Evening star., 1926-12-02
NEW SUBURBAN
RULE FORECAST
Areas West of Rock Creek
Hope for Action by Mary
land Legislature.

A new form Of government for
Washington's Maryland suburbs in
the area west of Rock Creek, includ-
| ing the rich Chevy Chase and
| Bethesda territory, may become a
| 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 popula-
| ton, it has been the belief of civic
! and political leaders of the county
that an efficient city or town govern
ment. functioning quickly and expedi-
| tiously in public improvement matters,
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 eXclu-
Slvely. Though many modern i'm
provements have been effected by
virtue Of these forms Of government,
multiplicity Of activities has led to
far greater expense. it is argued
than would be the case were there a
more localized form of government
for the whole area.
Handicaps to Speed.
One of the handicaps to speedy
action on public improvements has
been the restrictions thrown about
the activities of the county commits
sioners. their powers as executives
being more or less circumscribed by
the necessity of securing action of
the State Legislature on bond issues
for streets. schools and other neces-
sary public improvements, and the
Legislature meets only every two
years.
Notwithstanding handicaps, much
has been accomplished in the face Of
existing 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 ad.
Nocacy Of a new system of govern
ment for the areas adjoining the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, realizing that the
present form of government for these
sections has been outgrown.
Within the next two years. 1t is
expected, the rapid growth of the
suburban areas will even further dem
onstrate the need of more effective
government.
r.. Brooke Lee, leader of the Demo.
cratc party in Montgomery County,
the party now controlling the county
government. has presented a plan for
revised form Of government to many
civic groups. Civic leaders them
selves have suggested other plans,
ana all Of these now are being de-
bated wherever meetings are held
conference between civic and po-
ntlcal leaders Is certain to be held.
and it is believed that the matter will
come to head when it is brought
before the Montgomery County Civic
Federation, at its coming meeting. De-
cember 13, in Battery Park.
Bethesda Chamber Acts.
AT q recent meeting of the Bethesda
Chamber of Commerce, a resolution
was adopted favoring the incorpora-
tion OF bethesda election district into
municipality or town, with the
usuai officers and form Of government,
and 1t was decided to endeavor to
have the Montgomery County civic
Federation indorse and assist In fur
ther1ng such a movement. The reso-
luton set forth that the rapid develop
ment OF that part Of Montgomery
county bordering on the District of
Columbia has already changed that
section from a rural to an urban com
inunlty; that the problems resulting
from this change require concerted
action OF the people directly affected:
that the present form of county gov
ernment is not designed to cope sue
cessfully with these multiplying local
problems and is not elastic
enough to permit of a rearrangement
within itself adequate to the need:
that the incorporation of numerous
SPECIAL taxing areas leads to dupIica-
tlon Of effort and unnecessary cost
OF government; that the creative en-
actmentS OF these municipalities
should incorporate all of the best
Ideas Of civlc government which can
be gathered by careful survey and
should vest the officers and govern
mental bodies of these municipaIties
WITH such powers as this survey rec
ommends, and that, while the closest
20 cooperation should exist between the
governments of these municipalities
ana the county and State govern |
nents, they should have sufficient an
-horlty to function independently in !
ali matters Of purely local need
The areas affected by the new nIans
1aHe population estimated at around |
,V,ooo and includes Bethesda, Chevy |
-hase, Glen Echo, Alta Vista. North |
1heEy Chase, West Chevy Chase |
" oodmont, Somerset, Friendshin
Heights. Edgemoor, Drummond, Rat.
-ery Park, Leland, Northwest PARK |
ma several other thickly populated