Evening star., 1952-02-15
Go|dstein Leans
To Automatic
Tax Cut Law
Big Fund SurpIuses
Cited BY Maryland d
Senote Leader
By ]. B. Zotmon
St1r Sfuff correspondsn,

~-~s-~~''~~FT~ss~Stfs
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 15.-Lesis.
|iation calling for an automatic
tax reduction when the States
surplus exceeds certain amount
Is being considered by Senate
Majority Leader Louis L. Gold
stein. Democrat. Of Calvert
County.
This was revealed yesterday by
Senator Goldstein, after he lost
his fight for immediate Senate
action on q favorable Finance
Committee report on a bill pro-
|viding for a Is per cent cut in
1851 individual income tax pay
ments.
Instead, the Senate acceded to
a motion by Minority Leader Rob-
ert Kimble, Republican, Of Ale
lgany County, to delay considera-
tion of the report until 2::30 pm.
today.
At that time, the Senate is ex.
pected to take up companion
measure. which would lift the
States 2 per cent sales tax from
gas. electricity and household
fuels. The Finance Committee
was to act on this bill earlier to-
day.
Concerned by Disparity.
Senator Galdstein told reporters
he is concerned over the constant
disparity between estimated and
actual surpluses.
| He cited figures by the State
Controllers Office. which showed
that the Treasury has had gen.
Eeral fund surplus over estimates
every year since 1889 in amounts
ranging from over $4 million to
more than $40 million.
At the end of the current fiscal
year on June 80, the surplus is
expected to reach nearly $14 mil
! lion, although it was estimated
at only about SGT 1000 during the
| 1851 session of the General As
sembly, the Senator asserted.
He acknowledged that the Board
of Revenue Estimates faces q diff
flcult task in predicting tax re.
ceipts Of the State during infla-
tionary periods. But he insisted
something should be done about
the surpluses, which pile up as
the result Of overly conservative
estimates. 4
Virginia Law Cited. i
Senator Goldstein pointed out
Virginia has a law that automatic
.cally cuts the income tax when.
ever State receipts reach q Ger.
tain figure.
Gov. McKeldin is asking general
fund appropriations totaling $97.2
million q the coming fiscal year.
The. proposed is per cent in
come tax cut would absorb about
So million of the anticipated sur
plus. And the additional sales
tax exemptions would take $3.S
million more.
Meanwhile. a House bill de-
scribed by its supporters as
| a major step forward in curbing
corruption Of public Office holders
was on its way to the Senate.
The measure, passed by the
House yesterday. would result in
loss of their jobs by State en-
ployes who claimed possible self
denomination in refusing to an
sWer questions at hearings.
Higher Judges Pensions.
House approval also was given
a bill to increase judges pensions.
It would give judges $3.50, instead
OF $3.50, for each year Of service
and would raise their allowable
maximum from $4,000 to $4,000.
Court Of Appeals judges would
be allowed an extra 500 for each
year on the bench and q maxi.
mum pension Of $1,000.
During the debate on the State
|employe bill. mention was made
or the current crime Investigation
in Washington.
Delegate Leroy .Pumphrey, DEM
ocrat, OF Prince Georges County
said removal of the self -incrimina-
tion excuse would prevent what
we've seen happen in Washington
certain police officers riding
around in flashy cars and living
on scale they couldn't possibly
afford on their salaries.
when you ask, Where did you
1get it?' they reply, It's none Of
your business" Mr.. Pumphrey