Evening star., 1942-01-13
Action Deferred
On Charter Form
For Montgomery
Civic Group Stages
Bitter Debate Over
Election Petition


debate, the Montgomery County
Civic Federation last night ad-
journed without taking any action
on a resolution calling for circu-
lation of petition among registered
voters of the county for the estab-
lishment of a charter form of gov.
ernment.
The meeting. said by some to have
been one of the most bitter in the
federation's history, was marked by
much involved parliamentary pro-
cedure.
The resolution was sponsored by
Allen H. Gardner, chairman OF a
special committee that studied the
Brookings report on the county gov
ernment. He emphasized that il
the resolution were adopted it would
not bind the federation to advocate
a change of government in the
county, but merely would put the
issue before the voters.
Procedure Explained.
The petition would have to be
signed by 20 per cent of the voters.
Then, provision would have to be
made for the citizens to vote at the
1912 general election for or against
creation of a charter board and for
five persons to serve on the board.
If the vote favored the establish
ment of a board. the board would
be required to draw up a charter
for the county within six months
following the election. At the 1914
general election the charter would
be submitted to the voters for
adoption or rejection.
The most important feature of q
charter form of government. Mr..
Gardner explained, Is legislative
home rule. This means, he said,
that all laws relating to Mont
gomery County would be enacted by
a county council, subject to the Gov
ernor's veto.
That county council, he added,
might have any desired number of
members. They could be elected on
a party ticket or as non -partisans.
They probably would be elected at
large, similar to the present election
OF the county commissioners. rather
than by districts, he continued. un-
less the voters wish to amend the
State constitution expressly to per-
NIT election by districts.
Restrictions Conceded.
Mr.. Gardner conceded that there
would be certain restrictions in a
charter form of government For
example. the County Council could
not enact laws for any Incorporated
town or taxing area.
Describing the resolution as "de-
ceptive," Hugh Framton said the
measure was "utopian" and should
not be adopted
Although Mr. Gardner's resolu-
ton claims that a charter form OF
government will promote the general
good of the whole county" he said.
there are 81 taxing districts and
incorporated towns that would not
be affected by such an innovation"
Asked by Richard B. Barker if
he favored putting the issue of a
charter form of government before
the voters, Mr.. Frampton replied
that he was not because such a
petition would fool" the voters.
He added he would be unwilling to
draft a resolution that would be
more satisfactory.
Proposal Called COURAGEOUS"
James w, Gill termed the resolu.
ton amazing and outrageous.
AT time when we are fighting
to preserve democracy in this coun-
try" he declared, you are asked to
abolish the county government that
was formed by some of the same
men that set up our great National
Government"
In asserting the measure would
convert the organization into a
political club. Mr.. Gill warned the
members that If they campaigned
for such petition they would be-
come tablet penalties of the Hatch
Act and of the State Corrupt Prac-
tices Act.
To this, however S. P. Rosser said
that the resolution didn't 60 far
enough and that I'VE ought to have
character enough to campaign for
what we think is right"
After motions to postpone action
on the resolution until next months
meeting and to postpone action in
definitely had both been voted down,
Carey E. Quinn asked for a roll call
vote on an amendment prohibiting
participation by federation MEM
bers in the circulation of the Brook
ings petition.
When members shouted that Mr..
Quinn was trying to halt discussion
on the resolution the federation sud-
denly adjourned on a motion by H.
D. AmiSs.