Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-01-08
Drastic Changes Dangerous
IAN EDITORIAL

Since last October 16 formal study of the Brook
ngs Institution survey of Montgomery County has been
carried on by group OF people Organized under the
Government" These so-called study groups have
been led by mea, and women who have attached them
selves unequivocaby to set OF fixed Recommendations
for drastic changes in Montgomery County's govern
mental set-up These recommendations are offered by
theoretical group of professors who admit disagree
ment on their findings and the study group leaders
have pulled out of the Bookings bag a whole new
political platform in the guise of civic betterment
As matter OF fact the Brookngs survey can De
Montgomery County but its recommendations are so
sweeping and ainclusive that they Immediately
adopted entire social and economic system In Mont
gomery County would be swept away.
Most drastic of the recommended changes in the
basic form of government in Montgomery County is
the recommendation that the people discontinue to
govern themselves through county officials elected by
their votes.
This recommendation more specifically calls for
adjustment of the Board of County Commissioners.
1t provides that under the Home Rule Amendment of
the Maryland Constitution government, consist
ing of one representative from each of nine separate
councilmanic DISTRICTS be created to govern Montgom
cry County This means simply that the people in
given district could vote for only councilman and
that the county council would be given the juris
diction and powers exercised by the County Com
missioners, PLUS the jurisdiction of the Maryland
Legislature to enact repeal any Montgomery County
local law.
Such members of a county council would serve
without pay and would be required by law to appoint
a County Manager at high salary for a long term
This would eliminate the recognized twoparty system
and elections would be between the friends and foes
of this county manager, who would be the real boss
of all public questions in Montgomery County.
But what really happen to the northern and
agricultural County under this Bookings set-up is
immensely terrifying.
Today every citizen of agricultural Montgomery
County has a vote for against five
County Commissioners, the State Senator for Mont
gomery County and all six members for the House of
Delegates. What might also be every important to
northern Montgomery County is that at present three
out of five members of the Board of County Commits
OF hx Iory hn idnnfO Of 1roI
Montgomery County. AS matter of fact, four out
agricultural Montgomery County.
Advocates of this system of county govern
ment make no definite claims as to what it will accom-
plsh Their apparent only thought is to drasticaly
change two-party system, traditionaly American,
at time when America is at War, defending it's free
dom from managerial dictator types of government
at time when the peoples thoughts preserv-
ing the Union and our present form of Government;
and at time when large percentage of citizens
away either in military civilian defense
The fact that attendance at these conferences
dwindled from $50 at the first to less than 25 at
recent sessions is conclusive evidence that the people
of the County want drastic changes. They are
content with the present setup of county government
and will be hesitant about endorsing such sweeping
changes, the results of which cannot be estimated.
They are DEMOCRATS whose conception of democ-
racy will not permit them to VOTE AWAY THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE, the Brookings report recon-
mends.