Evening star., 1932-01-12
PLAN TO ELIMINATE
POLITICS IS TABLED
Montgomery Federation Acts
on School Board Resolution
After Fight.
BY HOWARD M. BAGGETT,
STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

BETHESDA, Md, January 12-
Marshaled opposition, headed by Maj
E. Brooke Lee, county administration
leader, and others, to the resolution of
W. B. Armstrong that appointments to
the County School Beard be on nom
political and non-partisan basis and
setting up qualifications for appointees,
last night succeeded by 56-to4l vote
In having the resolution tabled at
meeting of the Montgomery County
Civic Federation, which was attended
by the largest number OF members and
delegates in many months.
The resolution, with minor changes,
was reported favorably by the Commit
tee on Schools, headed by Robert E.
Bondy, to which it had been referred at
the December meeting, but at the close
of a debate lasting almost two hours,
during which the measure was both
supported and attacked in feeling terms
by many speakers, a motion to lay on
the table made by John A. Dickinson
was carried by vote made by the rails
ing of hands.
Mapes Bill Opposed.
The federation unanimously adopted
a resolution introduced by Chairman
Stephen James Of the Committee on
Public Finance and Budget, opposing
the passage by Congress of the Mapes
bill as inexpedient and oppressive and
expressing particular opposition to sec
tion 10 of the bill, which seeks to i'm
pose for the benefit OF the District of
Columbia an income tax upon persons
not roe{5art of the DjStript -
Removal of the United States Gov
ernment Experiment Station, located
near Wisconsin avenue here, to a more
suitable agricultural section and dedi-
cation of the 50-acre tract for park pur-
poses by the Federal Government was
advocated in resolution introduced by
Emory H. Bogley and referred to the
Committee on Internal County Improve
ments. The resolution also asked the
federation to declare itself in favor of
the development Of a parkway along
Willett Brook and Little Falls Branch
Valleys, including community play
grounds and parks as speedily as con-
ditions and finances will permit. and
asked that attempt be made to have
bill introduced in the Senate to make
the tract available for a park, and
further asked that the Maryland
Commission advise the federation as to
the status of its study of these valleys
for park purposes.
Pike Celebration Favored.
Proposed celebration of the improve
ment of the Rockville pike, advocated
by the Rockville Pike Citizens Associa-
tion. was indorsed by the federation in
a resolution adopted, but direct RESPONSE
bility in the matter was left to the COM
munities directly concerned, and the
resolution referred jointly to the Rock
vile and Bethesda Chambers of Com
merce The resolution called attention
to the fact that the lower end of Wis
consin avenue still remains to be i'm
proved.
Resolution introduced on behalf of
the Bethesda Chamber of Commerce
that the federation support the Poto-
mac Electric Power Co. in its attempts
to continue under the consent agree
ment which the Public Utilities Com
mission of Washington Is attempting to
upset, and to oppose any movement
which would discriminate against resi-
dents of the county In the matter OF
electric rates, was referred to Commit
tee on Legislation and Legal Action. A
detailed statement from an officer OF
the Potomac Electric Power Co. was
read.
Report of the Committee on Roads,
Streets and Bridges, presented by Wal
ter D. Lambert. chairman, which was
received, stated that the question Of
opening Beech avenue between Old
Georgetown road and the Rockville pike
was barred at least temporarily, by
court proceedings The commissioners
told them. the report states, that Cedar
lane to the south is no. macadamized
county road, and that Grosvenor lane
to the north Is also county road. and
while now only surfaced with cinders
fits into the master road plan as part
of through route to the Potomac.
Citizens to Be Heard.
Reference was made to the fact that
the deferring by the commissioners Of
the sale of the $l000,000 bond issue
may delay the carrying out of the 1882
road improvement program. Concern
ing Wisconsin avenue 1t was stated that
citizens would be given full opportu-
nifty to be heard on all phases of the
subject before the work was finally
A thorough investigation by the
Maryland Public Utility Commission