Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-20
Automatic Cut
In State Taxes
Voted bySenate
Is Passed Without
Debate, Goes to
House for Action
By Gene Goodwin
Stov Ssoff CORRESPONDENT

~ SSUS oOOUWU
Star Staff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 20.-The
question Of Maryland taxpayers
being given automatic tax re-
auctions from States surplus
funds each year is now up to the
House of Delegates and Gov.
McKeldin.
The Senate approved the
measure yesterday, with 10 Dem
ocrats supporting it and 10 Re-
publicans opposing it. The DEM
ocrats have a majority in the
House.
Gov. McKeldin, a Repub-
lican, has taken a stand against
the automatic tax cut plan,
modelled after the so-called Byrd
plan operating in Virginia. But
he said he will not veto it. max
ing it plain, at the same time,
that he would hold the Demo-
Gratis responsible for any neces-
sary increase in taxes to make up
for the loss of State funds turned
back to the taxpayers under the
plan.
State surplus funds have been
used by Gov. McKeldin and
many Governors before him,
both Democratic and Republican,
to balance their budgets. In the
last two years some SURPRISES
also have gone back to the tax
payers in the form of Is per cent
tax cuts.
Approved without Debate.
Senate approval of the meas
ure, sponsored by an economy
bloc of II Democratic Senators,
came without debate. The bill
has been the subject of hot dis.
cussion and acknowledgements
maneuvering for more than Q
month.
Under the plan, the first 81
million of State surplus funds
would be set aside as a cushion
fund. The next SO million would
go toward lowering the State
real estate tax. Any additional
SURPRISES would be devoted to
slashing income taxes.
If it passes the House and is
signed by the Governor. it will
go into effect in July. but tax
payers will not benefit until
early 1855.
The Senate also passed along
to the House the bill to make
possible Federal construction Of
a 57-mile stretch of the Chesa-
peake & Ohio Canal parkway
between Hancock and Cumber.
land. The measure would au-
thorize the State to spend $780,
900 to acquire 400 acres Of
land to be turned over to the
National Park Service to build
the SO million section of road.
U. S. Land Grab Seen.
Senator Hubert P. Barton,
Democrat, of Baltimore, one of
four Senators who voted against
the measure, termed it another
effort of the Federal Government
to grab more land in Maryland"
Senator Jacob r. Ramsburg.
Republican, of Frederick County
said he had to vote against it.
because many Frederick County
people fear this would be merely
an opening wedge to bring about
the full parkway" between the
District and Cumberland.
Senators John G. Turnbull,
Democrat, of Baltimore County
and D. K. Mclaughlin, Republic
can, of Washington County also
voted against it.
The Senate revived a bill voted
down Wednesday to make the
State Roads Commission pay the
cost of relocating publicly owned
utilities on its road projects. A
vote to reconsider the unfavor-
able action and recomnit the
bill to the Finance Committee
carried after Senators were told
the measure would be amended
so that the commission would
share the relocation costs with
the public utility involved on an
equal basis.
Commission Request.
The bill was requested by the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission, which claims it has
spent $167, 900 since 1947 relocat-
ing water and sewer lines be
cause of State road projects.
A bill to require Senate con-
firmation of county and State
school board appointments
passed the Senate, 20 to Q. and
was sent to the House: Mont
gomery County, which now
elects its School Board, is ex-
empted.
The bill, sponsored by Senator
Paul j. Bailey, Republican. Of
st. Marys County. also would
provide that one member Of the