Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-08
COURTHOUSE BOND
BILLS INTRODUCED
Montgomery Delegates Take
Action Which Win Open
Breach With Senator.
BY WILLIAM 7. WHEATLEY,

ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 8.-Placins
of two additional bond issues on Mont.
gomery County is sought in two bills
introduced in the lower house of the
Legislature today providing a total OF
S325, 900 for the proposed new court
house at Rockville and the acquisition
of the additional land. The measures
were introduced in the House of Dele
gates by the Montgomery County dele
cation, and 1t is expected that they
will be passed by that body early next
week. to be sent to the Senate, where
Senator Eugene Jones of Kensington
has said that he will stop them
These bills will mark the open breach
between Senator Jones, who represents
Montgomery County in the Senate, and
the House delegation. 1t will serve to
place the peoples representatives on
record one way or the other on the
matter. and it probably will result in a
campaign issue at the elections of next
year. The Senator from Montgomery
has indicated that he not only wants
to stop the bond issues for the purpose
of bringing about a reduction in the
tax rate, but he wants to protect the
bank. of which he is stakeholder and
director, from being forced off its pres
ent site.
Jones Polls Senate.
Senator Jones says that he has polled
the Senate on the question, and he has
the necessary votes to stop the legisla-
ton in the upper house. He said that
they will never pass as long as he is in
the body. On the other hand. county
leaders pointed out that the House dele
cation will do its duty in that body, but
...srl - off tn ivAti 90
the members of the Senate as against
Senator Jones. They pointed out that
if defeated there, the responsibility
would be left squarely on the shoulders
of the Kensington Senator.
One of the bills. provides for bond
issue of $l50,000 to be added TO the
fund already in hand to build a court
house in conformity with the plans laid
down by the courthouse building COM
mittee. the courthouse architect and
the county commissioners. The bill
gives the county commissioners wide
authority to be exercised in the con-
Struction.
The other bill provides for bond
issue of $175, 900, the proceeds of which
are TO be used for the purchase of the
square west of the present courthouse
site. bounded by Montgomery avenue,
Washington, jefferson and Court streets.
Both acts are declared to be emergency
measures. and they require three -f1fths
Of the membership of both houses for
their passage.
It was stated on behalf of the dele
cation that the two measures have the
Endorsement of nearly all OF the civic
and community organizations of the
county, including the unanimous in
dorSement of the Montgomery County
Civic Federation, representing "a OF
the suburban communities Of the coun-
ty. and the mayor and town council,
the Chamber of Commerce and the
Volunteer Fire Department of Rock
vile. 1t was added also that the
unanimously in favor of an adequate
improvement of the courthouse area,
and it is regarded by those who have
a hand on the, pulse of the electorate
that a majority of the upper house
and central county residents also favor
the project, :
There is not much more time to
handle the legislation, as the present
Legislature has less than Is days. of
life. 1t being required by law to adjourn
sine die on April /.
Road Engineer Asked.
Further evidence of the urban de-
velopment of the metropolitan district
of the county adjacent to Washington
is contained in another bill introduced
I; today 1t provides for the appointment
by the county commissioners of a roads
engineer for the district. He would have
general supervision Of all road and
highway improvement work in the
county. including sidewalks and cutters
and curbS.
Increase in the salaries of the patrol
men Of the Montgomery County police
force is provided for in another bill. 1t
provides that the pay of these men
shall be increased IS a month, begin
ming with the second year Of their en-
ployment, and up to and including the
fourth year, with maximum limit for
the patrolmen OF $l.6S0 a year
An assistant to the building inspector
Is provided for in another bill. The work
in the county is increasing to such an
extent that it is difficult for the one
inspector to give the proper attention
to the construction work. Authority is
given in this law also to provide an
electrical wiring code.
So that a complete record may be
kept OF proceedings in the grand Jury
room Of the county. authority is con-
tanned In another bill giving the Judge
of the Circuit Court authority to en-
ploy q stenograpber to report the pro-
ceedings The record is to be kept
closely guarded in the office Of the
States attorney and fine of 81 900 or
a years Imprisonment is provided for
any one who discloses any part of such
q report made by stenographer, ex-
cept upon order Of the court.
Another bill repeats the prohibition
In an old Maryland statute which pre-
vents the laying out of a public road
between the home and outbuildings Of
fariyate nrOnertN Or thrnuQh the var