Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-21
HUNDREDS DEMAND
SUPPORT OF JONES
Caravan From Montgomery
Storms Annapolis With
Courthouse Plea.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

with q determination to get q court
house for Montgomery County that
would stamp 1t one of the most pro-
yressive counties in the State, and to put
1t in step with the development of the
National Capital as the finest in the
world in the matter of public buildings,
hundreds Of Montgomery County tax
payers journeyed to the Statehouse
here yesterday and in the chamber of
the House Of Delegates listened to i'm
pasSioned appeals Of some of its silver
tongued orators, and of some Of its
humble tillerS of the soil, to State
Senator Eugene Jones for favorable &C
ton on the two courthouse bills. One
of these provides for q bond issue to
be added to one provided at the last
session for the construction Of build
ing BETTING the dignity Of the county
and the other bond issue for the
purchase Of the square west of the
courthouse.
The halls of the chamber rang with
cneers and applause as Barnard WEIGH,
Republican leader. told the Senator
that Montgomery County was going to
have its courthouse, because the coun-
" was progressing so rapidly that no
one could hold 1t back and survive.
For the 20 minutes that he occupied
the floor he kept the audience applaud
ing almost continuously, with frequent
outbursts of cheering.
Dawson Makes Address.
Thomas L. Dawson Of the Republican
county committee told the Senators
that Rockville should be developed and
known as the county seat, instead of
being referred to as q suburb Of the
National Capital.
All political faiths were represented
There were people representing business
organizations. civic organizations, the
farmers, In fact every phase of Mont
gomery County life, including the
wonens clubs. They all wanted to see
the county continue to grow, they said,
and those who didn't speak voiced their
approval of the remarks by PROLONGED
applause at frequent intervals. It was
holiday In Rockville. The courts were
adjourned and the grand jury came in
body.
The forces moved out of Rockville be-
ginning at noon, piloted by two motor
cycle police outriders. Starting with
only few vehicles, the caravan, like q
SNOWFALL, gathered weight as it rolled
on until. when 1t arrived at the states
house, the forces which flooded into the
chamber packed the seats, filled the
aisles, damned the wells on either side
of the speakers rostrum and packed
the galleries to overlooking. Senator
Jones presided, danked on either side
by members Of the Montgomery dele
cation In the House, who are as unit
in favor Of the two bills.
Jones Introduces Speakers.
Josiah Jones OF Olney, president of
Mnnt0nrnnru Hs~v
acted as master Of ceremonies and in
PRODUCED the speakers, presenting, VIII
liam r. Prettyman, president of the
Bar Association Of Montgomery County.
Mr.. Prettyman told Of recent visit to
Western Maryland towns, In an exami-
nation Of record-keeping systems for
the courts, and said that in those towns,
where the courthouses displayed dignity
and beauty, they reflected the prosperity
OF the section and the Investigators had
no trouble in getting shown throughout
them, but In other places where they
did not have an adequate courthouse
it was difficult to get any one to take
them through. II people are 10 be at
tracted to the county, he added, then
provision must be made to provide fine
public buildings, in keeping with the
progress Of the county. At the end of
this year, he continued, there would be
no place to store the rapidly increas-
ing files, and pointed out that woman
clerks are required to work in the most
unsatisfactory conditions.
The development Of the county for
the past 10 years has surpassed the
most reasonable dreams, and he said
it would continue
Stedman Prescott. attorney of Rock
vile. told the Senator that IL the new
courthouse is built. it will settle once
and for all time the question of where
the county seat would be located In the
future. While there has not been any
agitation in the past, he continued It
is not at all impossible for q movement
to divide the agricultural and the su-
burban sections. He referred to the
Federal Governments building pro-
gram.
Urges Amendment II Needed.
Mr.. WEIGH predicted that there would
not be person at the meeting Of OPP
ponents next week who would say that
q new courthouse is not needed
The Senator was told by Mr.. WEIGH
that IL he had any doubt that the
money would not be spent wisely by
those In the county government, then
to amend the bill to further safeguard
1t, but at least provide for the court
house. He said that II any one felt that
any money had been stolen from the
county funds, then 1t should be reported
to the grand jury, now sitting, and that
that was the only place where 1t should
be said.
Referring to the Farmers Bank d
Trust Co. he said that 1t was loyal in
stitution, and that it would never stand
IN the way of progress and right In
Montgomery County.
Other speakers who occupied the two
hours given to the meeting all urged
some Of them predicted that the county
would pass the 800 ,000.0 900 taxable
basis anywhere between one year hence
and ten years. The other speakers in
cluded: j. r. Spates, mayor Of Rock
vile: w. B. Armstrong, representing
the Montgomery County Civic Fedora
ton; Mrs. william B. N. Brookes, presi-
dent Of the Women's Club of Bethesda;
A. G. wilkins, president Of the Cabin
John Park Citizens Association; Berry
E.. Clark, clerk of the county commits
Sioners; Donald DeLashmutt, Rockville
president Of the Montgomery County
Auto Dealers Association: Brook Cot
of Dickerson. Willis Burdette, former
Republican State Senator and postmas.
ter Of Rockville: Mrs. Max White Of
Buck Lodge, Clifford Robertson, Rock.
vile attorney; Charles w. Woodward
attorney, of Poolesville; Mrs. J. w. Jone.
of Olney, Joseph e. Janney Of Sandy
Spring, DR.. j. w. Boyer Of Damascu.
and Robert E. Bondy, representing TIT
Edgemoor Citizens Association.