Evening star., 1941-02-21
Silver Spring
Library Bill
Introduced
Maryland Senate
Approves Marlboro
Sewage Bond Issue
BY BEN III. PEARSE,
Star Staff CnrreSnnndent

Community House for use by the
Silver Spring Library Association
was introduced in the House yes
terday by Delegates James w. Gill
and E Brooke Lee of Silver Spring
Meanwhile the Senate passed two
House bills introduced by the Prince
Georges County delegation. one au-
thorizing an $4,000 bond issue for
sewerage construction in Upper
Marlboro and another authorizing a
80 per cent increase in the tax rate
to finance the improvements.
A bill which opponents claimed
would "nullify" the 1889 law Great
ing the Maryland State Real Estate
Commission by permitting brokers
to secure a State wide license by
payment of a $25 fee in any one OF
seven counties now exempted from
the State act was killed in the
House Ways and Means Committee
A delegation from the Prince
Georges County Real Estate Board
joined State and other county real
estate men in opposing the bill.
The Gill-Lee measure would au-
thorize the Maryland-Nat Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission,
which has jurisdiction over the JeS-
sup Blair Community Center, to
build additional rooms on or near
the building for use by the Silver
Spring Library Association and to
appropriate not more than $4,000
from funds raised by the 7-cent
tax levied in the countys metro
politan area.
Must Agree on Costs.
The Board of County CommiS-
sioners would be authorized to ap-
propriate a similar amount, and
whatever remaining sum would be
necessary for construction would be
paid by the library association from
the 2-cent tax now levied on all as
sessable property in precincts l. z,
5. 7 and of the 18th election dis
triCt.
Plans and costs must be agreed
on by the Park and Planning Com
mission, the county commissioners
and trustees of the Library Board.
The Park and Planning Commission
would be authorized to service and
maintain the building as to light,
heat, janitor service and repairs,
half TO be paid by the county COM
missioners from funds of the fifth
suburban district and half by the
Park and Planning Commission
general maintenance fund.
The library has outgrown its
present quarters, and the bill will
provide the limited expansion until
a separate building can be con-
structed it was explained.
The $4,000 sewage bond issue will
enable Upper Marlboro to complete
the town sewage system authorized
two years ago The bonds must be
sold by January /, 1912, and retired
by January /, 1852. The companion
measure authorizing an increase in
the Upper Marlboro tax rate, now
So cents per 500 valuation, will
permit retirement of the sewer
system bonds, including the 5000
issue authorized in 1899. 1t will be
signed by Gov. O'Conor within the
next few days. An emergency bill,
it goes into effect Immediately so
that the increase can be made in
the 1941 levy, which must be signed
next month.
Real Estate Bill ASSaiIed.
R. M. Watkins of Calvert Hills
president. and Frank H. CoWell of
Hyattsville, secretary treasurer of
the Prince Georges County Real
Estate Board, and A H. Seiden-
spinner of Riverdale, a member of
the State Real Estate Commission,
Joined with real estate men from
Baltimore and Baltimore County in
opposing the bill introduced by
Delegate Wilbur R. Dashiell of Dor
chester County, and others, author
izing granting of real estate
license on payment of a $25 fee in
Dorchester, Calvert, Anne Arundel,
ueen Annes, st Marys, Worcester
and Hartford Counties, all of which
are exempted from provisions of
the present real estate law.
Mr.. Watkins pointed out that the
bill would make it possible for a
real estate operator whose license
had been revoked in Prince Georges,
Montgomery and Baltimore Coun-
ties for a violation of the State
Commissions regulations to evade
the ruling by securing a license in
any of the seven counties mentioned
in the bill.
Frank P. Bratten, Baltimore,
chairman of the State Commission,
opposed the proposed measure,
stating he had received no COM
plants from real estate men in the
seven counties. Philip Pitt, Balti-
more, secretary of the Baltimore
Real Estate Board, declared the
measure would permit all the sharp
practices which the State law was
passed to discourage.
Mr.. Dashiell and Delegate Louis
L. Goldstein of Prince Frederick
said the purpose of the bill was
merely to authorize real estate men
in the seven counties to be licensed
so that they would be on the same
footing as other operators in neigh
boring counties.
Delegate John S. White of Prince
Georges County, chairman of the
House Ways and Means Committee,
developed from questioning of vari-
Gus members of both groups that
the bill was introduced to forestall
a reported effort to force the seven
counties into the State Commission
setup. Delegates Dashiell and Gold
stein agreed not to press their bill
If no attempt is made to change
the status of the seven counties
now exempted.
Legislation to make the white oak
Maryland's arboreal emblem was
introduced by Delegate L. Harold
G7thor0n Demoprat of Dripoe