The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1952-02-14
SENATE SCUTTLES
TEACHER INCREASE
New Plan On Foot In Legisla-
ture for $500 Increase
Gaining Ground

The Maryland Senate scuttled for
keeps yesterday afternoon the bill
which would have provided per-
manent $500 annual raise for public
school teachers.
Even as the Senate sustained Gov.
McKeldin's veto of the bill there was
groundswell Of sentiment in the
General Assembly for a new version
that would kick the increase up to
$500 but postpone it more than a
year.
Only Is senator's voted to override
McKeldin's veto of the $500 raise and
it takes Is votes, a three-fifths ma
jority of the 20 senator's, to override.
The battle lines remained virtually
as they were last Friday Senator Mel
nicoyc, Democrat from the 4th Balti-
more district, switched on Yesterdays
final roll call to support the COVER
nor's veto. He explained he was not
against the bill but thought the Sen
ate's reconsideration of last Fridays
vote was illegal. Senator Fraley vot-
ed to sustain the Governors veto.
Senate President Della, of Balti-
more, introduced the new teacher pay
bill and it Immediately became raj
lying point for those who haas urged
higher pay but didn't like the bill
finally killed yesterday.
Della declared, Il have always been
in favor Of higher pay for teacher:
and think it should be done at the
state level. But l have always been
against dedicated tax" The old
teacher pay bill would have lifted
the 4 percent tax on corporation
profits up to 5 percent in order to
provide the $3,500,0O0 needed. This
was one Of the reasons the governor
had vetoed the bill.
Must Pay $4,000
With the Governors veto being
sustained, the county is obligated
to pay out about $4,000, which they
provided in this years levy. This -G1l-
give the Garrett county teachers
5000 increase for this school year
The amount was placed under debt
service, which would have made it
possible to keep the money in county
funds, had the vetoed statewide bill
been ovelridden.
Had Stormy Period
The Teacher pay raise fight has had
stormy period since it first came up.
The House easily OVERRIDE the Gov
ernor's veto 90 to 23. All three of Gar
rctt county's delegates voted with the
majority. When the question came up
in the Senate, however, the result was
different. The senate sustained the
veto, Is out of the y senators voting
according to the governors wishes.
Senator Fraley followed the dictates
of Governor Mckeldin. The Senate
voted II to 10 to reconsider, however.
Action on the Teacher pay bill
which was up for reconsideration, was
deferred on Tuesday because of the
large number of Senators and the
Governor who went to New York on
that day for the Lincoln Day dinner
at which the Governor was the prin-
cipal speaker.
Yesterday, advocates of more state
money for school teachers struggled
desperately to bolster their forces
for decisive test Of strength with
Gov. McKeldin. The outcome hinged
on a Senate vote scheduled at the af-
ternoon session. School system par
tiSans concentrated their drive on
three Senators who originally voted
to sustain the veto. They corncrcd
Sen. Fletcher (R-Princc Gcorge's), a
18th district congressional candidate;
Bailey (R-St. Mary's) and DIPPED
D-Baltimorc 3rdD Word also circu-
lated that Sen. Melnicove, (D-Balti-
more 4th) was ready to transfer his
vote to the Governor. He was one of
the Is who wanted to override the
veto before
Sen. Hyde (R- Montgomery made
it plain he was not susceptible to
change.
Those favoring the teacher pay
raise made plans to introduce an en-
tirely new bill to boost the states
contribution to school teachers sal