Evening star., 1941-03-17

bringing all possible functions under
one policy-making body to be ad-
ministered by qualified department
heads"
Saying he had not studied the
report thoroughly, Mr.. Oxley de-
clared:
Il am definitely in sympathy with
Its general plan and am particularly
Impressed with its recommendations
as to civil service, non-partiSan elec-
tions without designation of party
affihation of the candidate on the
ticket for purely local Offices, and
the recommendation as to policy
making officers such as the COM
missioners or councilmen, as the
case might be, to be selected only
by the particular district or local
tiles which they will represent.
Feels Money Was Well Spent
'I feel the Brookings Institution
has made very thorough and ca
pable survey and should be con-
graduated for it's efforts and l feel
that the money paid by the county
for this service was well spent.
The county paid $4,000 for the
survey and the institution paid the
rest of the cost.
The reports suggestion that COM
missioners or councilmen be elected
only bv the districts which they are
to represent was opposed by Carey
E. Quinn, chairman of the Leglsla-
tive and Legal Action Committee
of the County Civic Federation.
at is all right for man to be
elected only in one district II he
votes only on matters affecting his
area. but if a man in Gaithersburg
is going to vote on matters concern
ing my district in Bethesda, then
7 want a voice in electing him."
A "Trife Utopian."
st have a feeling" he continued,
"most of the proposals set forth are
a trif1e Utopian. We would all like
to go to heaven.
"A lot of people talk about doing
away with political parties (the re-
port suggests non-partisan election
of local ofncialSl, but this is just like
the weather: No one ever does any
thing about it, I have not found
that politics is a bad thing and l
don't believe anybody else wants to
get rid of politics.
"The suggestion for county man
ager is not as revolutionary as 1t
might sound at first. I have an idea
the commissioners would be very
happy to comprise only policy
making body and rid itself of the
headaches of administration"
Mr.. Quinn believes an effort to
hold elections by petition, as recon-
mended, is likely to fail.
Opposes Liquor Control Plans.
J. Forest Walker, chairman of the
County Liquor Control Board, when
told his Office would be abolished
and its functions transferred to a
Council, under the Brookings recon-
mendations, said he does not feel
such a step would be justified.
THE present setup keeps the
Liquor Control Board out of politics, +"
he said. This is as desirable as
keeping a separate School Board
established"
Walter Dawson, county Repub-
Mean leader, reserved comment until
he reads the report. State Senator
Robert Peter likewise Withheld his
observations.
Charles c. Jones, Democratic
Member of the House of Dele
gates, was favorable to the re-
port and is willing to "go along with
most of its suggestions"
He approves the suggested reduc-
ton OF the various county govern
ment boards and agencies and the
proposed establishment of a merit
system for county employees.
I'VE have got to have real civil
service system" Mr.. Jones asserted.
"Our present police civil service sys-
tenn doesn't mean a thing The
Office of police commissioner is just
a waste of money"
Favors Prompt Payment.
Declaring he mad not given much
thought to the suggested increase
IN the County Health Department,
he said another suggestion, for nom
partisan elections, is mot bad
idea"
"I certainly favor paying off bond
issues when they are due, as the
report suggests" Mr.. Jones said,
and added even though we have to
raise the tax rate to do it.
"I would support legislation to
place the Brookings program into
effect and it is not too late yet. 1t
woulo break down the political
machines in this county"
Discussing a suggested county fire
chiet to coordinate activities of the
various volunteer fire departments.
william E. Wootton, president of
the Montgomery County Volunteer
Firemen's Association, had this to
say:
That is a hard problem for one
man to handle because the lower
part of the county is urban and the
upper half is rural. Only last week
in Arlington County. Va. one of
the fire companies objected to some
nozzles purchased by the county"
Approves Extension.
Mr. Wootton approves the sug-
gested extension of the paid person.
mel system in the departments, par
ticularly in the urban areas. In
reply to question concerning the
BrookingS criticism of the lack of
an accounting for county funds
spent on fire departments, the asso-
citation president asserted.
"I am sure that no department
would attempt to close its books to
a county audit. I believe a periodic
report to the county by the COM
paaies as to how they spent public
money would be a good thing"
Chief A. j. Bargagni of the Be-
thesda paid fire department ap-
proves the proposed county fire
chief plan and likewise favored in
creasing the paid personnel.
AN kcTIVE uVIFH