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I think again this relates to home rule. How

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much authority does the local government or unit have, and

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it simply relates to an aspect of home rule, namely in the

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area of finance.

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Now, there has been some talk, particularly

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of late, about the current urgency of the subject of a

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new tax structure or form for the State of Maryland. The

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now very well known Cooper-Hughes plan, which is very

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much talked about, there has been some talk about being

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able to levy income tax. Now, I am informed by some

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persons who have been active in the Cooper Commission

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study that there are some persons who believe that-

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theoretically this is sound, to give this income tax

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authority to the local government.

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I think it is a good question, properly phrased,

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and one that should be put to the Committee, and I think

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the authority should be quite broad. Now, whether it

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should be so broad as to leave the State without any con-

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trol at all, I think I am not prepared to answer at this

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time. I think I really have said what I can say about

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question 9 already, with respect to home rule powers.