Evening star., 1935-02-24
CIVIC UNITS SEEN
AS FORCE BEHIND
STATE MEASURES
Recommendations Get Spe.
cial Consideration by
Maryland Legislature.
BY Stan Correspondent of The Star.

BY Stan Correspondent OF The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, February 23.-Civic
organizations are demonstrating their
importance and usefulness during the
current session Of the Maryland Leg
iSlature.
Recommendation of the Montgom-
cry County Civic Federation, largest
and best organized civic group in the
Maryland metropolitan area, already
have figured largely in the proceed
ings of the General Assembly, while
the Prince Georges County lawmakers
have been aided by civic organizations
on several important bills.
Most of the features embodied in
the l1-point legislative program SUBJ
mitted to Senator Stedman and Del
egates Candy, Hays, Shoemaker, Can
trel and Magruder by the Montgomery
Civic Federation have been incor-
! porated in pending bills
Tax Proposal Included.
One suggestion, that semi-annual
! payment of taxes be authorized in
Montgomery County, is set forth in
Prescott bill which already has
passed both Houses and is ready for
| the Governors signature.
Although the idea was opposed by
the county commissioners. the dele
| gates knowing they have the backing
Of the powerful civic federation. have
introduced a measure to abolish the
! County Liquor Board. 1t turns the
duties of the board over to the county
commissioners, who may designate
one OF their members to give special
attention to the work for a slightly
increased compensation, makes the
county attorney counsel TO the liquor
board, and provides that appeals from
the local authorities shall be carried
to the Circuit Court. rather than the
State Board Of License Commission
/ ers.
Other Civic Federation recon-
mendations embodied in pending bills
would:
Prohibit participation Of county or
State officials in transactions involv-
ing public funds in which they have
a personal interest.
Provide necessary enabling legis-
lation for the construction OF a bridge
at Great Falls with Federal funds.
Make the attorney to the Board
OF County Commissioners counsel to
all other county boards and commits
| sions, except the School Board. This
is at slight variance with the Civic
Federation's recommendation. as 1t
! exemptS the School Board and makes
no effort to lower the present $4,000
year salary of the county attorney.
instead Of giving him a $4,000 salary
proposed by the federation)
Two other important Civic Fedora
| ton recommendations involve State
wide statutes and have not been in
coporated in legislation pending con-
! ferences on the subjects involved be-
! tween the leaders of Montgomery's
delegation and those from other sec
tions Of the State.
! One would continue the maintenance
/ of the county highway system under
! the State Roads Commission, and the
! other provide for a general reassess-
ment Of all real property in the
county.
Mass Meeting Influence.
Prince Georges County legislators
we're guided by the recommendations
Of mass meeting sponsored BY the
County Community Council regarding
a proposal to authorize a bond issue
to establish incinerators. It was re-
vealed that public sentiment was
against the plan, but in favor Of one
authorizing the Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission to create public
dumps. Accordingly, the necessary
enabling legislation is being drafted
Another civic group, the College
Park Home and School Association.
proved to be the vehicle through
which the legislators learned that res
idents of that town were opposed to
incorporation at this time.
Other non-political organizations in
the county. such as the Federation of
Parent Teacher Associations and
the County Taxpayers Association.
have submitted legislative programs
which the aSSemblymen admit are in
valuable in shaping proposed laws to
conform to prevailing public senti-
ment.