Evening star., 1941-03-17
Institute Report
Stirs Comment
In Montgomery
Many Leaders Favor
Major Points Made
In Brookings Survey

organization proposals 1Or MOntsOm-
cry County made public yesterday
by the Brookings Institution, today
evoked from leaders cautious re-
eponses and pleas for more time be-
fore comment.
In general, however, the civic lead
ers appeared favorable, party lead
ers were n-committal and officials
In some instances, were opposed.
The reorganization proposals were
drawn by Brookings and were made
available to the public today at the
institution. Most of the county lead
ers spent yesterday studying the
sweeping proposals, which included
creating a county manager or ad-
ministrator, a county civil service
system and a non-partisan election
setup.
Full Discussion Urged.
"This elaborate and critical report
certainly gives county citizens plenty
of food for thought" is the way
President o. M. Kile of the Civic
Federation reacted. IF it is received
on a non-political basis and studied
with the sole object of improving
the county government, this report
should ultimately be productive OF
much improvement.
1T is my hope that the federation
will take no steps toward adopting
or rejecting any part OF this report
until an extensive period of study
and discussion has elapsed. l am
taking steps to assure such pro-
cedure.
Various parts of the report are
being assigned to appropriate stand
ing committees and in a few days l
will announce the personnel OF a
special committee to consider the
report as a whole and take steps to
see that the report is widely studied
and discussed throughout the
county,
"Too Early" to Comment.
President Thomas Earl Hampton
of the County Board of Commits
sioners, which would be enlarged and
its authority limited under report
recommendations, declared sit is a
little early" to comment.
Mr.. Hampton. who heads the
United Democratic Organization OF
the county, said no plans have been
made for that group to study the
report.
James w. Gill. chairman OF
the county's delegation to the Gen.
eral Assembly, feels it is unfortunate
that the report could not have been
completed earlier, because only f1ve
days remain for introduction of loca-
bills in the present session.
From the summary appearing in
The Star" he said, 1T does ap-
pear that number of suggestions
made by the report are on subjects
to which the delegation already has
given much thought and considera-
ton, including the proposed public
hearings on the budget and pro.
posed reduction of counsel for the
various governing agencies. 1t i;
very probable that some OF these
suggestions will be enacted into Law
at this session.
Called Step Forward.
''The report is distinct step for
ward and is another indication that
both the citizens and the county
government, working hand in hand
will continue to maintain the very
best in county government.
Stanton C. Peelle, jr., another
member of the House OF Delegates,
likewise deplored the lateness of the
report IF legislation is needed to
corp out any of the recommended
tionS."
Delegate E. Brooke Lee had gotten
'shalf way through" the report yes
terday and said he would refrain
from comment until after he hao
read the complete survey.
Washington I. Cleveland, president
of the Greater Kensington Civic
League and past president of the
County Civic Federation, said today:
Montgomery County is exceed
ingly fortunate to have the benefit
of a $4,000 survey by the Brookings
Institution to point the way for a
reorganization of its county govern
ment. The Brookings Institution is
one of the most outstanding research
organizations in this country. Its
findings will be of invaluable help
In securing a solution of the govern
mental problems confronting the
county. A reading of the summary
of the report has convinced me that
every county resident should read
this document and unite in pro-
gram to bring about the reorganiZa-
ton which is set forth in its pages" :"
Police Chief Andrew NJ. Newman,
for whose Office the institution rec
ommends higher standards and
whose department was found to be
low in the solution of crimes, al
though this may be due to the
proximity to Washington, declared
he has not familiarized himself
with the survey and could not
comment.
Board Commissioner r. Watts
Farmer, who is also police and
county home commissioner, said
"f am not in a position to COM
ment." The Offices of police and
county home commissioner would
be abolished If the report recon-
mendations were adopted.
Growth Was Rapid.
Referring to the many county
governing agencies which the in
stitution would have consolidated
Commissioner John E. Oxley, Demo-
cratic member of the board, de-
clared:
I'm the rapid growth of the coun-
ty, its government has necessarily
expanded and many new depart
ments and forms of governmental
service have become necessary
These innovations have occurred at
intervals and in piecemeal fashion,
and thus no general plan for CO.
ordination was apparently con-
sidered by those who brought about
the new functions from time to
time.
"One with only short experience