Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28
COUNTY WELFARE
BILL INTRODUCED
Montgomery Measure at An
napolis Would Create
New Office.
BY GEORGE PORTER,

STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, February 28.-Two
of the major measures which Mont
gomery County expects to have enacted
into law at the present session of the
notwithstanding for the creation of
the Office of superintendent of county
welfare and establishing a county en-
E1neef1ng department-were introduced
in the upper branch of the General As
sembly yesterday by Senator Robert G.
Hilton.
The welfare bill, regarded by county
leaders as a most progressive step In
county administration, would empower
the commissioners to appoint super
his title implies, would consist mainly
of directing the activities for the as
sistance and care of the aged and poor.
AS far as can be learned, no other
county in Maryland has such an official.
Would Supervise Commitments.
The supervisor would investigate and
approve or disapprove all applications
for commitment, at county expense, to
the State Insane Asylum and other In
situations. The expenditure by the
State and county of money for the care
of INDECENT county patients in Mont
gomery County and Washington hos
pitfalls would also be placed under his
Jurisdiction.
He would be trustee for all persons
receiving county aid, replacing a large
group of individuals appointed now in
each case, and known as trustee for the
poor
The supervisor of county aid would be
the representative of the county COM
missioners on the board of the Social
Service League of the county end help
supervise the $4,000 appropriated an
nually for disbursement by that organ
azation.
Agent Is Authorized.
According to Capt. Joseph c. Cissel,
attorney to the Board of County Com
miSsioners, who drew the bill presented
by Senator Hilton. the commissioners
were authorized in 1929 to designate an
agent to supervise the expenditure of
the $4,000.
Heretofore, he saws, the commission
ers have designated the Social Service
League as their agent. They do not
want to change their agent. but wish to
have a representative on the board of
directors of the league, Capt. Cissel ex-
planned.
The bill further specifies that the
supervisor shall file a report of his &C
tivities with the county commissioners.
IL likes his salary at $Z,IUU year, ana
requires that bond of $4,000 bc posted
for the faithful performance of his
duties
Adjustment of the office of Mont
gomery County road superintendent
and the establishment of a county en-
cheering department is authorized in
the other bill introduced by Senator
Hilton.
County Engineer at Head.
At the head of the engineering de-
partment would be a county engineer,
whose duties would include the inspec-
ton and supervision of public works,
chiefly roads, bridges, streets and side
walks. The county engineer and his
assistants would prepare specifications
and plans for public works, act in an
advisory capacity to the county COM
missioners and perform other miscel-
1aneouS functions relating to an en-
Eineering Office.
The bill gives the county commits
sioners the power to appoint the engi-
neer and assistants, but does not spe-
ciflcally TX the amount of their COM
pensation nor the number of assistants
TO be employed.
In the House. Montgomery County
Delegates George l.. Edmonds, Lavinia
Engle, o. w. Roby and Marvin Far
rington introduced a bill authorizing
the county commissioners to designate
one Of their members as road super
visor and to pay him 81 a day while
acting in such capacity.