Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-27
House Votes2
Collections Of
ReceiptsTax
Budget-BoIuncing
Bill Passes, 50 to 9,
And Goes to Senate
BY Gene Goodwin
Stor Si1ff Correspondent


Star Siaff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 81 Gov.
McKeldin's plan to balance his
record budget by telescoping two
collections of the States gross
receipts tax into one fiscal year
was halfway toward legislative
enactment today.
The House of Delegates ap-
proved it last night. SO to 8, and
sent it across to the Senate.
The House added an amend
ment to the Administration
measure. reducing the gross re-
ceipts tax on railroads from 2I2
to 2 per cent and making it uni
form with the tax on most of the
States public utilities. which are
the chief payers of the levy.
Under the bill, the collection
date on the tax would be adj
vanced from August l to April /.
making possible two collections
next fiscal year beginning July l
and adding about SIS million to
the State Treasury.
Democrats Won Over.
At the beginning of this Leg
islature, the Democrats were at
lacking the plan as sinister
device, but they changed their
tune rapidly when they found
out that, without it, taxes would
have to be increased drastically.
In another fiscal action. the
Senate passd and sent to the
House the bill strongly opposed
by Gov. McKeldin to postpone
the auto license tag increases
until 1856. They originally had
been scheduled to go into effect
next year. The vote was IL to II.
A move to get the Legislature
to pave the way for a constitu-
tional convention was stymied
yesterday in the House.
Maryland hasn't called a con-
vention to revise its antiquated
constitution since 1867. propo-
nents said in pleading with the
House to pass bill providing
for a referendum this November
on whether the convention
should be held.
Feared by Rural Areas.
But the small county delegates
know constitutional conven-
ton is likely to change the dis
tribution of seats in the Legis-
lature, now heavily weighted to-
ward the rural areas. They
ganged up on the urban dele
gates yesterday to defeat the
convention bill. IS to AZ.
The entire Montgomery Coun-
ty delegation voted for the
measure. So did Prince Georges
Delegates Perry o. wilkinson.
Democrat. and Albert P. Hassan.
Republican. b.
Maryland's constitution pro-
vides that every 20 years, voters
will be polled on whether con-
vention shall be held. If the
convention passes the referen-
dunn, the Legislature then must
pass enabling legislation to set
up the convention.
The last such referendum was
In 1850, when voters who voted
on the question were 4-to-1 in
favor of the convention. The
1851 Legislature, however. de-
cided that was not a mandate.
because it did not represent
majority of all those eligible to
vote nor even a majority Of
those who voted that election
day.
Proponents of the convention
bill-sponsored this year by
Delegates j. PAUL Marshall. Re
publican, of Montgomery and
Albert Sklar and Marvin Man.
dell. Democrats, of Baltimore
City-point to such anachron-
isrns in Maryland's constitution
as the provision that only white
males" are eligible to vote. That,
of course, is not enforced. but
it's in the constitution, never
theleSS.
Report Card Bill Killed.
The Education Committee
voted, IL to /, yesterday to kill,
for this session, the controversial
Anne Arundel County bill to
force all Maryland public schools
to use the A. B. c. D. report card.
The only vote for the measure
came from one of its sponsors,
Delegate Orlando Ridout 4th,
Democrat, of Anne Arundel.
Committee Chairman Wilkin-
son urged the committee to re-
ject the bill, but issued a state
ment favoring the competitive
reporting system. The commit
tee disagreed. he said.
The Senate gave tentative ap-
prevail to legislation effecting
annual property assessments
after July /. 1856. The vote was
II to IL. with both Senators j.
Raymond Fletcher, Republican,
of Prince Georges, and Anders
r. Lofstrand, jr., Republican, Of
Montgomery, voting with the
majority.
A bill to deny Maryland boat
owners gasoline tax refunds if
they do not pay personal prop
erty taxes on their craft failed
for lack of constitutional ma
jority in the Senate last night.
The vote was IA to II.
Bill by Opponents.
The measure was put in by
opponents of a bill already APP
proved by the Senate and being
considered by the House to ex-
empt all boats under 100 feet
long from the personal property
tax.
The House took UP a recon-
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