Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-30
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 30.-While
the square west of the courthouse at
Rockville will not be acquired under
the proposed bond issue OF $l75.oO0,
neither will the Farmers Banking d
Trust Co. be able to rebuild on Its
present site, This became evident last
night when Senator Eugene Jones OF
Kensington, who represents Montgom-
cry In the upper House, reported un-
favorably on the land condemnation
bond issue, and the Senate adopted the
report under the senatorial courtesy
rule as was predicted.
On the other hand, there remains
safely buried in the desk of DR.. George
L. Edmonds of Rockville, chairman of
the Montgomery County delegation IN
the House of Delegates, a bill, intro
duced by Senator Jones and passed by
the Senate, which would allow an In
crease in the stock of the bank and
remove the present limit In its charter
Of $4,000 for building purposes. The
bank had entered into q contract for
q new two-story building costing in
the neighborhood of 100000, when it
was discovered that the charter would
not permit 1t and the contract had to
be cancelled. Efforts were made to get
the charter changed through applica-
ton to the banking commissioner of
Maryland, but that official rejected 1t,
and then legislation was sought.
Hearing Is Asked.
Since the bill came from the Senate,
DIR Edmonds has received letter from
q. w, Page. banking commissioners OF
the State, designating the bill as special
legislation and asking to be heard on
the measure before any action was
taken. DR.. Edmonds replied that he
would give the commissioner an oppof-
turlity to be heard before the measure
was passed. But 1t is likely that there
will not be any hearing, as the Dill is
not going to be passed.
Robert G. Hilton, president OF the
bank and chairman of the Democratic
State central committee, was at the
Statehouse yesterday, and conferred at
length with Senator Jones ana memnetS
of the House of Delegates from Mont
pomery. Mr.. Hilton had plan for &C
ouiring the square, and also q plan Tor
a new site for the bank east OF the
Town Hall, which houses the Ponce
It was pointed out to Senator Jones
that his attitude on the Courthouse
issue would be of absolutely no benent
to the bank, and the proposed new 10
cation was suggested to him by Mr:
Hilton. the latter said. Mr.. Hilton SAID
that there was no doubt in his mind
that Montgomery avenue. the bottle
neck on the main highway. was going
TO be widened, and that this would be
possible as soon as the 5000. 900 worth
Of script now tied up in school conStruc-
ton was released by the school bono
issue.
When this is done, 1t was pointed out,
Il would take away q part of the bank
building, and 1t would have to rebuild,
but it could not build any kind OF
structure now for $4,000.
Authority to Take Land.
The county authorities now have au-
thority to take land for the widening
and Improvement Of roads, so that now
1t appears that there Is nothing to stop
the county authorities from going ahead
with the work as soon as the money Is
released. Another thing pointed out by
Mr.. Hilton was that II there should be
a fire in the bank 1t could not put up
anv kind of q structure for the amount
allowed in its charter.
Senator Jones was told by Mr.. Hilton,
the latter said, that he was merely re-
tarding the banking institution, OF which
the former is also q large Stocknoioer
and director, by his attitude, and strong
pressure was brought to bear 70 nave
him approve the courthouse bond issues.
But the conferences apparently availed
nothing, as indicated by the action OF
the Senator and the Senate last nignt.