Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
COUNTY CIVIC PLAN
GETS OFFICIAL O.. K.
Montgomery Leaders Gen.
orally Assure Proposals
Made by Federation.
~ a stan Correspondent of The Star.

county Administrative ana improvement
program for 1891 and 1882, which has
been stated to be satisfactory to Mont
gomery Civic Federation leaders, was
announced today by Lacy Shaw, presi-
dent of the Board of County Commits
sioners, and State Senator Robert G..
Hilton.
The program would be financed by
bond issues made possible by economies
in the county budget and increased
value of taxable property. 1t was
stated that no tax increase would be
necessary, as had been supposed for
merly by the civic federation, to carry
out the program.
Comprehensive Program.
The outline of administrative and
construction Improvements was said by
President Stephen James of the civic
federation to incorporate all the ma
terial items proposed by the citizens
group and to be even more comprehen-
sive in some respects than the fedora
tons program.
The federation recommended the au-
thorization by the Maryland General
Assembly of a 100000 bond issue,
while the program as set out by the
county authorities would require the
issuance of an even greater amount of
bonds.
The development plan reached its
final form at a conference last night at
Bethesda between county officials, po-
litical leaders and civic federation
leaders. The statement issued today
by Mr.. Shaw and Senator Hilton is an
1temized expression of the conclusions
reached at that time.
Following the meeting, Mr.. James
expressed approval and satisfaction"
on behalf of the federation with the
assurances given by county officials
that the federation'S program would
be substantially carried out by the end
of 1882.
The civic representatives were told
that the bond issue could be- financed
by increased county funds for 1881,
amounting to $144,500, the largest item
of which would be an $4,000 savings
effected, providing for road maintenance
from revenue from the sale of bonds
instead of from tax funds.
Plan Continues Open.
Mr.. Shaw and Senator Hilton stated
that the figures proposed and the i'm
provement contemplated are not final
and will continue open to any con-
structive suggestions which would tend
to improve the plans recommended to
date, both while bond issues and other
new proposed laws are pending in the
Legislature and until the actual date
of the county levy at the end of next
June"
They made it clear, however, that
'the county officials have not present
belief that additional developments or
advice Of the next several months will
produce any drastic change in the
financing items agreed to-"
While it is planned to seek authori-
zation of the total bond issue required
at the present session of the Legis-
lature, the issuance of the road bonds
for 1881 and for 1892 would be deferred
until the second half of the year of the
issue. This will be done to save pay
ment Of interest on the bonds for the
half year.
Improvement Sums Set.
The program calls for $225, 900 to be
available for school needs and 5000 900
Tor road construction during 1881 An
additional $200,000 would be required
to l~ovide school facilities in 1882 and
SS,-N9 for roads during that year A
Ilunding bond issue of 100000 also is
projected.
. Only one item of any consequence
contained in the original federation
school program is left out of the pres
ent plan. 1t is the construction of a
new Silver Spring-Takoma senior high
school at an estimated cost of $125, 900.
This omission was suggested by Super
intendent of Schools Edwin w. Broome
and met with the approval Of the fed
Grafton leaders.
The principal change in the road
construction program from that out
lined by the federation is the possible
omission of the two outer belt line
roads in the suburban district from the
present plan. At the conference last
night the federation representatives
agreed that these two roads, one en- the
eastern and one on the western side of
the county, were the least urgent of
the road construction recommended.
Budget Increases.
Increases provided in the admins
trative budget for 1881 would total
$84,875 and would make possible the
employment of 16 new teachers, the
maintenance of the teachers salary in
crease. scale Of $50 a year, six additional
policemen, establishment of juvenile
court, creation Of the office of superin-
tendent Of county welfare, employment
OF transfer clerk, necessary road ma
chinery and maintenance Of a con-
tingent fund for telephones and similar
items.
A feature Of the schools program is to
be that all building facilities are to be
of permanent construction. The ex-
pansion Of the school system would
GCQulIe 40 I6dCIeIS 1SoG.
Concluding the outline of contenl-
plated projects, the statement of Mr..
Shaw and Senator Hilton asserts that
"the Montgomery County officials have
included we are confident, practically
every recommendation of the Mont
Romery County Civic Federation for in
creased operating services in the county
government, even Though these services
include a considerable increased cost, as
1,,k
commended by the federation.
I'VE have produced plan which
provides for the financing of the county
increased administrative and bond issue
costs that is consonent with the stand
ards of safety and general recommen-
dations Of the civic federation.
I'VE are confident that the plan
recommended. which is, in fact very
largely a joint product OF the county
officials and the civic federation, wisely
meets the governmental needs of Mont
3omery County for the next two years
and is conservatively within the finan
cial ability Of the county"
Present at the conference at which
the program was given its present form
were Senator Hilton, the Montgomery
Democratic members of the House of
Delegates, the Board of County Com
missioners, Berry E. Clark, clerk of
the County Commissioners; Capt.
Joseph C. CiSsel. attorney to the County
Commissioners; DR. Benjamin G. Perry
and Mai E. Brooke Lee.
The federation was represented by
President James, Frederic P. Lee, Rob-
ert e. Bondv Charles w. Hopkins,
Ralph Lee, Col. A. b Barber, w. B.
Armstrong. o. NJ Kile. DR.. L. M.
Christie, C. A. Korbly. John A. Dick
inson and Frank B. Severance.
! FONSO ORDERS VOTE