Evening star., 1942-10-18
Brookings Official
Denies QUESTIONING
Charters Validity
Montgomery Foes Of Plan
Distort One Pkose of
Discussion, Meriom Says

Answering a recent statement at
tributed to J. Blond Smith, counsel
to the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, that
Brookings Institution experts "ex-
pressed doubt of Montgomery Coun-
tvs charter validity" Lewis Merriam,
director of the institutions survey
staff, said yesterday that nowhere
In the report do we express doubt as
to the validity of the charter"
1t is the policy of the institution
to avoid involvement in local po-
litical issues, but this policy does not
extend to remaining silent when
grossly misleading statements as to
our recommendations are given such
wide publicity he declared
In our opinion" Mr.. Merriam as
serted, there is no question what
soever that the home-rule amend
ment to the constitution of Mary
land Is valid and that a charter
adopted in accordance with the
terms of that amendment would be
valid.
"If and when the people of Mont
gomery County adopt charter" he
said, "the Constitution specifically
transfers to them the power hereto
fore given the General Assembly to
prescribe the number, compensation,
powers and duties of the county
commissioners"
The language of the amendment is
"clear and precise" and shows con-
clusively that the intent of the
General Assembly and the people
who ratified the amendment was to
vest the specified powers hitherto
exercised by the General Assembly
with respect to the county commits
sioners in the people of the county,
If they adopt charter, Mr.. Merriam
said.
1t shows, too, he added, that the
council provided by the charter
takes the place of the county COM
missioners under the Constitution
and under the State law.
1T would, in our opinion. unques-
tionably succeed to such coming
powers as the Board of County
Commissioners now exercise under
the State law. Such a construction
would be reasonable, and any other
construction would be lagrantly un-
reasonable" Mr.. Merriam said.
Careful readers of our report will
note that we specifically advise that
any charter drawn under the home
rule amendment provide for the
election of members of the council
at large. Most of us who worked
on the county survey believe that it
would be better for Montgomery
County if all or some of the men,
bers of the council should be elected
by districts he declared.
However. he said, the amendment
did not give them specifically the
power to determine the method of
their election
Our discussion of one phase of
the constitution pertaining to the
method of election of council mem
bers has apparently been distorted
by opponents CT the charter move
ment, to make it appear that the
Brookings Institution staff ques-
toned the validity of the charter
procedure as a whole" he asserted.
This Misrepresentation of our
report makes it necessary for us to
state publicly that in our opinion
properly drawn charter would be
valid and adequate, and to give the
reasons that underlie that opinion.
We cordially agree with the suggeS-
ton that all voters themselves read
the precise language of the home
rule amendment so that they may
understand the procedures by which,
If they so elect, they can secure
power over county matters now
vested in the General Assembly," he
said.
Meanwhile Allen H. Gardner,
president of the Montgomery Coun-
ty Charter Committee, said yester-
day that the county Board of Elec
ton Supervisors had approved the
committees slate of candidates for
the charter board.
Those on the slate are Thomas
M. Anderson of Rockville. Tarlton
Brooke of Olney, Mrs. MINER Hos
teller OF Travilah, Stephen James
of Linden and Frederic P. Lee Of
Bethesda