Evening star., 1927-11-01

| port it is pointed out, could be made
| the basis for estimating taxes and for
drafting a charter for the proposed
city.
Inquiry Handicapped.
Thus far the committee of inquiry
appointed by the Chamber of Com
merce of Hyattsville, has been handi.
capped by a lack of definite intorma'
tion to lay before the people.
In the public and private debates
which are agitating the % commune
| ties from the District line as far as
Hollywood on both sides of the Balti-
more e. Ohio Railroad tracks, the
political or governmental features of
| the plan are attracting almost as
much attention as it's financial and
economic aspects.
Advocates of the scheme say it is
seIf-evident that better and cheaper
government can be obtained by con-
solidating % little towns and subdivi-
sions into one municipality under a
singe mayor or city manager, one
council and united departments Of city
government. They insist that it is
ridiculous to maintain so many differ
ent Sbwn governments in an area of a
little more than 10 square miles. They
would be willing to have their central
city government abolished and live
under the control of numerous small,
Independent governments, separated
only by streets, each with its own fire
department, police force, garbage col
lection service, street cleaning depart
ment, etc.
Fear Super Government.
To this line Of reasoning opponents
Of the plan, or those who are doubtful
and the latter are in the majority
through the area-reply that it might
not be so bad if politics could be elimi-
mated from the proposed city govern
ment and it could be placed on busi-
ness basis. They fear, however, that
it would be impossible to keep politics
out, and that the adoption of the plan
would mean merely that a super gov
ernment would be set up over the
smaller communities. These commu
mites, they say, are suffering from too
much government now.
Back come the advocates Of the city
plan with the statement that the vari-
Gus communities within the area are
already much too close together for
comfort, in many instances so close
that they are practically one in every
thing except government. They say
the whole area is growing rapidly in
population, and that some day q city
is bound to come there, as the logical
result of economic forces now at work.
If 1t will be a good thing some day, it
is not too early to begin it, they insist.
Therein lies the crux Of the present
controversy. Opponents of the plan
for the most part are willing to admit
that the time may come when it will
be advisable to create Maryland City
or a municipality with any other name
that may be selected in this area, but
they claim that it can be only dream
for many years. The present popula-
ton of the area, they point out, is only
about 10000, and they say it will be
time enough to talk about having a
city government like that of Baltimore
when the population nears the $4,000
mark. Even then it will be presump-
tuous, many believe, to think of get
ting into the same class with the
eighth largest city in the United
States.
Many Are "On the Fence"
A majority of the residents of the
area are ION the fence" while the
debate RACES around them. They are
sitting on the sidelines, listening and
reading. They are ready to form
opinions as soon as they are given
something tangible upon which to base
opinions. Most of them say that they
will vote for the city plan in a refer
endum If they can be convinced that a
city government can be set up in a
businesslike manner, without sad
ding the existing communities with
increased expenses for high-salaried
city officers placed in Office by political
"bOsSes"
The committee Of the Hyattsville
Chamber Of Commerce has accom-
plished much in arousing interest in
the city scheme. 1t has become the
principal topic for discussion all over
Prince Georges County. Many persons
believe that the time has arrived to
put something on paper-at least
something in the nature Of a tentative
plan-to be used as a basis for discus
sion. At this time there are almost
as many different plans as there are
advocates of the scheme. Everybody
has his own pet proposal and nobody
seems able to give the real" plan, for
the reason that no real plan exists
The widest divergence Of view is be-
tween those who want city indepen.
dent in every way of the county and
those who say that 1t is impracticable
and are advocating a consolidation of
the towns under county Jurisdiction.
What the proposed new city will
cost. whether taxes will be increased
or reduced. what benefits will accrue
TO the inhabitants, what chance it has
Of being approved in the various forms
suggested when 1t is brought before
the Maryland Legislature--these are
some OF the questions which no tive
persons seem able to answer in ex-
actly the same way.
Difficulties Revealed.
A pretty clear idea OF some of the
difficulties which confront the com.
mittee on inquiry. not to mention the
bewildered public, whom the commit.
| tee is supposed to enlighten, is fur
nished in statement given to The
Star by Frank p. Smith, editor of the
Prince Georgian and Mount Rainier s
representative on the committee.
There seems to be some misconcep.
ton OF the committee and it's duties
and the opinions of it's members" said
| MIR. Smith. when / accepted an.
| polntment on this committee there was
nothing in the acceptance nor in the
| appointment which bound me to favor
/ the plan as at present outlined. AS a
| matter OF fact, there are so few details
! upon which to base an opinion that as
yet l have not made up my mind on
the subject In committee meeting
| have advocated several changes in the
proposed plan the most important
ones of which were new boundary
lines and the tax area proposition.
while stating before that the only
way in which / could indorse the pro
! posed CITY plan was on n tax.area
basis. whereby all Of the taxes would