Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-25


Paee Al.
to bring the budget bill to the
floor for its first vote. The cuts
repeatedly were agreed upon late
yesterday in closed-door meet
ing of budget subcommittee
from the two major committees
of the Senate and House.
Trimming about $3.50, 900 from
such a large budget would make
only a slight dent in the $28.5
million deficit the State faces
next year and gives little solace
to taxpayers.
Drastic tax increases still
would seem to be necessary to
balance the record budget.
Tax Hearings Next Week
The chairmen of the two
money committees, Senate Ma
jority Leader John G. Turnbull
and House Majority Leader A.
Gordon Boone, announced they
would hold hearings early next
week on all tax proposals before
the Legislature.
Republican Gov. McKeldin has
proposed q penny higher sales
tax, effective this year, and a
so per cent increase in the in
come tax, starting next year, as
his answer to the $28.5 million
question. An increase of from
$500 to 1000 in dependency de-
auctions when the new per
cent income rate takes effect
would result in a lower income
tax bill for many families under
the McKeldin program.
He also recommends that the
State begin withholding income
taxes from pay rolls this July.
which would increase revenues.
This part of his program seems
certain of adoption by the Legis-
lature. except that there is
some argument that withhold
ing should not begin until next
January.
Alternative Proposals
An alternative proposal by Mr..
Turnbull and Mr.. Boone accepts
the withholding idea but rec
ommends a 2-cent-a-pack ciga-
rette tax, a penny sales tax on
purchases from IA to 81 cents
(which are now exempt and a
repeal of sales tax exemptions
for restaurant meals, soaps and
gasoline not used for highway
travel (such as farm machinery
fueD.
Individual legislators have in
PRODUCED bills proposing such
things as higher taxes on beer
and the gross receipts of rail-
roads and utilities. One meas
ure proposes that the two per
cent retail sales tax be applied
to newspaper and radio adver-
Using.
All of these ideas will be dis
cussed and boiled into one pro-
gram in hearings next week.
The budget and tax program
will have to be approved by mid
night April 4. closing day of
this 90-day session.
Right-tO-WOrk Bill Killed
The Senate, meanwhile, acted
negatively on two of the most
controversial bills of this SEES
sion. 1t defeated the so-called
right-to-work bill and recon-
mitted the civil rights bill.
The death of the right-to-
work measure, which would have
outlawed the union shop in
Maryland, as is done in Virginia
and II other States, came on
separate voice votes in the aft
ernocn and night sessions yes
terday. The bill had an I'M
favorable report from the Sem
ate Labor Committee and the
votes were on acceptance of the
report.
A roll call vote was held on the
bill to end segregated schools and
ban discrimination in hotels, res
taurants and other public places.
1t was recommitted. which has
the same effect as killing it for
this session, on a 19-to-9 vote.
Senator Harry A. Cole, Balti-
more City Republican and the
Senate's first Negro member.
said his bill would wipe out one
of the blemishes on American
democracy"
How They Voted
The seven other Republican
Senators voted to recommit Mr..
Coles measure. He was supported
by nine Democrats, including all
of the other five Baltimore City
Senators except George w. Della
and Senators William S. James
of Hartford, Edward S. Northrop
of Montgomery, Layman J. Red
den of Caroline and James Vein
roth of Cecil.
The House has identical right
to-work and civil rights bills. but
they are bottled UP in commit
tees.
The Senators, in another act
last night, set up for final pass
age a bill to raise the maximum
rockfish limit in the Potomac
River to IS pounds. 1t Is is
pounds in Chesapeake Bay.
Senator Joseph A. Mattingly,
Democrat, of st. Marys. sponsor
Of the measure, said 1t was de-
signed to give Maryland fisher
men the same rights enjoyed by
Virginians. who fish in the Mary
land-owned Potomac. but are
governed by Virginia regulations,
which allow 25-pound rock.