Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-20

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now is pending on the third reading
file in the House for passage. the
hearing was given by Senator Sasscer
and the Prince Georges delegation In
the lower house. of which Henry l..
Morris of Upper Marlboro is chairman
The adoption of the measure was urged
by John H. Schaefer, mayor OF River
dale.
Sasscer Refutes Stand.
Senator Sasscer took issue with
County Commissioner Bowie on his
statement that high taxes were the
cause of so many pieces OF property
being sold in the county, in the eVacu-
alton movement. which appears to pc
under way. He said that it was due to
a general defiation now going on and
that it had hit other sections adjacent
to the Capital City. He said that con-
ditions were no worse there than in
anv other place. Mr. Sasscer told his
audience that he has the greatest faith
in the development of the metropolitan
district of the National Capital, and
predicted that within the next year or
two the residents who stayed in the
county would experience the greatest
development in the history of the sec
ton, He said that he did not see
complete collapse of the development Of
the metropolitan district of Prince
Georges that some people seem to
predict.
However. Commissioner Bowie in
sisted that there were great many
people now living in the county who
have only small equity in their prop
critics and that they will be getting out
under the heavy taxes. figuring that it
is cheaper to lose what they have than
to pay the taxes, which are ever in
creasing.
He conceded that everybody wants
good streets, but said that this is not
time to get them, again pointing out
that depression was on throughout
the county. He told the committee
that he had talked with officials of
every bank In the upper end of the
county, including those of the River
dale bank, and they had informed him
that more people had borrowed money
in the past year to pay taxes than ever
before.
Mayor Explains Bill.
Mayor Schaefer pointed out that the
only thing that the bill provided was
authority for the town authorities to
improve the streets, If the people want
must be submitted to referendum, and
if that is approved. then the improve
ments can only be made after a petition
of more than so per cent of the proper
ty holders along the street affected.
The whole thing is finally left in the
hands of the people.
But this led to a question from Mrs
z. Salisbury, who wanted TO know who
would vote for the Improvements. She
pointed out that incorporation of the
town was forced on the permanent resi-
dents by college students then resid-
ing in it, and that it became effective
only by seven votes. It was added by
Mrs. Salisbury that the permanent resi-
dent or property owner would be forced
to carry the heavy burden in the end. If
the property holder with small equity
should decide to get out If the taxes
became too heavy.
Mr.. Schaefer said that the town now
has only $4,000 of the county rebate
fund with which to improve II miles OF
streets He added that the improvement
was expensive there because of the soft
subscil and that 1t was necessary to
make provision for the employment of
an engineer to direct the permanent
improvements. He insisted that the
people of the town at least should be
given an opportunity, through the ref
erendum, to say whether they wanted
the law, and the town should not be
required to wait for another session OF
the Legislature, two years hence.