Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-20
Montgomery |,
Cigarette Tax
Bill Advances
Senate Committee
Approves Measure
Final Action Neur
By Charles |. Hoffman
Sior Staff correspendsnt

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. ia bill
granting the Montgomery County
Council the power to levy a Gig
arctic tax advanced today to
within a step of final enactment.
The measure was reported ia
vorably by the Senate Finance
Committee and set for f1nal9oac-
ton in the Senate early next
week. It already has passed the
House.
A House-paSSed bill to cut|the
business and farm inventory
assessments to 60 per cent in
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties was reported favorably
by the Senate Finance Commits
tee but was held up as other
counties sought inclusion in its
provisions.
The inventory assessments
now are set at rs per cent in
Montgomery and 100 per cent
in Prince Georges.
The Senate also advanced to
its third reading-after seven
postponements-a bill authWiz-
ing the State Roads Commission
to build the northeast toll ex-
preSsWay. :.
The measure calls for con-
struction of a toll road running
northeast from Baltimore
roughly parallel to U. S. No. 40.
Compromise Talked Of.
Meanwhile, there was persist
ent corridor gossip that a COM
promise in the fight over inves-
tigation of the Roads Commits
sion had been reached by the
minority and majority leader
ship.
Reports Friday night were
that minority leader Robert B.
Kimble of Allegany County. was
ready to support a move to in
crease the Roads Commission
membership from three to five
if the Democrats would drop
their demands for an investiga-
ton of the commission.
The increase had been pro-
posed as an amendment to, the
toll road bill but was withdrawn
today by the Senate majority
leadership.
In answer to a question orl:the
floor from Senator H. WinShip
Wheatley. jr.. of Prince Georges.
today, Mr.. Kimble said he made
no such agreement. and Senate
President Louis L. Goldsbeln
added that he would not accept
such a proposal. i
A spokesman for Gov. Nc
Keldin later said the Governor
would be no party to SUCH an
agreement.
The Senate postponed action
for theittenth time today on a
bill to move up one year the an
nual assessment plan. The plan
now is slated to 60 into effect in
1856.
Weary Senator's also declined
to take up a scheduled debate on
a bill granting home rule; to
municipalities which had been
out by the Judiciary
Committee. Consideration of the
bill now has been put of Until
Wednesday afternoon.
Will Fight Proposal :
Senator Louis N. Phipps, Dem
ocrat, of Anne Arundel, promised
to fight one amendment that
would require approval of county
governing bodies for creatioS Of
any new Incorporated towns:
Such a proposal, he CHARGED,
could bar establishment of new
towns because of jealousy: of
county commissioners. q
Some ITO amendments already
have been proposed by the Htdi-
ciary Committee and several
indicated they had some
of their own to offer. !:
Another bill advanced to Hhrd
reading in the Senate would per
NIT chartered counties to meet
In legislative session IS days
year. At present the Montgomery
County Council is required: to
take care of legislative matters
only during the month of May.
Report Teacher Pay Bill:
The Senate Finance Commit
zee reported out a bill to: an
,rease teacher retirement bene-
its. Teacher requests were trim
ned, however, so that the cost of
he benefits would be only $780,
las, instead of more than 81 nil
ion as originally proposed.
A hearing scheduled for Tues
lay on a House-passed bill: to
,ar truck traffic from the Mary
and controlled section of the
Baltimore Washington express
way was rescheduled for 3 pm.
Chairman Frederick:C.
dalkus, jr., of the Senate Judi
ial Proceedings Committee An
bounced.
The hearing, expected to draw
zig delegations from the Prince
Georges area. was postponed be-
ause of a conflict with a HEIR
ng on so-called "right-to-work"
ill.
F.~L~... VhEsll e.l