Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-18
MARYLAND PARK
BILL PROGRESSES
0bstructioniSt Tactics Fail.
New Government Measure
Also Moves Up.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEI.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 1S-The
park and planning commission bill
providing such a body for Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties to handle
the development and improvements OF
those areas in the regional develop
ment scheme Of the National Capital
successfully passed through attempted
dilatory tactics in the House of Dele
gates here today. when the measure
was taken up for a second reading
with amendments.
The lone opposition came from Dele
gate Daniel &. Joseph of Baltimore,
who moved that the measure, which
was favorably reported by the Mont
gomery and Prince Georges delega-
tons. be recommitted to the judiciary
committee. He pointed out to the
House that Ii was general legislation
and as such should go to one of the
standing committees. He said he
wanted to study the law because there
was provision in the supplementary
budget for an appropriation.
Defended BY Speaker.
Speaker Z. Brooke Lee. Silver
Spring. surrendered the chair to
Delegate Lawrence p. Williams of
st. Mary's County delegation, and
Joseph motion to recommit. Speaker
leader Lee told the House the bill was
unanimously favored by the Montgom-
cry and Prince Georges delegations.
There is nothing of Statewide
nature in the bill. he said. He added
that when the committee was con-
sidering the supplemental budget it
could strike out the provision for the
payment of the commission If 1t so
desired. The motion of Delegate
Joseph. he said. would do no more
than to delay the bill, and perhaps
make it impossible to get 1t passed in
the closing days of the Legislature.
Ii such a motion prevailed, he told
the House, it will be a week or more
before the bill comes back to the
House for consideration, and then it
will get lost in the Senate.
He pointed out that an important
question Of local self.government was
involved and it affected no one except
the people of the two counties. They.
he went on. have examined the meas
ure thoroughly; in fact. have given ii
more consideration than any other
piece of legislation in recent years.
They want the bill passed and have a
right to get 1t because they will pay
the expenses.
IF that is the case" Delegate Jo-
seph interjected, then why are the
proponents afraid to have it go to the
judiciary committe for examination
there? Speaker Lee replied that the
delegates did not want the measure
delayed.
Called General Legislation.
Delegate Joseph said that there may
be lot in the bill to which there may
be objection and added that when two
or more political units are interested
in the bill it becomes general legis-
lation and under the rules must go
to standing committee.
Delegate George l.. Edmunds, Rock
vile, chairman of the Montgomery
delegation. took issue with this state
ment of Delegate Joseph and pointed
out that this Is purely a piece of
local legislation and could not be call
ed general under consideration from
any angle.
Delegate Burton A. Ford Of Prince
Georges County took the floor i'm op-
position to the motion and pointed out
that the bin affected only the people
of Prince Georges and Montgomery
Counties. These people, he said, de-
sire the law passed and do not want
il lost in the final rush. That is the
reason, ana the only one, lOf opposing
the motion of Delegate Joseph, he
said.
Speaker Lee again took the floor
and pointed out that the bill carries
no State appropriation of any kind
and has no jurisdiction outside of the
two counties adjacent TO the Capital
He entered strenuous objection To
any attempted delay.
The motion then was submitted to
a roll call of the House and was lost
by 100 to ], Delegate Joseph being the
only one to vote i'm the affirmative.
Following this test, certain amend
ments were adopted without Opposi
ton from any source and the bill was
passed on the second reading and now
goes over to next week, when it will
come up for third and final reading
| and passage.
When this measure was laid aside
the House took up the measure
changing the form of government in
Montgomery County. The House
adopted the favorable report submit
ted by Delegate Edmonds and Their
I proceeded to a second reading of the
| bill, during which several amend
ments changing the wording were
| adopted. The bill then went to a
| third reading.