Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10
COURTHOUSE FIGHT
/. RUMBL|NCS HEARD
Lamar May File Bill in Equity
to Force Action in
Rockville.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

staff Correspondent OF The star.
ROCKVILLE, Nd, February o.
Rumblings indicative of further efforts
to remove the obstacle to the acquisition
of the square north of the courthouse
here for expansion of the courthouse
building and construction Of modern
Jail were heard in various parts OF
Montgomery County today. The main
obstacle Is the Farmers & Mechanics;
Banks, occupying prominent place on
the square, the directors of which
decided this week that they would not
consent to give up the site and were
ready to proceed with the construction
of a new building. The opposition to
the removal was lead by Senator Eugene
Jones, who represents the county in the
upper house of the Maryland General
Assembly, now in biennial session at
Annapolis.
The reports current were that plans
were being made to file bill in the
Equity Court for an injunction in an
effort to restrain the bank from pro-
ceeding with the plans for its new
building, and they were that George H.
Lamar of this town and prominent in
the civic affairs Of the community would
take this step as citizen.
Seeks Reconsideration.
When asked as to his plans in this
regard and as to whether he was going
to file such o case in court, Mr.. Lamar
said he was going to make an effort to
have the bank directors reconsider their
action and defer the construction Of the
new building until the public question
Is finally decided.
Mr.. Lamar said that he would seek
the cooperation of all the people con-
cerned in an effort to adjust the matter
amicably. He said he was comforting
in a genteel way" in an effort to have
the construction plans held up, pointing
that his relations with the directors OF
the bank were pleasant, and that he
didn't want to do anything destructive,
believing, as he did, that conciliatory
measures could be brought into play
which would be, satisfactory to all
concerned. a
The bank directors have a beautiful
plan for the new bank, he continued,
saying that their plans were made by
an expert in bank construction. How
ever, he added that thus far the bank
has not gone to any expense in connec-
ton with the actual building, and ex-
pressed the hope that the plans would
be held In allegiance until the public
work feature was finally decided upon.
The plan to take this square for
public use in building a modern court
house and jail. he continued. is very
important improvement, and, Mr.. Lamar
added, he believed that the sentiment
wheimingly in favor Of the acquisition
OF the entire square.
1t is to the interest of the town and
to the county that the improvements
should be made, and nothing should
be allowed to stand in the way. He
SAID that there should be cooperation
among all the parties concerned.
There also were indications that the
question of the recent action of the
bank directors might be taken directly
to the stockholders in the institution.
Jones Unrelenting.
Senator Jones has not relented In his
determination that the courthouse and
jail should be constructed on the site
OF the present courthouse with a slight
addition Of land on Court street, be-
tween the present courthouse square
and the square to the north which it is
proposed to buy with the bond issue to
be sought from the Legislature, and
which the Montgomery Senator Is
strongly opposing.
The measures. two of them, providing
100000 in additional bond issues for
the courthouse and Jail and acquisition
OF the whole square are expected to be
introduced in the House of Delegates
IN couple Of weeks by the Montgomery
County delegation, headed by Delegate
George l.. Edmunds of Rockville. These
measures, it is predicted, will be passed
by the lower house, but are not ex-
pected to have smooth sailing In the
Senate, where they will be opposed by
Senator Jones. Their defeat there now
seems certain, Senator Jones' position
being that the new building can be
built out OF the proceeds of the two
bond issues authorized by the 1927 ses-
sion Of the Legislature, and that the
stoppoge of their enactment would per-
init reduction in the tax rate in the
county.
With the defeat of these measures in
the Senate, there will be Immediately
introduced in the House another meas
ure which would authorize the use OF
the proceeds of the two bond issues
authorized two years ago for the pur-
chase of the square, by private sale OF
condemnation. thus leaving no money
for the building, which it Is planned
to leave for another Legislature, which
will not convene until after the State
elections in 1880, when new members
of the Senate and House will be up for
election.
The failure of the measure, it was
| pointed out by county organization
leaders, will just serve to defer the con-
struction OF the new building, as there
Is no time limit in which the funds
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