Evening star., 1935-02-24
HOLDS ECONOMY
NEEDED IN COUNTY
Delegate CantreI Addresses
Montgomery Farmers on
Financial Problems.
By STAFF CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
SANDY SPRING, Md, February
23.-Asserting that tgomery
County's public debt has reached
nearly 18 per cent of its aSsessable
basis, Delegate Joseph A. Cantrel,
Fusion party member of the State
Legislature, told the sixty-third an
nual Sandy Spring Farmers Conven-
ton today that rigid economy must
be enforced Immediately If the finan-
cial condition caused by "top-heavy"
governmental expenditures IS to be
corrected.
The Chevy Chase legislator, ad-
dressing an audience of 500 farmers
and friends who gathered at Sherwood
High School for the parley, said that
Montgomerys debt of approximately
S1e,OOO0o0 is larger than the obllga-
ton of any other Maryland county
and said that the taxpayers are con-
fronted with a situation that demands
the attention "of the county's best
minds"
His address was preceded by busl-
ness session in which number OF
resolutions, including meaures pro-
viding for an investigation OF the
advisability of inaugurating county,
manager form of government and op-
posing the issuance OF additional
bonds, except those for refundlng
purposes, were adopted.
Six Speak on Charity Agencies.
Talks were made by Miss Dorothy
Everson, executive secretary OF the
County Welfare Board, who explained
the functions of Montgomery's char
ity agencies, and Paul Nystrom of the
University of Maryland Extension
Service, who spoke on Crop Rota-
ton
Cantrel. who said his talk was one
of constructive criticism and not a
political address, introduced figures
purporting to show that the per
capita cost of operating the Mont
gomery County government and car
rvinC it's bonded Indebtedness Is
higher than any other community in
the State.
The county's bonded Indebtedness
of approximately S18,000,00O, coupled
with the Washington Suburban SAM
tary Commissions bonds for sanitary
improvements in the lower end OF
the county. amounts to virtually "a
per cent of the county's assessable
basis. he said.
We are confronted with terrible
situation that demands the attention
of the county'S best minds" Cantrel
stated. We must get down to Work
to find some remedy"
The speaker declared that members
of the Montgomery County group at
Annapolis have taken the initiative
in the drive for economies by the
introduction of legislation that Will
net the county saving Of approx
mately $l22,800 during the next four
years through the abolition of "un-
necessary jobs" and reduction OF top
heavy" salaries.
He declared that he had sponsored
a number of the measures and that
the entire county delegation, includ-
ing State Senator Stedman Prescott
and members of the Lower House,
we're working "in harmony" for their
enactment.
Cantrel said that he had stepped
on the toes of a number of politicians"
by introducing the salary-cutting and
iob-abolishing bills, but denied that
he had entered into any political
deals
IT ran on a platform that had
economy in it from the first plank
to the last plank, and my every act
will be in the interest Of each citizen
and each taxpayer" he said.
Financial Commission Endorsed.
He indorsed a measure in which
the convention advocated the appoint
ment of a non-salaried commission to
study the financial set-up OF each
county in the State and attempt to
arrive at some new source OF revenue
that would relieve the burden imposed
on real estate.
J.E. Muncaster of Gaithersburg ap-
pointed Roger B. Farquhar OF Sandy
Spring and Carson w. Pope of Gath
ersburg to study the feasibility OF
adopting a county manager form Of
government in an effort to economic
on expenses.
The convention protested against
the excessive school expenditures"
in the metropolitan area Of the county
and passed a measure appealing to
the commissioners to impose special
school tax in that section to take care
of the excessive development
Ratification of the child labor
amendment to the Constitution and
repeal of the law banning steel trap
ping also were opposed. Reduction
of Federal relief wages to a scale be-
low that of prevailing wages paid by
private industries in various sections
of the country was urged, the con-
vention holding that the Federal wages
prevent farm operators from secur-