Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-06
REFUSE COLLECTION
MOVE MUST WAIT
Measure for Metropolitan
District Fails to Pass
at Annapolis.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
star Cnrrarnnndank nf The Star

ROCKVILLE, Nd, April 6-Ash,
trash and garbage disposal and trafic
regulation in the metropolitan district,
both urged by the Montgomery County
Civic Federation, will have to wait an
other two years before they can be made
effective, owing to the failure in the
Senate of the bill amending the metro
politan district act. The measure was
passed by the House, and it included
also provision, by way of amendment
to the act. making it mandatory that
the county commissioner in charge of
the metropolitan district west Of Rock
Greek should be resident within the
Bethesda, Chevy Chase or Glen Echo
Cabin John election precincts.
Present Law Provisions.
Under the terms Of the present law It
will be possible for q man from one Of
the rural districts, Rockville or Poto-
mac, TO be placed in charge of the sub
urban district after the 1880 elections.
The situation came about by the fact
that the 1927 Legislature provided for
seven county commissioner election dis
tricts for the purpose of separating the
conflicting rural and city interests
However, the act passed at that time. it
was said, did not sufficiently limit the
jurisdiction then existing for the COM
missioner elected from the fourth coun-
ty commissioner district. This district
now includes the Rockville, Bethesda
and Potomac districts.
It was explained that the only pur-
pose of the 1927 law was to give to the
metropolitan district o commissioner
who must be a resident therein. and
who would be thoroughly familiar with
the problems there, for the reason that
this area is the largest tax-paying area
in Montgomery County
Supported by Federation.
The ash, trash and garbage collec-
ton provision of the bill which failed
was much sought after by the feder-
alton, as in some sections there was
a real demand for the service and there
were indications that the people would
be willing to pay. The only objection
offered to the matter in the federation
was a possible tax, and the proposed
law was made to read so that there
would be no general tax. 1t would mere
" have authorized the county commits
Sioners to inaugurate such service
on request of the citizens, who were
to pay the cost without any expense
to the county. There was no provision
for the construction of public inciner-
ators or other features of a public dis
posal system. That matter was to be
left to the contractors who undertook
the work.
Likewise, the authority for the county
to regulate traffic in the
suburban district was urged strongly
by the federation, and it was pointed
out that there was a real need for such
a provision. The matter was discussed
at length at the last meeting OF the
but the body was informed
by Capt. Joseph C. Cissel, counsel for
the county commissioners, that a bill
was then pending in the Legislature
which would put their wishes into law.
The measure, it was pointed out, did
not carry any appropriations or au-
thorize the expenditure Of any funds,
but merely amended the metropolitan
district act so that 1t could have more
Of a city set-up, as indicated in the
light Of experience during the two
years it has been in effect.