Evening star., 1935-04-21
ELECTION FIGHTS
LOOM IN SEVERAL
TOWNS NEARD.C.
Registration Heavy in Prince
Georges, With New
Names on Lists.
MT. RAINIER, CHEVERLY
INTEREST is KEEN
Seat Pleasant, Edmonston and
Cottage City Vote Perfunctory.
New Candidates Likely.
BY GEORGE PORTER.

BY GEORGE PORTER.
Heavy registrations in several
Prince Georges County towns dur
ing the last few days point to heated
municipal campaigns between now and
May s, when the voters of seven
incorporated communities go to the
polls.
Present indications are that there
will be keen rivalries for the posi-
tions to be filled in Mount Rainier
and Cheverly, while the primary in
terest in the elections at Hyattsville
and Riverdale is expected to be TO-
cused around referendums OIL new
taxes
Perfunctory elections are in prospect
for Seat Pleasant, Edmonston and
Cottage City, although the bsl!oting
in the latter two towns may be en-
livened II new candidates appear
within the next two weeks.
AL New Voters.
With the addition OF 447 new names
to the registration books in Mount
Rainier. bringing the total on them
to a new record, the citizens are pre-
pairing for one OF the warmest town
campaigns in history.
Chief interest will center in the
contest between Norman A. Pruitt
and Floyd B. Matthias for mayor The
two were rivals in special election
last Winter. Pruitt being successful.
Both are veteran former members
of the council.
Due to recess appointments made
after designations during the last
year, all four Of the council seats are
to be filled this Spring for the first
time since Mount Rainier was incor-
porated Is years ago Ordinarily only
two councilmen are chosen each year.
In each of the four wards opposi-
ton has developed to the incumbents,
all Of whom are attempting to sue
ceed themselves First Ward Coun-
Gilman Arthur J. Bates probably will
haye Clarence S. Smart as his rival.
Councilman Roy T. Fowkes and for
expected to be the candidates in ward
two.
Third Ward Rivals.
In the third ward the rivals will
be Councilman John E. Parsell and
Karl Rottman, while Councilman Rex
ford Worley Of the fourth ward will
run against Carl Herberger.
Although only II new voters regis
tered at Riverdale this year, and no
rivalries for the three positions to be !
filled has developed. there is consid-
erable interest in general tax ref |
erendum there.
This years light registration also !
is attributed to the fact that nearly /
all available new voters were placed /
on the books last year when there
was a hot contest between two town
factions. There are now 797 names !
on the registration books.
Town officials who come up for re-
election this year and who. so far, !
have no opposition, are Mayor w. A. |.
Carson. Third Ward Councilman A. !
j. Kracke, jr., and Councilman I. N. !
Goodwin of the fifth ward.
The referendum, to be held in con- |
junction with the election, will be on
the question Of increasing the general
town tax from IS to 80 cents per 500. |
At present the town levies a 25-cent |
general tax, scent fire tax and a |
10-cent tax for a new fire engine, or |
a total of 40 cents.
Fire Engine Tax.
The 10-cent fire engine tax expires
next year, when the new general tax
will become effective if approved at |
the referendum. Under those cir |
cumstances the total town tax would !
be IS instead of 40 cents.
While Hyattsville will re-elect !
Mayor H. T. Willis and cast compli-
mentary ballots for five councilmanic |
candidates who have no opposition,
torrid fight will develop if Gov. Harry
w. Nice signs a bill calling for a
to cent mandatory town library
tax in time to be placed on the bal
lots.
The Governors decision on this
issue was still uncertain yesterday.
At the request of town officials he
announced 10 days ago he would veto
the proposal, but later reversed him
self. The latest word from Annapolis
is that he will hold a Joint hearing
on the measure for both proponents
and opponents some time this week
before making final decision.
Candidates for the Council are:
Thomas E. Arnold and Arnon l..
Mehring, first ward; T. d. FARRELL,
second ward; E. Murray Cover, third
ward, and Robert C. Meredith, fourth
ward. All except Arnold are seeking
reelection. He is running as a re-
suit Of the retirement of Councilman
c. D. Anderson.
Uncertainty still reigns at Cottage
City, where three town commissioners
are to be chosen. There are rumors
Continued on Page Q, Column 1.)