Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1958-01-30
Assembly
COnvenes
Wednesday
Hyde Pledges
Continuation
OF School Aid

vi oNAtOOA xAA0
Tax proposals, either tap
ping new tax sources or in
creasing present levies, will
occupy the forefront of the
1858 short" session of the
General Assembly opening
Wednesday in Annapolis.
Legislation dealing with tax
problems, elderly citizens, high
way safety and education was
discussed by Montgomery Coun-
TVS Congressman, State Senator
and four members of the House
of Delegates at the annual leg
islative night" program of Allied
Civic Group in Silver Spring
Monday night.
Rep. Dewitt S. Hyde tR-Md.)
told the group he was confident
that Congress will continue the
law providing for Federal funds
for schools in impacted areas
after ACC passed a resolution
opposing curtailment of the
program.
State Senator Edward s. Nor
tisrop, and Delegates Blair Lee
III, Margaret c. Schweinhaut,
William B. Wheeler and Charles
w. Woodward, Jr. all said they
will vote to override the Gov
ernor's veto of a bill providing a
500 increase in teachers salaries.
Lee, chairman of the Mont
gomery County delegation and
mead of a legislative subcommit-
tee on state taxes, predicted the
legislature will pare Gov. Nc
Keldin's record high budget and
reduce the anticipated $685. mil
lion deficit by Sc to So million.
He also questioned the COVER
nor's revenue estimates, claiming
they have proved low in the past.
He said state figures show that
If the present sales tax were to
start with 14-cent purchases in
stead of the present 81 cents,
$5.5 million would be produced at
the present two percent rate. If
the sales tax were raised to three
percent and started at IA cents,
this would raise S28 to $29 mil
lion, he estimated. A tax on
restaurant meals in excess of 81
cents would raise another So
million for a total revenue of $32
million at the three percent rate.
Senator Northrop said he ia
vors graduated income tax in
stead of the governors proposal
to increase the state income tax
to 3 per cent. He doubts the
change could be effected during
this session. All states except
Massachusetts, and NJ aryla n d
have a graduated tax scale on
earned and unearned income,
Northrop said. If the state in
come tax is boosted to three
percent, he said, Maryland will
have the highest tax on the first
$500 of earned income in the
nation.
Mrs. Schweinhaut intends to
propose a resolution in the As
sembly asking establishment Of
a legislative committee TO study
problems of the aged during the
summer months, she reported.
Lee announced that he plans
to introduce a bill seeking a
$500 exemption on assessed val
uation Of residential property of
persons over O. years of age. An
additional amount might be
granted only to those in that age
bracket who can show their in
come under a certain amount, he
suggested.
Wheeler spoke in favor of set
ting up a point system for sus-
pension or revocation of drivers
licenses. The point system is a
'driver Improvement plan to
make drivers more saftey con
scious," Wheeler declared. Wood
ward disapproved of the proposal
TO make driver training manda'
tory in public schools; il is now
offered on an optional basis.
Mrs. Schweinhaut said public
welfare is not only humanitari
an program but also is big bus
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