Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-02-04
ROOKvILLB. MD.
Shape New Laws For Montgomery
County.

A tentative program of legislation for
Montgomery county by the Legislature
now in session at Annapolis was consid-
cred at length at a mass-meeting in the
court house here last Saturday afternoon.
The meeting, which was attended by
several hundred representative men and
women from all parts Of the county. was held
at the instafce OF State Senator Eugene
Jones and the county's representatives in
the House Of Delegates. who adopted the
plan as means Of ascertainine the feel
ing OF the people Of the county regarding
legislation they had in mind, and while
the discussions, which were participated
In by many Of those present, developed
differences Of opinion as to some Of the pro-
posals, the sentiment seemed favorable to
the entire program suggested. and the
cOuntys Legislators are expected to govern
themselves accordingly.
Prominent in the deliberations was Maj.
Z. Brooke Lee. Speaker of the House Of
Delegates. The meeting was conducted by
State Senator Jones. who at the outset
submitted the proposed legislative pro-
gram. which includes authorization Of bond
issues for road building. construction and
enlargement Of public school buildings and
an addition to the court house. an increase
in the county police force and the estab-
lishment Of suburban police stations on the
Rockville State road and the 0lney- Balti-
more State road, in addition to the one at
Rockville; financial assistance for volun-
teer fire departments centering jurisdiction
In police matters in the county police force.
leaving to the sherifTs Office the serving of
civil papers Of county courts; amendment
OF county l,cal option law. so as to prohibit
transportation Of intoxicating liquor in or
through Montgomery county. changing the
game laws to agree with recommendations
OF the county game association. and, after
the school. road and court house bonds
have been provided for. and the fire pro-
lection and increased police force financed,
il the finances Of the county will permit
it, without too great an increase in the
county tax rate, provision for either the
erection Of a new jail or the undermining
Of the present building.
The program also provides for the crea-
tion OF two new county commissioner dis
tricts. one 10 consist Of Bethesda election
district and the other Of Wheaton and
Colesville districts. and the establishment
of the boundaries Of the other five COM
missioner districts increase Of response
bility, jurisdiction and taxing powers Of
the board OF county commissioners in those
sections Of Bethesda and Wheaton districts
not now incorporated towns or special tax
ing areas and authorizing the commits
sioners in Bethesda and Wheaton districts
to build streets by so per cent benefit
tax and so per cent direct tax on these
districts and 10 build sidewalks and gut
tiers entirely from benefit taxes.
The program further provides for the
creation Of Maryland parking and plan
ming commission for Montgomery and
Prince Georges countless or for Montgom-
cry county alone. along the same plan
heretofore announced and approved by
the Montgomery County Civic Federation
and many other organizations Of the
county.
The elimination from the State Board Of
Health Of Its present appointing power
having the Governor name the Washing
ton Suburban Sanitary Commission. sub
ject TO confirmation by the board Of coun-
~ commissioners in the county in which
appointee lives; providing a full-time
chairman from one county and full-time
and part-time member Of the commits.
sion from the other county. removal Of the
tax records Of the Sanitary Commission to
the respective county seats. equalization
or limiting Of the benefit taxes, and giving
the proposed parking and planning com.
mission jurisdiction to plan the permanent
road systems Of the suburban sections o.
Montgomery and Prince Georges counties
are also included in the proposed leeisla.
tion.