Evening star., 1953-04-07
Automatic Cut
In Taxes Killed
.AtAnnapo|is
McKeIdin Praises
House for Defeat of
Plan Like Vireinio's s
BY O s.aff Correspondent, Of tn. s.u,

BY Siaff Correspondent Of The Stor
ANNAPOLIS, April 7.-An au.
tomato tax reduction program
for Maryland in future years,
similar to that operating in Vir-
ginia. was killed early today by
a 1929 vote of the House Of
Delegates.
But Senator John Grason
Turnbull, Democrat, Of Baltimore
County and one Of II sponsors Of
the bill, said he will reintroduce
it next year.
However, Maryland taxpayers
are assured of Is per cent cut
this year. a DILL for this reduc-
ton already has been enacted.
The defeated plan, which
would have distributed State sur
plus monies to the taxpayers
each year in the form of tax
relief, passed the Senate with
out a dissent two weeks ago.
But since then opposition has
been stirred up by both Demo-
cratic and Republican leaders.
McKeldin Gratified.
Gov. McKeldin praised the
House for blocking enactment
of hasty legislation, patterned on
that Of another State, which
seriously would have distorted
the Maryland financial picture
without accomplishing any of the
good which its sponsors in
tended. ..
And the Democratic opposi-
tion was coached by State Con-
troller j. Millard Tawes. pos
sible Democratic candidate for
governor next year.
The Senate finally got around
to voting on the bill to allow
counties to put reassessmentS on
their tax books every year under
the new three-year cycle of as
sesSments going into effect next
year. The Senators approved it
1912.
Montgomery County instigated
the bill, because without it,
county officials have said, their
borrowing power virtually would
be frozen for three years after
the new assessment law takes
effect and their school building
program would be seriously
hampered.
Near Limit of Debt.
Montgomery has about reached
the limit of its bonded indebted
ness.
"a Senator Anders r. Lofstrand,
jr., Republican, of Montgomery,
was one of the IL who voted
against the bill early today. He
often has disagreed with the
county council. Sentaor j. Ray
mond Fletcher, Republican Of
Prince Georges, also voted
against it. The bill passed the
House early in the session.
The Senators also enacted q
measure exempting farm ma
chinery trade-ins from the State
sales tax. Exempted would be
the cash credit for the traded-in
machine.
A bill increasing the State
liquor taax from $1.25 to $1.50
per gallon was enacted in the
Senate over Republican oppo-
sition. The G. o. thought it be-
cause it provides that so cents
Of the new levy revert to the
counties and that would take
funds from the State treasury.
Absentee Vote Bill Cleared.
The Senate gave final approval
to a constitutional amendment
extending the absentee vote
now permitted only to military
personnel - to any Maryland
voter. Voters have to approve
the amendment on the ballot
next year.
A bill to exempt household
fuels from the sales tax was
killed in the House Ways and
Means Committee, but another
measure to exempt insecticides
and fungicides from the levy re-
ceived final approval in the
House and was sent to the Gov
ernor.
Senator's enacted a bill cutting
the tax rate for mutual savings
banks from IS cents on each 500
of deposits to 10 cents. The
measure-which Senator Francis
x. Dippel, Democrat, of Balti-
more City, tried unsuccessfully
to f1libuSter to death last week
will cost Baltimore City $500,00O
in tax revenues. The only other
savings bank in Mary
land is in Sandy Spring, which
will pay about $4,000 less in
taxes to Montgomery County.
Ban on Use of Seal Passed.
Also enacted was a ban of the
use Of the Maryland State seal
anywhere on a private or un-
automobile. Use Of
the seal On cars has increased in
recent weeks since Maryland be-
gan issuing only one license
plate.
An attempt to eliminate the
State superintendent's power to
approve county school superin-
tendents failed to master enough
votes.
It had passed the Senate but
was opposed vigorously by Dele
gate Mary E. w. Risteau, Demo-
crat, of Hartford, who charged
It would put politics in our
schools"
Delegate Harris. Republican,
of Frederick, put the finger on
DR.. Thomas Pullen as the target.
He said he sensed a growing
feeling in the General Assembly
to do something about his one
nan rule. All is not well, there
must be something wrong some
where"