Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23

lIlS b1SGl III bullu1IIs dIlu 1OetAl
associations from establishing
new branch Offices in Maryland.
The measure prohibiting any
new branches of foreign" build
Stotus Of Bills in Maryland Legislature.
Poee A-24
ing and loan associations in
Maryland after June l was ap-
proved last night by the Senate,
"a to 4
The bill, which was introduced
by Delegate Warren Browning.
De ocrat. of Montgomery
County. passed the House last
month, but had to go back there
today for concurrence in a Sem
ate amendment. The change
would allow existing branches OF
out-of- State associations to move
to new locations within l mile
and in the same county.
Redden Objects
The only objection to the bill
in the Senate was raised by Sem
ator Layman j. Redden, Demo-
crat, of Caroline County.
On the roll call, Senator Red
den found support from only
three other Senators-Mary L.
Mock, Democrat, of Wicomico;
John R. Jewell, Democrat, of
Kent, and Anthony F. Didomen-
leo, Democrat, of Baltimore City.
The bill was supported in the
House and Senate hearings here
by former Representative Lans-
dale G. Sasscer of Upper Marl-
boro, representing Montgomery
and Prince Georges building and
loan associations. He argued
that Virginia has barred foreign
branches since 1916. The bill
would not prevent District asSo-
Citations from continuing to make
mortgage loans in Maryland, its
hackers add.
Vote Reassesment Speedup.
In another action. the Senate
yesterday voted. Is to IL, to
send the Governor a bill to be-
gin annual property assessments
this year, instead of waiting
until 1856, as the present law
states. The upper chamber has
been putting off a vote on this
bill for about six weeks because
of delaying tactics by a dozen
opposing Senators, including
Senator H. Winship Wheatley,
jr., Democrat, of Prince Georges.
The real significance of the
one-year speedup is that Balti-
more City and the counties will
be able to put on their tax books
this year instead of next all
property reassessments made
since January l, 1854. Under
existing law, those reassessments
would be frozen until January
/, 1857.
That will raise the total as
sessable bases of the subdivi-
sions, adding about $377 million
to the total of property assess
ments throughout the State and
reducing State aid to education
by about $650,000 in the fiscal
year beginning July /. Those
were estimates given today by
the State Tax Commission and
Department of Education.
Minimizes Losses
Albert w. Ward, executive Sec
rotary of the State Tax Com
mission, said. however, neither
Prince Georges nor Montgomery
would suffer any substantial loss
in school aid next fiscal year
as a result of the speedup in
annual assessments.
This agreed with a statement
by Senator Edward S. Northrop
Democrat, of Montgomery, who
voted for the speedup, but stood
at odds with previous estimates
by Senator Wheatley that Prince
Georges would lose $246,000 in
State school aid by the change.
Execution Bill Advanced
The Senate also advanced to
final passage last night a House
bill to abolish the gallows in
Maryland and put condemned
criminals to death in a gas
chamber.
Seven Senators, including Mr.
Wheatley, opposed the reform
as II others voted to accept the
Judicial Committees favorable
report. Mr.. Wheatley said he
could appreciate how some OF
his colleagues were concerned
about the inhumanity of hang
ing condemned prisoners. but he
was more concerned about their
victims.
The Senate defeated, 1912
the perennial bill by Senate
President Louis l.. Goldstein to
increase the State Roads Com
mission from three to five men,
bers and give Southern Mary
land representation.