Evening star., 1952-03-06
Assembly Ends
AFTER Cutting
Taxes, Budget
McKeldin Influence
Proves Stronger
Than Expected
BY the Associated Press

second 30-day session at 1858 am
after adding the last dollar to q
spending program Of $500 million
Adjournment was so swift the
fourth annual bid for q veterans
bonus was shut behind the door
Legislators actually quit almost q
day ahead Of time, as rare to al
periods Of Maryland government
as a tax reduction to the present.
Here are some Of the things the
lawmakers accomplished:
They slashed the income ta1
for this year. They came within
q few votes Of ripping the sales
tax of gas, electricity and house
hold fuel bills from next year on
$176.5 Million Appropriated.
They presented Gov. McKeldin
with a set of appropriations total
ing a little more than $176.5 mil.
lion. And they asked him and the
Board Of Public Works to pass
on to State agencies another cut
lof 1880. 900 where ! it would be
most convenient.
They managed to whittle $780,.
750 from the budget Gov. Nickel.
din originally presented. drawing
most Of the cut from funds, fol
welfare and free medical care
but gave up at that point.
All this was in addition to the
bond bill. That provided for
building and improvements at
State institutions.
While they were voting to spend
all this money, Senators and Dele
gates ordered q IS per cent cut
In 1851 income taxes. Maryland
ers will take advantage of the
pocketbook relief on returns due
April IS.
McKeldin Influence Firm.
The session found Republican
McKeldin exercising more in
1uence over legislation than some
had thought possible with an
Assembly top-heavy with Demo-
Gratis.
/ For the first time the Legisla-
ture was able to reconsider bills
rejected by an executive after a
preceding session. Gov. McKeldin
was sustained on the most sensi-
tive issue OF the month"; pay
raise for school teachers.
The Legislature subsequently
adopted another $500 salary boost
for teachers, but this could not
take effect until the fall Of 1858
at the earliest.
Gov. McKeldin was supported
on five other vetoes Of the 81 left
over from last year. None Of his
losses really hurt.
Then he was upheld yesterday
on a budget-saving device close tt
his heart. The Senate failed by
one vote to disturb his system fol
paying State police expenses from
highway funds, thus liberatine
more than 81 million from the
general treasury to help balance
the next budget.
Dispute Resolved.
The Governor also helpet
smooth out a ruckus between Bal.
timore and Annapolis camps 70,
"a new State Office building. Both
camps finally got some bond money
after snub from the House Ways
and Means Committee.
Another bill lost in the pre.
adjournment rush was the measure
to open relief rolls to public view
It had been approved by the House
but the Senate Judiciary Commit.
zee then refused early today to re.
port it out. .
Delegate Leroy Pumphrey, Dem.
ocrat. Of Prince Georges Count,
was one Of the bills strongest sup.
|porters in last nights House de.
Ipate.
I'VE want to see that only thu
deserving unfortunates" receive
State welfare funds. he said.
Star Editorials Quoted.
He quoted editorials in Tht
Evening Star as saying that IL
every State where efforts wer,
made to open relief rolls, the op.
position came principally from
welfare directors. "and it is tn,
relief director of this State whit
lis heading the fight against thil
BILL"
For the first time in the his
tory of the United States" he tols
the Delegates. I'VE have erected al
iron curtain behind which w
dump millions of dollars and tn,
Ipeople don't know what happen
to that money.
"In my own country, we have
Ia bunch Of people commonly re.
lferred to as ne'er do.wells, who arl
afraid to work because they dom
want to affect their standing OF
relief.
Il want to use some Of thi,
relief money to train these peopl'
Ito become useful citizens"
Peering ahead, legislators thi'
year also proposed q new styl'
for future budgets. The voter
must concur at q referendum thii
November.
Business Restricted.
The session was bound by 4
constitutional amendment con
inning 30-day meetingssin even
numbered years to fiscal, emerg
lency and general welfare" mat
tiers.
/ It gave lawmakers space il
which to:
i Ignore Virginia's second ut
'ltempt to create q bi-Stat
authority over oystering in tn
IRotomac River.
i Forbid the National Guard u
move onto large water front farm
next to its new camp site at tn
|old Havre de Grace race track
i Pass q Senate resolution askinl
1.-The State Roads Commission Il
.lstudy whether Q new ferry lin
should be established betweel