Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
Liquor Tax Veto
Faces Upset in
Senate Today
Controversial Bill
Already Overridden
In House, 81-22
By Gene Goodwin
Sfor StoH Correspondent

Sfor Stoff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 24.-Ths
Maryland State Senate is ex-
pected today to follow the lead
Of the House and slap down
Gov. McKeldin's veto of the con-
troversial bill increasing Mary
lands liquor tax S cents a fifth.
It's a Democratic bill and the
Democrats hold an 1911 margin
in the Senate. They'll need all
18 votes, because it takes that
many to override q veto, but they
are expected to pick up a Re-
publican vote or two for good
measure.
The Republican Governor
vetoed the legislation yesterday,
but was overridden in the House
last night, 1922, because 10 Of
the IS House Republicans bolted.
The Democrats needed "a
votes to beat the Governor. Sup.
port Of seven more Republican
votes would have saved the day
for the administration.
Cites Collection Burden.
In a lengthy veto message Gov.
McKeldin said he refused to sign
the legislation because lit would
increase the already heavy bur-
den borne by the State as a tax
collector for its political SUBJ
MISREPRESENTATION foolish de-
f1ance of the established fact
that government is most eff
cient and economical when ap-
propriating bodies have the re-
sponsibility of levying for the
revenues from which they appro-
pirate"
He referred to the provision in
the bill that 10 cents of the
30-cent-a-flfth tax on liquor
would revert to Baltimore City
and the counties.
The bill. which would not go
into effect until June, 1855, also
prohibits any local liquor taxes.
such as those now levied by
Baltimore City and County.
The Governor said the bill
would cost the State close to
81 million, would encourage
bootlegging and would cause the
State to increase taxes some-
where else to make up the loss.
Roadside Bill Shelved.
The House. in another action,
last night shelved the perennial
bill to s control development
within 200 feet on either side Of
major highways. The House
defeated the measure. 64-33.
after opponents charged that it
was an invasion of property
rights and an unhealthy extern
sion of the States condemnation
powers.
One Of the sponsors. Delegate
Jerome Robinson, Democrat. Of
Baltimore. said the bill was
aimed at keeping honky-tonks
off the new roads for which
Maryland will be spending $3.50
million in the next IL years.
! The Senate, meanwhile. passed
and sent to the House bill to
exempt boats under 100 feet
long from the personal property
tax. The vote was 20-5.
Sponsors of a House bill pro-
viding for a referendum on q
convention to study and revise
Maryland's Constitution planned
today to petition it out of the
Judiciary Committee, where it
has been bottled up since they
petitioned it out of the Rules
Committee last week.
The bill is an unpopular one.
since the Legislature is con-
trolled by representatives Of
smaller counties who fear a con-
stitutional convention would try
. to decrease their representation.
Two Montgomery Bills.
The House Education Commit
tee gave favorable reports to two
Montgomery County measures
one, Delegate Gilbert Guides bill
to set up a program of driver
training courses in Maryland
high schools that want them.
The program would be financed
by an increase of from 81 to So
in the fees for learners driving
permits. The other measure re-
ported out favorably is a Mont
gomery County resolution calling
for more Federal aid to areas
whose schools are overcrowded
because Of Federal, activity.
Delegate j. PAUL Marshall.
Republican. of Montgo emery got
the backing of Thomas F..
Dempsey, Democrat, of Balti-
more City and Delegate Richard
E. Landlord. Democrat. of Anne
Arundel in introducing a bill to
correct new law enacted last
year by clarifying the length Of
time for which judges and clerks
of election are appointed.
Mr.. Marshall said the error in
the new law was uncovered by
the Rock Greek Women's Club
of his county.
Another bill introduced yester-
day IN the Senate proposes a
Constitutional amendment re-
stricting 30-day sessions of the
Legislature to budgetary, reve-
nue. and fiscal matters. The
short sessions. held every other
year in the even-numbered
years, can now also consider
emergency and general public
welfare matters. Sponsors of
the bill are Senate Majority
Leader Louis L. Goldstein and
Minority Leader Robert B.
Kimble.
Leasing Ban Proposed.
Three Southern Marylanders,
Senators Bailey. Republican. Of
st. Marys: Monroe, Republican,
of Charles. and Goidstein. pro-
posed a years ban on leasing
of oyster grounds. starting June
/. Leasing was prohibited tor