Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-03-17
Cut In Tax Rate Promised.

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group OF men actively identified with the
organization of the Democratic party in
the county. which group includes the
Democratic members of the Board of Coun-
ty Commissioners and the other county
officials. This legislation has been thor
ouehly considered by Senator Jones and
the delegation. Mr.. Boyer. the only Re-
publican of the delegation. has given his
approval to the program as introduced,
which he states, is. in his opinion. con-
structive and for the best interests Of the
people of the county.
The County Commissioners, after con-
siderine the proposed legislation and re-
viewing the necessities of the coming
county levy. have announced through DR..
Benjamin c. Perry. President Of the Board,
and Berry E. Clark. Clerk to the Board,
that the Board of County Commissioners
will be able to make a reduction in the
county tax rate for the year 1922. The
majority Of the members of the County
School Board when they appeared before
the legislative delegation at Annapolis last
week in support of the bond issue required
Tor school needs and, together with County
Superintendent Broome, assured Senator
Jones and the members of tbs DELEGATION
that the school budget which the Board of
Education is preparing to submit to the
County Commissioners would also allow n
additional reduction in the tax rate for the
county this year.
Two OF the proposed bills direct the Coun-
ty Commissioners to appoint not less than
three countrywide Constables, who are to
form the nucleus of the Montgomery Coun
ty Police Force. This Force will be financed
by the creation Of Police Fund.-" which
fund will not be raised by direct taxation.
and for that reason will not increase the
county tax rate. The County Commits
sioners are further authorized to appoint
additional constables to create an ade
quate County Police Force, provided the
Police Fund is able to equip and maintain
such additional members. These two bills
will give Montgomery county the adequate
uniformed and organized police force that
was promised the voters at the last
county campaign. The present need for
such police force exists principally for
the protection Of the thickly settled sub
urban areas adjacent to the city of Wash
ington.
Another bill provides for increasing the
jurisdiction of the Police Justice at Rock
vile. In the proposed Act, the criminal
cases previously heard by Justices of the
Peace throughout the county will be re-
turned for trial before the Rockville Police
Court. The bill provides that the Police
Justice at Rockville shall be lawyer, and
throws numerous safeguards around the
business ADMINISTRATION of the proposed
police court. The Justices of the Peace
throughout the county retain their concur
rent Jurisdiction with the police court in
civil cases, and are still authorized to issue
papers in criminal cases, receive collat-
erals. etc. but all such are returnable
now has only concurrent Jurisdiction with
the various justices of the peace through
out the county, is now trying approx
mately 100 cases per year, which fact
alone would seem to justify the require
ment of lawyer as police justice.
The County Board of Education appear
ed before the Montgomery delegation at
Annapolis last week and requested coun-
ty bond issue of $50 900 for the following
ing purposes: To complete the construc-
ton of the Dickerson. Gaithersburg and
Poolesville schools. and to erect a high
school at Sandy Spring. and to accept the
old Brookeville Academy site at Brooke
vile and erect a new county school there
on. and to pay off the mortgage of $4,000
on the Sandy Spring school property. and
to pay off the mortgage of $4,000 on the
Woodside school property and to purchase
a new site and erect modern grade school
at Takoma Park. Maryland. The School
Board also requested the creation of
$4,000 fund to aid the rural schools. This
fund will allow the County School Board to
offer the trustees and patrons of the rural
schools similar amount for the improve
ment Of their building to any amount that
the trustees and patrons themselves may
raise. The School Board called attention
to the fact that Montgomery county pos
sesses of the II Standard Rural Schools
in Maryland. and the creation of this fund
will materially aid Montgomery county to
maintain its place as the county whose
school system leads the 23 counties of
Maryland in Standard Rural Schools.
Another Act authorizes the appointment
of Superintendent of School Property for
Montgomery county with an annual salary
of $4,000. Under the present system the
County Superintendent is the only full
time school official. and it is physically
impossible for one person to discharge the
executive educational duties and also
supervise construction. repair and main
tenance of school properties. In addition
to responsibility for the l02 existing school
houses of the county school system. the
Superintendent of School Property is given
Jurisdiction over the construction Of new
school buildings. the location and purchase
of new school sites. and the sanitary con-
ditions Of all school property. He also has
charge of the transportation system to
bring pupils to the consolidated schools of
the county.
Another law fixes the salary Of each
member Of the Board of County Commits
sioners at 5000 year. Under the exist
ing law members of the Board are author
lied to draw per diems as members of the
Board Of Commissioners. as members Of the
Board Of Health and again as members of
the Board Of Assessments. and have further