Evening star., 1934-10-14
Democratic and Fusion
Groups Outline Programs
to Electorate.
BOTH PARTIES READY
FOR 3-WEEK CAMPAIGN
Bond Issues Are Attacked and
Defended in Outlines of
Policies.
By a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

ROCKVILLE, Md, october 13.-
Two platforms this week were placed
before the voters of Montgomery
County, one by the Democratic party
and one by the Fusion party. The
electorate today awaited the formal
opening of a three-week campaign
that will carry the political factions
into the general election on Novem-
ber g.
Leaders of the Fusion party have
held up as the most salient feature OF
their platform the promise to place a
strict limitation on further bond is
sues that would limit such sales to the
point where the only issues that will
be approved are those for capital i'm
provements of the type that are i'm
peratively needed and which can be
amortized annually from current in
come over the reasonable life of the
improvement.
The Democratic platform, in con-
trast. maintains that the financial
condition of the county is sound,
economical and businesslike," and
pledges the party to continue the ad-
ministration Of the county's funds on
that basis if its nominees are elected
to Office next month.
In discussing the reference in their
platform to county finances, Fusion
heads romdly criticized the present
administration for increasing the
countys indebtedness to the point
where the county must borrow money
TO pay interest on its bonds"
Favor Certain Restrictions.
other matters which they advocate
are the adoption of restrictions and
safeguards governing the purchase of
real estate and supplies for the county.
the elimination of unnecessary jobs,
boards, commissions and expenditures,
adequate school facilities, the adop-
ton of a county road program after a
survey by competent and disinterested
engineers, the establishment of new
budget and accounting system and the
installment payments of State and
county taxes.
They also support the depositing Of
county funds ratably among county
banks with proper security to the
county, the preparation of frank and
intelligible statements to the taxpay-
ers, certified by auditors appointed by
the Circuit Court; an amendment to
existing laws to require that the an
nual report of the county treasurer
shall show bonded and other indebt-
edness in detail and the annual re-
quirements for payment of principal
and interest.
The Fusion party also advocates
that the minutes of the county COM
miSSioners be complete record of the
proceedings and always accessible to
the public, that county police be pro-
hibited from political activities with
dismissal from the force as the penalty
for violation. bipartisan school boards
and commissions, the recovery of the
country's proper share of gasoline tax
and its fair and equitable expenditure
throughout the county, adequate sur
ETY. bonds for county officers, correc-
tion of sewer pollution of county
streams, legislative investigation Of
Washington Suburban Sanitary Com
mission with a view to its more eco
nomical and efficient operation, two
dollar automobile tags, the freeing of
volunteer firemen from political inter-
ference and that they be made eligible
to State accident benefits, a county
government free from the dictation
of a political machine or boss and
one in which citizen may obtain
his just dues as matter of right.
Charge Misleading Statements.
Democratic leaders charged in their
platform that many misleading
statements" have been made concern
ing the bond issues and the other
general finances of the county and
point out that the last issue of bonds
for each Montgomery County taxing
area has readily sold at high prices
and normal interest rate, the best
test of the soundness of a county's
financial situation"
The platform asserts that the
county's bonded Indebtedness is less
than 10 per cent of the assessable
basis and that the bond money has
constructed public improvements val
ued at $17,667, ,9O5.
1t is said in the platform that the
Democratic party proposes to contin-
ue the adequate financial support
for the operation and necessary ex-
pansion of the school system, to con-
tinue to keep any influence of politics
out of the school system, to continue
the definite schedule of increase in
teachers salaries now in force in the
county and to complete the present
school building program as originally
planned as rapidly as possible"
Road Building to Continue.
The Democrats further propose to
continue to build new roads in the
largest mileage that the financial
ability Of the county will allow, to
continue the ban on organized COM
mercial gambling and disorderly re-
sorts of any character whatsoever, the
gradual increase of the county police
force as now organized and admins
tered to continue the orderly develop
ment and extension of the park sys-
tenn, to continue the policy of not
licensing, for private profit, prize
fighting in Montgomery County; to
continue the present front-foot benefit
assessment method of building streets,
sidewalks, cutters and curbs and to
introduce and support legislation pro-
viding that all county real estate taxes
may be paid in two equal semiannual
installments.
Other pledges of the Democrats in
clude the promise to support and
maintain the general tested coming
regulations now in force in the met
ropolitan district of the county, con-