Evening star., 1952-02-19
Bill Would Raise
County Tax 10
Lift School Pay
Measures Coll for
$500 Increase for
Maryland Teachers
By J. B. Zotmon
Sfnr Sfoff corraspondanf


ANNAPOLIS, Md, Feb. 19.-
Legislation to add $500 to the
State teacher salary scale by forc-
ing counties to raise their mini.
mum school tax from 65 cents to
80 cents was to be introduced by
Delegate Robert A. Wallace, Re-
publican, of Montgomery County.
Mr.. Wallace's proposal. con-
|tained In two bills, is a new ap-
|proach to the knotty teacher pay
Question.
Already pending before the Gen.
|eral Assembly are two other bills
Ito increase State aid to Mary
lands $4,000 teachers.
One, sponsored by Senator
George Della, democrat, of the
Sixth Baltimore District. would
provide a $400-a-year raise. It
was introduced last week just be-
fore the upper chamber sustained
Republican Gov. McKeldin's veto
lof a 1851 measure calling for .
$500 jump in State minimums.
The other, submitted by Dele
gate Horace Whitworth, Republic
can. Of Allegany County. calls for
a 500 to $500 pay raise.
From State Funds.
Both measures would take the
estimated $3.5 million cost out Of
the States general funds.
Mr.. Wallace's bills, however, are
intended to comply with the Gov
lernor's stand that teacher pay is q
local problem and should be han
died by the localities without in
Icreasing State taxes to pay for
them.
Mr.. Wallace said Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties would
not be affected by his proposals.
because they already pay their
teachers far more than is provided
under the State scale and levy
much more than 65-cent mini
mum for schools.
II am trying to legislate on q
Statewide level in this instance"
Mr.. Wallace asserted.
Considering the matter on this
basis, Montgomery County has no
teacher pay problem.
Sees Objections Avoided.
my bills would provide a raise
4 in the State scale without increas-
ing taxes on the State level or
using special State funds. They
should satisfy teachers now receive
ling no more than the State mini
NUNS and should answer the Gov
lernor's objections to last years
teacher pay bill.
"They are in line with his opin-
lion that counties should bear the
lcost Of raising teachers salaries"
Mr.. Wallace admitted his pro-
Iposals are inconsistent with his
vote nearly two weeks ago to over
Iride the Governors veto Of the
$1,000 teacher pay raise measure.
He explained he voted against
the Governor because he wanted
some form of salary relief for
, teachers.
"The only other course Of action
; that see now available" he said,
"is that provided under my two
bills"
Brakes Put on Bills.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders
: on the powerful House Rules Com
!, mittee moved last night to choke
off what they termed the flood"
of non-essential legislation that
has started to pour in.
Even-year sessions of the Gen.
eral Assembly are limited to con-
sideration of matters concerning
, State finances. general public well
fare and emergencies.
All bills automatically go to the
Rules Committee Immediately
after introduction. The group de-
cided that, in the future, all nom
essential measures will die there.
Among these, they held, is
Senator Della's proposal for q
, $400-a-year teacher pay raise.
They said the measure did not
; qualify for legislative considera-
ton, because it did not affect the
pending State budget.
Their decision may mean that
Mr.. Wallace's bills also will be
pigeon -holed.