332 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 28

The President submitted the following:

WHEREAS, It is admitted that the revenues of the State of
Maryland, the City of Baltimore and some of the counties
would be greatly reduced under the operation of a law pro-
hibiting the manufacture and sale of all beers, wines and
liquors throughout the State, such as is proposed in the
State-wide Prohibition Bill now pending before the Senate;
and

WHEREAS, No such serious action as that proposed ought to be
taken without the General Assembly and the people of Maryland
having the fullest and most complete information obtainable on
the effect which such a law would have on the fiscal affairs
of the State, especially in the present straitened and un-
certain conditions of the State's finances; now, therefore^ be it

Resolved by the Senate of Maryland, That the Finance Com-
mittee of this body be requested and directed to furnish to
the Senate information as nearly as it can be approximated
on the effect of the said proposed prohibition law, as follows:

1. What revenue does the State of Maryland derive directly
from the license fees and other imposts on the sale of in-
toxicants ?

2. What revenue is derived from direct taxes on manu-
factories of liquor, liquor held in bond or storage and upon
buildings where liquor is sold?

3. What would be the estimated loss of revenue per annum
to the State and to the City of Baltimore, from and after the
date when the proposed prohibition law is scheduled to go
into effect, as the result of such law, including the decrease
in the taxable basis, if any, resulting from the depreciation
in the value of liquor manufactories and places of sale?

4. What would be the estimated deficiency in State revenue
from this and from general causes in the year 1918?

5. If this deficiency in revenue were to be made up from
direct taxation, what would be the probable tax rate in the
State and City of Baltimore, resulting from such action?

6. Can the Finance Committee suggest any new sources
of revenue for the State, aside from the direct tax on prop-
erty, to aid in decreasing the deficiency; and, if so, what
sources?

7. In case of a too burdensome tax rate, would there be
danger of the State's abandoning or curtailing any of its
activities in public education, in the conservation of health,