Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-11
Citizens Fight
Inclusion in
Park District
Oxo. Hill and
Speeding Oppose
Bill at Annapolis
BY BEN III. PEARSE,
Star Staff Correspondent.


ANNAPOLIS, Md, March IL
Residents of the Spaldings and Oxor
Hill districts vigorously opposed in
clusion in the proposed regional park
area at hearing before the Prince
Georges County delegation last night
after the bill to restore a So bounty
On foxes had been argued.
The hearings attracted more than
$50 county residents who stayed
until after l am. to voice their
opinions of the two measures. Dele
gate Ralph Powers. chairman of the
delegation, presided.
The bill to extend the regional
area in Prince Georges County to
include those parts of the Kent,
Lanham. Seat Pleasant, Spaldings
and OXon Hill district not now
within the metropolitan area drew
opposition only from the two latter
areas
Explaining the purposes of the
bill, T. Howard Duckett, a member
of the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
sponsoring the measure, said it was
designed to prevent the hodge podge
of hot dog stands and other I'M
slightly buildings in new residential
areas.
Taxless Years Forecast.
There would be no cost at present,
the commission taking care of
administration of coming and ap-
proving subdivisions until develop
nent was further advanced. he said.
No, tax would be needed for from
four to eight years, he estimated.
No tax would be levied in the area
to be included under the provisions
of the bill until further legislative
action, he stressed.
In response to questions from the
floor, he said development in Capitol
Heights, especially along Central
avenue, was not desirable, but point
ed out that the commercial area in
that section already was established
when the Park and Planning Com
mission was created Is years ago.
He cited sections along University
drive, New Hampshire avenue, Agar
road and other newly developed
areas as examples of what coming
regulation could accomplish.
Adrian Fisher of OXOn Hill, who
opposed the bill as spokesman for
residents in his area, introduced
speakers appearing to urge defeat
of the measure. He said that 95
per cent of the residents of the por-
ton of Oxon Hill not now included
in the metropolitan district were
against the proposal The district
Is still rural in character and I'M
developed as to water, sewer, roads
and gas, he declared, and could not
benefit by coming regulation.
Cites Own Z0ning.
Harry Fuchs a town commissioner
and Kenneth c. Jones, resident of
District Heights, spoke vigorously
against having their section in
cluded, pointing out the town had its
own building regulations and coming
laws. The District Heights Citizens
Association last week went on record
against the bill, they said. Mr.. Fuchs
declared Park and Planning Com
mission regulations had accom-
plished nothing in most county
areas, and quoted J. Bond Smith,
commission counsel, as stating be-
fore the County Civic Federation last
fall that the law to enforce commits
sion regulations had no teeth in it."
G.. I. Hightower of Spaldings,
James West, head of a delegation
from Suitland, including Ray
Burke. adjutant of Post No. 1876,
American Legion, of Suitland, were
among others speaking in opposition
to the bill.
Leroy Humphrey of Upper MARI
boro, spokesman for the Prince
Georges County Fish and Game
Association, and William H. Brooke,
also of Upper Marlboro, represent
ing a group of fox hunters, were
ranged in opposition on the ques-
ton Of restoring the 50 bounty for
merly paid by the county on fox
scalps.
Sees Enough for Hunters.
quoting an article by Jonn Clagett
Proctor in The Sunday Star on
the abundance Of game in the coun-
ty many years ago, Mr.. Humphrey
declared that unless the bounty was
restored much of the wild life re-
manning, now limited to small game
such as rabbits and quail, would
soon disappear entirely.
Mr.. Brooke denied that foxes
were responsible for the dearth of
small game in the county, holding
that they aided in preserving rab-
bits and quail by preying on rats
and mice, which are responsible for
the loss of small game.
Mr.. Powers announced that the
opinions expressed would be taken
into consideration in deciding on
the bills, which will be reported
within the next few days.