Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-05-18
TIL e SEN TIN Ell.
Friday Morning...---"May IS. 1928.
county To Yield State Aato Fines.

In explaining their position. the County
Commissioners gave out the following
statement:
The greatest benefit has already come
to Montgomery county from the creation
Of this county police force by the last
Legislature. The county's organized. eff
Gent, uniformed and salaried police force
has done its work so well since lite oreani-
cation in July, 1922. that law and order are
better maintained throughout the county
than has been the case any time in recent
years, which condition is due almost en-
tirely to the activities of the county police
force.
"All the sections Of Montgomery county
from the northern border Of the District Of
Columbia to the southern boundary Of
Frederick county now enjoy adequate po-
lice protection OF regulation and conditions
throughout the county are excellent. In
addition. Montgomery county has arranged
TO adequately finance its police force from
indirect county taxation through the year
1924.
in connection with the payment Of the
automobile fines to the State. the suit
originally brought by the Office Of the At
torney- General Of the State was instituted
against the wrong county official. and
should the County Commissioners SO desire.
the payments Of the motor vehicle co n
missioner could be delayed by demanding
anew trial. and subsequent appeal until the
next session Of the Legislature. when the
Commissioners are confident. in all equity.
that the members Of the General Assem-
bly, win grant relief to Montgomery county
The equity and necessity Of Monteom-
cry county's claim to State aid to defray a
part Of the maintenance Of its police force
comes from the fact that Montgomery
county is that part Of Maryland adjacent
TO the District Of Columbia on the north
and west for distance Of over IL miles,
along which boundary over rs streets and
roads extend from the District Of Columbia
into Montgomery county.
The necessity for Montgomery county
police force comes from the fact that the
District Of Columbia has an adequate and
organized police force. and without such a
police force on the Montgomery county side
OF the line this county would. of necessity.
become a place of refuge for all Of the
undesirable elements of society which the
Washington police force from time to time
drives out Of the District Of Columbia.
The State Of Maryland now not only
appropriates to the maintenance Of the
road system throughout the State the an
nual sum of over $780, 900 paid for Mary
land automobile licenses by Washington
residents. but Is also every year receiving
the benefit OF the State tax rate applied
to the great and increasing suburban de-
velopment in Montgomery county adjacent
to Washington City. In passing It should
be noted that these additional Maryland
taxpayers are almost all drawn from Wash
ineton City into Maryland and not, as in
the case Of Baltimore. from a Maryland
city into Maryland counties.
Unless all the governmental conditions
10 Montgomery county compare favorably
with those Of the District Of Columbia.
Maryland and Montgomery county will. TO
large extent, lose the benefit Of these
additional taxpayers attracted from Wash
tueisrur' uuvuntuscs Vi uujuvcrt maryland.
MONTGOMERY county does not. however.
feel that II Is fair that the State should
also demand the automobile fines origi-
mating in Montgomery county and for
which the Montgomery police force and
police court are responsible. Such an ar
raneement is equivalent to the State ask
ing Montgomery county to maintain by
direct taxation a police force for the inan-
cial benefit Of the State. Particularly since
the road patrollins forced upon the Mont
aomery roads safe from law violations by
fofeien-owned cars.
Since the creation Of the Montgomery
county police force and the Montgomery
county police court the total amount Of
automobile fines collected in this county
each month has been several hundred per
cent larger than the amount collected
when the county was occasionally patrolled
by the State police. working over a system
Of county fee deputies. There seems even
less equity in the State demanding this
increase.
In addition the motorists both Of the
District OF Colum' ia and Montgomery
county seem to be better satisfied with
the treatment accorded them by the Mont
somery county police force and the police
court than they were with the treatment
formerly received from the State police
force and county deputies working in con-
junction with the justices OF the peace.
seems that Montgomery county is entitled
60 apply. with the cheerful sanction OF the
State. TO the maintenance Of the county
police force all automobile fines for which
the Montgomery county police force is re-
sponsible.
at Is Of the utmost importance to the
entire State Of Maryland that the part OF
the State which Is adjacent to the national
Cupttui nhoutu SouSAst VI tWo properly
policed and orderly counties.
Nothing can damage Maryland more
in the eyes Of the nation than to have the
officials Of the Federal Government and
the population and newspapers Of the
national capital look upon Maryland. the
adjacent State from which the District of
Columbia was created. as a willing and
unpofced resort for all Of the disorderly
elements tina, the Washington police drive
out Of the District of Columbia.
The Montgomery county police force
has. since its organization. enforced the
county's local option law and has been
able to very greatly reduce the violation
Of this law.