Evening star., 1941-04-15
Federation Hits
Plea 10 Zone
For Apartments
Criticism Of Bills
For Montgomery
Is Delayed by Unit

A proposed rezoning on Massa-
chusetts avenue extended to permit
the construction of apartments
would destroy the character of an
area devoted entirely to single FAM
lily homes, the Montgomery County
MD Civic Federation contended
last night in voting opposition to
the change.
The civic body considered as an
emergency the resolution proposed
by Richard Barker which directs the
Legislative and Legal Action Com
mittee to appear at public hearings
set for May Is on the requested
rezoning.
The rezoning has been asked by
Norman B. Frost, agent, and would
involve about go acres near the Bal
timore & Ohio Railroad underpass
about three-quarterS OF a mile from
the District line The developers
plan a $5,000,000 apartment there.
Another Request Opposed.
The resolution was amended to
express opposition to a request by
George P. Sacks, president OF the
Bank of Bethesda, to rezone about
II acres on Bradley boulevard near
the railroad tracks in Bethesda to
permit construction of $1,250, 900
apartment project.
The resolution recordede the fed
Grafton as opposing the two appllca-
tions because of 'the principle that
the character of these areas and
similar acres be limited strictly 10
individual houses"
Several legislative measures put
through the recent Maryland Gen
eral Assembly by four OF the coun-
tvs delegation to the House came
in for severe criticism in debate
that took up most of the evening.
The debate centered around an ef-
fort by Washington 1. Cleveland
president of the Greater Kenslng-
ton Civic League, to have the led
Grafton consider as an emergency
matter a resolution condemning the
legislators sponsorship OF seven
Montgomery County bills.
The Executive and Advisory Com
mittee, headed by Stephen James,
declined to bring in report that
the critical resolution be consid-
cred as an emergency, and the en-
suing debate heard the bills heated
" defended and condemned.
Quinn's Letter Cited.
Proponents of immediate action
contended that a recent letter by
Carey Quinn, chairman of the Leg
islatiye and Legal Action Commit
tee, to the legislative delegation in
dicated the federation had favored
most of the major county bills
passed by the Assembly.
A subsequent letter from Mr..
Quinn explained this was not the
attitude of the committee or the
federation, because full considera-
ton had not been given the meas
ures. The Executive and Advisory
Committees efforts to defeat the
Cleveland proposal eventually pre-
vailed, Is to 18.
The bills under fire were referred
to appropriate standing committees
for report in the future, however.
The four legislators were the tar
get of another attack in resolu-
ton adopted opposing their passage
of q bill to authorize a referendum
on pari-mutuel betting on jai alai
In Montgomery County. The bill was
introduced in the closing days OF
the session and stirred up opposi-
ton from scores of organizations
and hundreds of county residents.
The sponsors have since withdrawn
their support.
In the resolution approved last
night, the federation condemned
"the reprehensible practice of per-
verting the rules of the General
Assembly by the introduction of
ill-considered legislation, not OF an
emergency nature, and thereby at
tempting to force this matter upon
the people
The resolution requested Gov.
O'Conor to veto the bill.
The federation approved a resolu-
ton by Dwight Collins asking the
County Board of Education to re-
quest the County Board of Commis-
sioners to authorize the employment
of architects for plans and to receive
bids on schools which are needed to
complete the school construction
program by September.
A second measure by Mr.. Collins
asks the Board of Education to pur-
chase, whenever practicable and on
equally favorable terms, school sites
not adjacent to property which has
already been developed for private
homes. The reason given was that
many people object to living next
to a school,
Allen H. Gardner. chairman OF a
special committee, reported on prog
ress made in distributing copies OF,
and stimulating public interest In
the Brookings Institution report on
the county government.
On motion of Walter DeGroot, a
committee will be named to study
the effect of apartment house and
low-cost individual housing projects
on the county.