Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-04
LegisIafureSet
For Orderly
Adjournment
Maryland Session
Ends Today After J,
Bonus is Settled
By Gene Goodwin
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

A4N1NA1 O444N, MAI. 9.-xne
Maryland Legislature was ready
to adjourn its 30-day session to-
day just as soon as it disposed
of the veterans bonus issue and
a few minor items.
1t could have adjourned early
this morning, but legislative
leaders. concerned about cleo
tion-year reaction to the wild
confusion usually accompanying
the last hours of session, de-
cided it would be more orderly
to stay here one more day
The constitutional deadline for
adjournment is midnight to-
night.
The clock can be turned back,
as it has been in the past, of
course; but leaders were conf
dent today they would be able
to close the books on this session
we'll before midnight.
The Governors record 1927
million budget was enacted yes
terday, along with $7.8 million
capital improvements program
and the bill setting the State
real estate tax rate for the next
calendar year q 1899 cents per
500 of assessment.
Rail Tax Issue Settled.
The issue that threatened to
throw. the Assembly. into the
tfroes of confusion was settled
yesterday. when the House
agreed to pull back its rider cut
ting railroad taxes about $780,
900 a year. @
The. railroad tax relief was
contained in an amendment to
the bill authorizing the Cover
nor to advance the collection
date of the gross receipts tax
and collect it twice next fiscal
year. That would enable him to
pick zip an extra SIS million and
thus balance his budget.
The House felt this was a good
time to bring the gross receipts
tax that railroads pay-about
2i2 per cent-cloSer to the level
paid by public utilities 2
per cent. The Senate refused
to go along. however. and for
two days the two chambers were
deadlocked.
The Senate was set to take a
final vote today on q $50 million
veterans bonus bill proposed by
Senator Harry T. Phoebus. Re-
PUBLICAN. of Somerset. It's
about the same bill he's been in
PRODUCING for the last three ses-
sions. and it has never passed.
The House yesterday, in a fit
of rare comedy, approved its
bonus bill. 70 to 90. after one of
its sponsors warned the delegates
mot to fiabbergast this bill. or
you won't get reelected"
House leaders smugly in
formed reporters, however, that
the bill is unconstitutional, since
1t was considered on second
reading before the budget bill
had been enacted. The constitu-
ton prohibits measures involv-
ing borrowing of money to be
considered before the budget is
finally approved.
Mr.. Phoebus called attention
to this legal cloud over the
House bill in urging the Senators
to pass his measure.
Would Tax Beverages.
The Phoebus bonus would be
financed by new tax on
alcoholic beverages. If that
didn't produce enough revenue.
then the State real estate tax
would be used.
The House bill. sponsored by
q small band of Baltimore dele
gates who have done little else
this session except promote their
measure, would be financed by
raising the State sales tax from
2 to 3 per cent. 1t would cost
500 million.
Both bills would have to be
approved by the voters in a
referedum next November.
Delegate Leroy Humphrey,
Democrat. of Prince Georges, led
the fight against the House
bonus.
Nobody loves the soldier boy
more than I do" he said, But
the worst thing that could hap
pen to him would be for US to
upset the financial status of our
State by passing this bill"
The House finally enacted the
measure postponing for one year
the auto tag increases originally
scheduled to go into effect in
the spring of 1855. They failed
all day Monday to put it across
because Of stubborn Republican
opposition, led by Delegate J.
PAUL Marshall, Republican, of
Montgomery.
AOoVVAA oJS N0A Mdl S11dn LI1CU
to amend the bill to postpone the
increases on passenger car Ii
censes but allow them to go i'm
to effect on trucks. The amend
ment was defeated, SO to 80.
The House also enacted
annual property assessments, be-
ginning in 1856.
The Legislature now meets fol
90 days in odd-numbered years
and 80 Na1s Ia even-numberec
years. The short sessions nov
are restl7cted to fiscal, Memer-
gency md general public vel.
fare matters. -
Legislation calling NJ a ref.
erendum on restricting the 80
day legislative sessions to bud.
getary matters only appeared t.
have been killed in the Houst
Judiciary Committee, after pass.
ing the Senate.
Empty Safe Entered
HAGERsTowN. Md. Mar.
R.-Police said burglars waste,
their time last night saving of