Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-04
THIRD cOURTHOUSE
. BILL IS PROBABLE.
Strategy May Be Used to Pre-
vent Defeat of Second
Bond Issue.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
StaH Corresnnndent Of The Star.


ROCKVILLE, Md, February A.
Whatever may be the fate OF the two
proposed bond issues to increase the
amount of money on hand for building
q new courthouse and Jail here, as a
result of the differences between the
senae and House delegations from
Montgomery County, 1t was made plain
today by Mai E. Brooke Lee, Speaker
of the lower House, and State ana
county administration leader, that there
will be no reduction in the present tax
rate of Sl30 hundred. If the pro-
posed bond issues cannot be put through
the Senate. because OF the opposition
of Senator Eugene Jones OF kenslng-
ton. il was also indicated the new
courthouse and jail may not be punt
for several years. as the Maryland AS
yennbly meets only biennially. In the
meantime there will be a State election,
when the electorate will be given the
opportunity to say which of the two
democratic factions was right.
Some strategy Is going TO be tried
By the House delegation, under the Lead
ership Of Speaker Lee. The latter said
that the two bills. one providing $780,
900 more for the courthouse construc-
ton and another Sl50,000, for the pur-
chase of the square north OF the court
house. would be introduced IN the lower
House and passed They will go TO
the Senate to give that body an oppor-
tunity to act on them.
Third Bill Proposed.
49,, Ga ;,, urith thn
stated opposition of Senator Jones, be-
cause of his announced desire to keep
down bond issues and lower the tax
rate, then another bill will be intro
duced in the lower House by the Mont
eomery County delegation.
The latter bill is to provide that the
funds already on hand for the con-
struction of courthouse and jail shall
be used for the purchase or acquisition
nv condemnation of the land north OF
the courthouse: in which event there
will be no money for construction.
But the problem has arisen as to
whether Senator Jones would not block
this bill also, as he is opposed at this
time to the acquisition Of the whole
square. Senator Jones informed The
Stars correspondent here that it was
very doubtful whether he would support
this measure in the Senate, but added
that he would not take positive stand
until he had actually seen it.
The Montgomery Senator spent some
time here yesterday going over the
problem with Robert G. Hilton, mem
Der of the planning commission; A. C..
Warthen, Kensington contractor, who
has submitted plan for the courthouse
and jail construction, which it Is said
would cost in the neighborhood of $3l5,-
600. and officials of the Farmers Bank,
which is on the square which is pro-
posed for addition to the present court
house property for the enlarged building.
New Building Contracted.
The bank already has contracted for
a new building, and it was said that 1t
is proposed to move it back from Com
MERGE street so as to give the road de-
partrnent room to widen this highway
which carries the heavy through trathc
to and from the West. The acquisition
Of the entire square for street widening
is given as one of the arguments by
those in favor Of the increased bond
issues.
II the Legislature should authorize
the bond issues for the purchase OF this
square it would mean that the bank
would have to seek a new site. It was
learned today that there is to be meet
ing of the board of directors of the in
stitution on Wednesday, next, at which
time one of the questions to be deter
mined will be whether the bank would
be willing to give up its present site.
At that time, it is understood, Mr.. War
then will submit his plans for keeping
the proposed new building on the pres
ent site, with the exception of small
addition of land to the north which
would involve the movement OF Com
merce street, which is between the pres
ent courthouse and the square which it
is proposed to purchase. Senator Jones
is a member Of the board OF directors
Of the bank and indicated that he
would try to get excused from the leg
islative session next "Wednesday to be
present at the meeting.
In the event that the legislation is
passed TO authorize the use of the build
ing bond proceeds for the purchase of
land, it was said that provision would
be made for the erecting of a fireproof
unit for the storing of the land records
Of the county, which now are daily
subjected to the hazard of loss by fire.
ALI sides are anxious to have this seri-
OILS situation corrected