Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-22
NEARBY COUNTIES
BILLS ARE PASSED
Urban Growth Indicated in
Measures Voted by Mary
land Legislature.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

Georges Counties was lnolcaleu III the
passage of several measures last
night by the State legislature in SEES
sion here, as well as by the introduc-
ton of several bills.
The bills of DIR. George L. Edmunds-
Rockville, chairman of the Mont
gomery County delegation, tighten
ing up the law creating police JUS
tice for that county, was passed by
the House of Delegates and now goes
to the Senate. This was preceded by
the introduction of a measure estab-
fishing a police justice for Prince
Georges County.
Two Towns Incorporated
Two bills provided for the incorpo-
ration of two more towns in Prince
Georges County, Maryland Park and
Fairmount Heights, and laying down
a form of government for them. An
other Prince Georges county measure
introduced by the county'S delegation
defined subdivisions of land and pro-
vided for taxing them on the sub
urban instead of the rural basis.
The police justice bill for Montgom-
cry County provides that the court
shall be held at least four days a
week, beginning at 10 am. 1T in
creases the salary to So 900 and pro-
vides for a clerk at ST. 500. It puts
all police trials under the jurisdiction
of this official and leaves the justices
of the peace merely the power of COM
hitting magistrates. The Police Court
judge, however has concurrent juris-
diction with the justices of the peace
in civil action.
Would Name Present Justice.
The bill, which would establish the
police justice for Prince Georges
County, provides that the governor
shall appoint one of the present JUS
tees Of the peace as q police justice,
to have exclusive primary jurisdiction
In criminal cases. The measure would
require the police justice to hold court
in Laurel on Mondays, at Hyattsville
on Wednesdays, Seat Pleasant on
Thursdays and Upper Marlboro on
Fridays. In addition to requiring
these specific court days it gives au
thority for holding court at any other
place in the county that the business
demands.
No appeal is allowed under the
measure where the fine is SO or less,
and for violation of the State motor
vehicle law it provides that where
there is more than one charge against
the defendant he may be released on
bail which does not exceed the maxi
mum sum of the fine. However, it
provides that where there is only one
violation charge the offender must be
C.
Jurisdiction i'm Civil Cases.
1t gives the police justice jurisdic-
ton in civil cases where the amount
involved does not exceed $3.50, and
takes away from justices of the peace
their criminal jurisdiction. The sal
airy of the police justice is fixed at
$500 a year, with an additional $500
for personal expenses, and expressly
provides that he is to receive no fee
from any source: The measure also
provides for a clerk of the court at
$1,000. with an additional $500 for ex-
penses. The terms of these two Off
Gals would be for two years, and If
the bin becomes law it viii go into
effect next June.
When parcels of land of>five acres
or less are sold in Prince Georges
County they shall be classified for
assessment as subdivisions, and the
owner must file plat before sale, ac-
cording to the provisions of the bill
introduced In the House of Delegates
last night by the Prince Georges
County delegation. 1t also provides
that an additional plat must accom-
pany all deeds for recording. the addi-
OF assessments.
Prescribes $40 to $50 Fine.
This measure provides that where
of lots. are sold, or evidenced by
recorders deed or unrecorded con-
tracts, it shall be prima facie that
the tract is a subdivision and subject
to taxation as such. Under such a
condition the bill gives the supervisor
of assessments to tax the remaining
are : in accordance with the amount
it has increased in value by the sale.
Upon the failure of any owner to
Gsrh fxFiG ar sal nf nc
part Of it, 1t directs the supervisor to
swear out a warrant to take the Of
fender in court and prescribes a fine
OF from so to $50 for each offense.
Incorporation of the town Of Mary
land Park is provided for In a bill
introduced last night by the Prince
Georges County delegation The prop
erty to be included in the now corpora
ton is in the vicinity Of Capital
Heights and the District Of Columbia
line. The measure would authorize
James f. Lanhan, Herbert Ashby and
Amelie Howe as judges and David
w. Close and Charles f. Aces as
clerks to submit the question to the
voters Of the proposed town area on
the first Monday in April next. The
measure provides for the mayor and
six councilmen to be elected every two
years, beginning in May, provided the
electorate approves the incorporation
at the April election. 1t gives the
proposed town officials authority to
levy for taxes at not less than 10
cents nor more than so cents on the
500 assessed valuation in any one
year.
Four Villages Combined.
Incorporation of Fairfnount Heights
out Of the villages now known by that
name and the following North Fair
mount Heights Waterford and SVl-
van Vista, is provided for in the bill
introduced by the Prince Georges
County delegation last night. The
land proposed to include in the new
town Is in the vicinity OF Eastern ave-
nue. which skirts the District of Column
bia line and Sheriff road. The measure
provides for mayor and six council
men, one each from six wards defined
in the bill. 1t prevents any one hold
ing the office of mayor or councilman
unless he is the owner Of property to
the value Of at least $500 IT gives the
mayor and council authority to levy
taxes and provides that they shall not
expend in any one year any more
than the taxes shall produce 1t pro-
hibits the council from issuing q
franchise TO any public utility until
after it has been submitted to the
voters and they have approved IT,
This measure carries a specific
clause prohibiting the manufacture
and sale or transportation of intoxicat-
ing liquor within the proposed cor
porate limits
The question Of Incorporation as
provided in the measure Is to be sub
mitted to the voters Of the area within
so days after the passage of the act,
which names Frank goldman, James
+. Armstrong, George Washington
nd