similar measure over the
objection Of Chairman Shehan,
Democrat, Of Talbot, and Senator
Adkins, Republican, Of Wicomico.
The same committee agreed to
abandon, at least for this year,
"a proposed Maryland Virginia
agreement ON control of Potomac
River oystering. Senator Shehan
said he also would lay aside a
resolution calling for a study of
bi-State seafood problems.
The House passed and sent to
the Senate q bill to give State
troopers a $500 pay raise. It
would add $75.000 to State police
costs, but proponents say Gov.
McKeldin could provide it this
year from motor vehicle funds.
Delegates also voted to authorize
evidence obtained by highway
radar boxes in prosecution of
speeding cases. ..
Controversial Bills.
Two Of the most argued mat
terS Of the session appeared life
less in committee.
One would restrict 3O-day even
year sessions to fiscal matters.
The House okayed it, but Chair
man Crothers of the Senate Ju-
dietary Committee referred it to
a subcommittee.
| Although the study was to pro-
duce an amendment permitting
emergencies declared acute by the
Governor to be taken up at short
sessions, the little time remain
ing in this session gave the bill
small chance of survival.
The other faltering proposal
would open relief rolls, by one bill
simply to official inspection and
by another to the general public
through newspaper publication.
Senate Judiciary committeeman
decided to hold the latter pend
ing action on the House bill to
take the lid of rolls for desig-
mated officials. The House bill,
however, was still resting in that
chambers Judiciary Committee
room.