Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-12-10
New Suburban Ruie Forecast.

A new form Of government for Wash
ington's Maryland suburbs in the area
west Of Rock Creek. including the rich
Chevy Chase and Bethesda territory. may
become fact at the coming session OF
the Maryland Legislature. which convenes
in January.
For the past two or three years, owing
to the rapidly growing population, 1t has
been the belief Of civic and political lead
ers of the county that an efficient city or
town government. functioning quickly and
expeditiously in public improvement mat
tiers, should be established. Under the
present system. the section is split up into
many small special taxing areas. towns
and villages and many areas depend on
county government exclusively. Though
many modern improvements have been
effected by virtue Of these forms Of gov
eminent. multiplicity Of activities has led
to far greater expense. il is argued, than
would be the case were there a more
localized form Of government for the whole
area.
One OF the handicaps to speedy action
on public improvements has been the re-
strictipns thrown about the activities Of
the county commissioners, their powers as
executives being more or less circum-
scribed by the necessity Of securing action
Of the State legislature on bond issues for
oil =,
improvements. and the legislature meets
only every two years.
Notwithstanding handicaps. much has
been accomplished in the face Of the ex-
istina difficulties and the county government
has gone far to facilitate the growth and
the improvement Of the suburban areas.
But now county officials are lending their
voice in advocacy Of new system Of gov
eminent for the areas adjoining the Dis
trict Of Columbia, realizing that the present
form of government for these sections has
been outerown.
Within the nextkwo years, il is expected.
the rapid growth Of the suburban areas
will even further demonstrate the need of
more effective government.
E. Brooke Lee has presented plan for
revised form Of government to many civic
groups. Civic leaders themselves have sue-
aested other plans. and all Of these now
are being debated wherever meetings are
held.
A conference between civic and political
leaders is certain to be held, and it is be-
lieved that the matter will come to a head
when il is brought before the Montgomery
County Civic Federation. at its coming
meeting on December 18th, at Battery
PARK.
At recent meeting Of the Bethesda
Chamber Of Commerce. a resolution was
adopted fsvoring the Incorporation of Be-
,hesda Election District into a munich
pality or town. with the usual officers and
form Of government. and It was decided
10 endeavor to have the Montgomery Coun-
~ Civic Federation indorse and assist in
furtherine such movement. The resolu- |
ton set forth that the rapid development
of that part Of Montgomery county border
ins on the District:of Columbia has already
changed that section from a rural to an
urban community; that the problems re.
sultins from this change require concerted
action Of the people directly affected: that
the present form Of county government is
not designed to cope successfully with
Ihese multiplying local municipal prob.
ems and is not elastic enough to permit Of
re- arrangement within itself adequate 70