Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-18
CONFERENCE HELD
ON CRAMTON BILL
Maryland Planning Officials
Seek OF Adjust Objections
to Measure.

BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.
Clarifcation Of the language in some
parts of the Cramton public parks ex-
tension bill, now pending in the Up
per House of Congress. which. in the
opinion Of offlcialS in Montgomery
County, strikes at the very life of the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. and at park de-
velopment by the metropolitan district
authorities, is being sought today at a
conference between Representative
Cramton, author of the measure, and
officials Of both the Federal and county
planning commissions.
Question Of Jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction over the park lands
which may be acquired in the metro
politan district Of Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties under the
terms of the Cramton bill will be the
principal source of discussion, 1t was
said. Some of those who have studied
the bill have expressed the fear that
acceptance by the county OF a share OF
the Federal Government funds would
result in a urrelder Of jurisdiction to
the Federal Government in the opera
ton and maintenance, as we'll as in the
development, although it is to con-
tribute only one-third of the purchase
price. The matter was brought to a
head at the last meeting of the Mont
gomery County Civic Federation and
the committee on legislation and legal
action was instructed to take 1t up with
members of the Senate.
However, Charles w. Eliot. I'd, city
planner of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, which would
have the duty of carrying the legislation
into effect, If 1t Is finally enacted into
law. upon learning of the stand taken
by the citizens of Montgomery County,
thought that il would be wise TO take
the matter up informally with the au-
thor of the measure and get his views.
rather than have the Senate take some
action which might result In the Dill
being delayed or lost in the House when
il returns. Mr.. Eliot said that he took
the matter up with Mr.. Cramton and
the latter indicated that he would be
glad to discuss the alleged objectionable
features with the Marylanders.
Present at Conference.
In addition to Mr.. Cramton there
were present at the conference Irving
C. Root. chief engineer, and j. Bond
Smith, general counsel Of the Mary
land National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, the latter also chair
man of the committee on legislation
and legal action Of the citizens fedora
ton: Mr.. Eliot and Z. Brooke Lee,
Montgomery County Democratic leader.
Montgomery County, through the
Planning Commission. Is about 10
launch an extensive park Improvement
program. including the acquisition OF
necessary lands. The principal project
viii be the extension of the Federal
Rock Greek Park in the District into
MARYLAND as far as Garrett Park, other
projects including parkway establish
ment in Sligo Greek and Cabin John
Greek valleys. Plans for these projects
have been before the County Planning
Commission for some weeks, but further
than authorizing offcialS to confer with
property owners. no definite steps have
been taken, particularly in the way OF
funds by the provision for
bond issues authorized under the plan
ming commission act.
The two counties, Montgomery and
Prince Georges. have available in State
funds a total of 500, 600. authorized by
the 1927 Legislature, to be divided
equally between them for the acquisi-
ton of lands for park purposes in these
divisions. With Montgomery County's
program about to be launched and in
volving, as 1t does. the expenditure of
this $5o, 900, the Marylanders are seek
ing information as to whether they will
be allowed the Federal Governments
one-third on this amount.
Stand Of Marylanders.
It Is the contention Of the Mary
landers that as the Cramton bill now is
written the Federal Government will
contribute one-third to the purchase Of
all lands acquired In the State as
part Of the Federal park system, and
that for this contribution 1t Is proposed
to have Maryland cede all jurisdiction
over the planning and the maintenance
of the park system. This, they say
they do not want. and the fear also
has been expressed that 1t ultimately
might be used as the entering wedge
for annexation of the metropolitan dis
trict to the District OF Columbia.
In the event that it would be neces-
sary to surrender Jurisdiction, It was
commended, then there would be no plir-
pose in maintaining the Maryland Plan
ming Commission, as the work 1t is now
doing would be handled by the Fed
ersl Commission, which, 1t was said,
under the Cramton bill Is given COM
plete charge Of the planning and de-
velopment Of parks in the metropolitan
district which are included as a part
OF the Federal system.
However, Mr.. Eliot Is OF the opinion
that these matters can be threshed out
by Mr.. Cramton, and the
differences wiped out, without in any
way defeating the measure, which APP
pears to have considerable support at
this time from all interested In public