Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-31
JONES OFFERS NEW
COURTHOUSE PLAN
Montgomery Senator to Con-
tinue Fight Against
Big Bond Issue.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.

BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY.
By Staff Correspondent Of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, January 31.-Fol-
lowing up his announced opposition to
the proposed 100000 bond issues to
add to the present funds for erection
of modern courthouse and jail in
Montgomery County, Senator Eugene
Jones of Kensington tomorrow will sub
nit to the courthouse committee and
to the Montgomery County delegation
in the House concrete plans for the
construction of a building at total
cost for land and improvements of $315,-
BIG. Senator Jones says that he not
only has had the plans prepared, but
has secured a responsible contractor
who has done much public work in the
county who stands ready to carry out
the project.
While the plans were not quite ready
today, it was explained, they in general
provide for the structure on the present
courthouse square, with slight move
ment Of Court street, the highway be-
tween the square and the square which
it is proposed TO purchase with one of
the proposed bond issues. It would cut
such as marble stairways, and substi-
tute therefore reinforced concrete.
Meeting the suggestion that the
square which it is proposed to pur-
chase, is needed for widening the, bad
traffic lane on the Frederick road, Sem
ator Jones says that he has found out
that the Federal Government pays for
improvement of such road difficulties on
national highways running through
towns of less than $500 population. He
argues that If the Federal Govern
ment pays for such improvements, why
! should the expense be saddled on the
county taxpayers.
For Tax rate Reduction.
In the light of the information he
has gathered, Senator Jones says he
will continue to oppose the two pro-
| posed bond issues, in an effort to re-
duce the present county tax rate of
| $1.30 a hundred dollars. In a formal
statement to The Star Senator Jones
said:
Much has been said relative to bond
issues in Montgomery County in the
| past two months and the proper
amount Of indebtedness the county can
basis of $76,000,000 The present
county tax rate is $3.50 on each 500,
which, believe, is too high. In my
| opinion, the two paramount purposes
| for which bonds should be issued are
| schools and roads. The proceeds from
| the sale of said bonds should be ap-
piled to the present urgent needs in
both instances rather than for the flu
ture development for which, there is
no immediate necessity.
| II stand ready to support legislation
| to liquidate all obligations relative to
| the county's indebtedness as agreed
upon by the members of the House OF
Delegates and myself on April Z, 1928,
but as to the issue of bonds for the flu
| ture I shall give such proposals very
careful consideration before lending my
! support, and If it is possible to lessen
the number Of bonds which will result
| in lower tax rate and not materially
interfere with the progress of the
county, I shall consider it my duty to
do so.
View of Taxpayers.
This conclusion has been confirmed
after consultation with very large
number of taxpayers, both large and
small, in every section Of the county.
Some of those who oppose my PROPOSE
| ton to reduce the number of county
bonds were very liberal a few years
ago in their praise of my vote in the
| 1914 session of the General Assembly.
when by a vote of II to Is a State
wide bond issue for $6.200,000 advo-
Gated by the State Roads Commission
was adopted, instead of the $1,000, 900
bond issue backed by the political lead
| erS of the State and City of Baltimore,
1 w a EQnn mn
of the taxpayers money, and did not in
the least retard the extension of Mary
lands splendid road system. Why
should not make every effort to save
our county several hundred thousand
dollars when the opportunity presents
| itself?
Zone item is the courthouse PROPOSE
ton, where there can be a probable saw
! ing of more than 100000. There is
available 1857 900 from the sale of court
house bonds, $4,000 Jail bond funds,
making a total Of 1927, 1000, plus a
$4,000 jail lot and the old jail property
of bonds for an extension of the new
wings with jail on top, and further
issue of $175,000 of bonds to purchase
the square north of the courthouse
which would cause the removal Of the
Presbyterian Church and the Farmers
Banking e. Trust Co., which has signed
contract for the erection of new
banking house at cost of $125,000
Sees $625,O00 Expenditure.
1.-THE new bond issues, together with
those authorized at the last Legislature
would make proposed expenditure Of
$625, 900. have been informed by Mr.
A. C. Warthen of A. c. Warthen's Sons
contractors of Kensington, Md, tha
with very few changes In the las
proposed plans and with practically NJ
curtailment of floor space, with some
change of the interior as to the kind o.
material used, but without altering thu
durability and In keeping with thu
architecture, the courthouse and jai
can be erected for the sum of $315,816
Mr.. Warthen's plan proposes the &C
curing small strip of land on TIT
north side of Court street, which will
enlarge the courthouse square, givinl
sufficient space between the new win,
and the new relocated Court street. Al
investigation Of Mr.. Warthen's plan
by the county commissioners and TIN
courthouse building committee, in m.
opinion, would be most advisable.
II have not mentioned the widening
Of Montgomery avenue from Cour
street to Washington street (Fredericl