Evening star., 1935-10-15
STATE OFFICIALS.
JO|N|NPROTEST|NG.
bERWYN PROJECT.
Senate President Sasscer
Sees Transient Menace
In Housing Program.
FEARS COMMUNITY
WILL BECOME BURDEN
Plans to Unite Civic 0rganiza.
tions and 0fficeholders in Fight
on Resettlement Job.
Nv Staff correspondent of The Star

BY a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md, october
15.-Maryland State officials today
joined Fnince Georges citizenry in
organizing a protest against the pro-
posed S5,500,000 housing project of
the Resettlement Administration at
Berwyn Heights.
Terming the plan one of the most
serious problems to confront the
county in many years, State Senate
President Lansdale G. Sasscer led
movement to enlist the aid of Mary
lands Senators and Representatives
in an effort to have the county's view
point laid before Federal authorities
before the project is too far advanced.
The Senator also hopes to unite
officialdom of the county and its
many civic organizations in the mass
protest. AS the first step in that di-
rection he plans to appear before the
county commissioners this afternoon
to urge them, as heads of the county
government, to protect its citizens
against what he fears will be an un-
desirable transient community.
Granted Permit UnwittingIy.
Two weeks ago the commissioners
unwittingly laid the groundwork for
the project by granting the Resettle-
ment Administration permission to re-
pair, improve and maintain sections
of the Edmonston and Branchville-
Glenn Dale roads leading into the
proposed community. At that time
the commissioners were not told of
details of the Governments plan to
build 1000 low-cost homes there for
families with low incomes through
using transient relief labor from
Washington.
Epitomizing the sentiment Of Prince
Georges leading citizens, Senator
Sasscer is doing all in his power to
stop the project, not only because OF
protests arising from the use of out
side labor now, but also because he
envisions a time when the cost of
maintaining the town and perhaps its
citizens will fall on the county gov
ernment-
He noted that the trend toward
support of those on relief by the coun-
ties instead of the States is becoming
more marked and fears that town
as large as Mount Rainier, composed
chiefly of families which ultimately
may become destitute, may have to be
supported by direct county levy.
Sees Transient Menace.
As it is proposed to build only four
such communities in the entire United
States, Senator Sasscer believes the
one for which ground was broken at
Berwyn Heights Saturday will attract
transient families from the entire At
lantic seaboard.
AS the land on which their homes
will be built has become Government
property and hence removed from the
assessment books, they will contribute
nothing toward the upkeep of the
county government, yet it will be
Prince Georges responsibility to af-
ford them police protection, school ia
cilities and sanitation protection, the
Senator stated.
With Washington transient relief
labor already employed on the project,
Senator Sasscer said it might be neces-
sary to import workers from Balti-
more. holding both actions would be
unfair to county residents.
Regarding this feature of the prob
lem, Frank B. Smith, member of the
County Unemployment Service Com
mittee. pointed out that only those
who are on relief rolls can be given
jobs, and the county has only about
200 eligibles. Expressing his strenuous
opposition to the project, Smith pre-
dicted it would bring into the county
a class of people who would materially
increase the relief rolls.
Relief workers on Works Admins
tratlon projects in Southern Maryland
also expressed dissatisfaction today as
word began to spread that unskilled
labor on the housing project is to be
paid $45 a month of 100 hours. W.
F. A. workers in this area are paid a
security" wage of $32 for unskilled
labor, graduated up to $44 q month
for skilled mechanics.
Pay schedules on the housing prof.
ect were announced as $45 minimum.
$72 maximum and an intermediate
base of $58.
Definite explanations for the vari-
ance were unobtainable here, but un-
ofdcial views offered were based on
the assumption. that the housing prof.
ect is regarded as Washington prof.
ect. since most of the men employed
on the job at present were taken from
the District relief rolls. A minimum
rate Of $45 is maintained in the Capt.
tai.