Evening star., 1941-02-22
Fire and Police
Bills Offered
By Nearby Areas
Easing Of Rules on
Appointments at
Army Camps Sought
BY BEN III. PEARSE,
Star Staff Correspondent,

OG1O, N1l. co. III
bills and one resolution affecting fire
departments in areas near Wash
ington were among eight measures
introduced in the Legislature yes
terday by Montgomery and Prince
Georges representatives.
The resolution, by Delegate John
S. White, Democrat. of Prince
Georges County, requested the Unit
ed States Civil Service Commission
TO relax present rules to permit
members of volunteer fire depart
mentS to compete in examinations
Tor appointment by the Army Quar-
termaster Corps as fire chiefs and
deputies at Army CantonmentS.
Authority to appoint additional
ottlcers for police protection in an
emergency on a temporary basis was
asked for Montgomery County in a
bill introduced by the Montgomery
County delegation.
Bond Refund Bill Included.
The bill was one of five presented
by the delegation, another author
lzlng the county commissioners to
refund bonds not to exceed S1207,-
$50 which come due during the
blennium starting June 30 1941.
They could bear not more than 4
per cent interest and would be
exempt from county, State and
municipal taxation in Maryland.
Delegate Stanton c. Peelle ex-
planned that the police measure had
no connection with another meas
ure to be introduced later author
izing addition of 18 men to the
present 45-man county police force.
1t is merely a precaution against
emergencies and authorizes appoint
ments for 60-day periods. AS many
men as the county commissioners
deem necessary may be named and
the 60-day appointments may be
renewed. but appointees are not
eligible for benefits under the county
police civil service act.
The temporary officers would be
paid at a rate set by the county
commissioners but not more than
the present salaries for the county
police, according to the bill They
would take the deputy sheriff S oath
and have the same powers in crimi-
nal matters as regular police
officer
Another bill would restore the
States attorneys salary to $1,000
and require his attendance at the
new trial magistrates courts.
Auto Tag Plan Offered.
Senator Robert Peter of Rockville
introduced a bill TO amend a Stats
law so that residents of Gathers
burg would have to pay their mu-
nicipal taxes before they are per-
mitted to obtain automobile license
tags and a bill repeating the present
law permitting semiannual tax pay
ments in Takoma Park.
Two bills introduced by Delegate
Stanton c. Peelle of Montgomery
County related to the paid Bethesda
Fire Department. and one spon-
sored by Senators Peter and Charles
c. Marbury of Prince Georges Coun-
ty. authorized the TakOma Park
". authorized the Takoma Park May
or and Town Council to lexy a tax
of not more than Is cents per 500
valuation for the fire department
and establish a five-man Fire Com
mission for the town.
Mr.. White pointed out that the
present civil service regulations
stipulate an applicant must have
five years experience as chief OF a
paid fire department in order to
qualify for the examination. which
would automatically eliminate any
applicants from Maryland except,
perhaps. one or two in Baltimore.
Bethesda has a paid chief but not
with five years experience in the
job. he explained
Many members of volunteer COM
panies in Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties have had many
years of fire fighting experience and
would ike a chance to qualify for
chief or deputy chief positions at
Fort Meade or other Army cam
tonmentS. Mr.. White said. The reso-
luton, which was adopted by the
House. will be forwarded to the
Civil Service Commission and mem
bers of Congress.
Bethesda Subsidy Sought.
One of Mr.. Peelle's bills, introduced
at the request of the Bethesda De-
partment. would authorize the coun-
ty commissioners to pay to the de-
partment the $500 a year it has
been unable to collect because the
present law specifies that county
fire department subsidies may be
granted to volunteer companies, the
only type in existence when the law
was passed several years ago, The
subsidy has not been paid to any
company in Bethesda because the
volunteer organization, which left
the paid company two years ago, did
not have equipment to qualify under
the law until recently. Mr.. Peelle'S
other bill would correct this situa-
ton by authorizing payments not
exceeding S1,500 year. to paid as
we'll as volunteer companies.
The Takoma Park fire tax meas
ure. introduced by Senators Peter
and Marbury after consultation with
Donald Lamond. town counsel, and
Irving w. johnson, representing the
fire department, is an emergency
bill to become effective upon enact
ment.