Evening star., 1942-09-06
Charter Board
Issue CIouded
In Montgomery
Many Appear to
Believe Vote Is on
Brookines Report
Bv ALEXANDER r. PRESTON.

By ALEXANDER r. PRESTON.
Montgomery County voters are
'acing one of their most important
ssues, whether or not to sign petit
ions asking the County Commits
,ioners to appoint a Charter Board.
If 20 per cent of the county's 40,-
700 voters sign such a petition the |
must nominate
BOARD. The names of the nominees, |
together with candidates for the |
board who may be nominated inde- |
pendently, would then appear on !
the ballot for the general election
In November.
Most persons asked to sign the
petition, which is being circulated
by the County Charter Committee,
will either sign or refuse because of
views they hold concerning report
by the Brookings Institution on the
county's government.
The Brookings report, however, has
no immediate bearing on the issue
that now faces the voters, because
the board, if named, merely would
formulate plan of government. 1t
could do nothing toward putting
that plan into effect.
Would Have Two Years.
The voters would have about two
years to make up their minds on
the Brookings plan, any modifica-
ton of it or an alternate proposal
drafted by the Charter Board.
Presumably the boards task would
be easier If it used the Brookings
recommendations as guide. But
the board would not be required to
use the report. It could ignore 1t
entirely If it desired.
AS one petition signer in Ken
wood said, there is nothing to stop
the Charter Board from recon-
mending plan so totally unac-
ceptable that the voters would re-
ject it overwhelmingly" resulting
in retention of the present COM
missioner form of government.
The voters are safeguarded against
any plan the board might propose
because its adoption would depend
entirely on the outcome of a ref
erendum in 1914 in which a ma
jority vote would prevail.
Instead of limiting their argu-
ments to the simple issue of whether
or not to sign the Charter, Board
petition, however, all factions of the
controversy have become involved
In extraneous debate. Heated cam
paigns have been conducted through
the county press, attacking the
patriotism, politics and motives of
the various leaders of both sides.
Reaction of People Sought.
It's no wonder that the public is
confused and because of this ap-
parent confusion the reactions OF
the people themselves were sought.
Those interviewed are registered
voters They were approached for
comment as a Charter Committee
worker canvassed two blocks in
Kenwood for signatures. Here are
their comments:
First house-Man and wife do not
necessarily believe they would vote
for charter form. The man "is not
SO blind as to think no possible i'm
provement can be made" His vote
in 1914 would depend on report Of
| Charter Committee. He is not will.
ing to adopt all of Brookings' rec
ommendation without further study
Both signed.
Second house-Man would favor
a thoroughly non partisan anc
sound" form of government; al.
most any kind of change would be
healthy; favors some sort of coun.
ty-manager plan with an admin
| istrator relieving governing body o!
duties; thinks Democrats and Re-
publicans are seeking to gain con-
troll of county government to in
trench themselves in power-"they
both SMELL; thinks voters of Beth
esda-Chevy Chase area better in
| formed about pending question. Mar
and wife signed.
Got No Signatures.
Third house-Man, understood tC
lean toward Democratic machine
now in power, was not at home; he
does business with county govern
ment, and petition worker doubts
he would have signed anyway: wife
was Ill and not questioned. No sig
natures.
Fourth house-Husband Is not
registered voter, but wife Is. Shs
believes county administrator under
governing body is best plan anc
cites system in Arlington County
as example; both she and her hus-
band oppose "the present machine
control of government" both fee
present issue is not clearly under
stood and that most people think
pending question is adopting a char.
ter form of government. She signed
Fifth housewife Is a civic work
er for organization which raise:
funds and would not sign for feal
! of losing support of her cause by
those who favor present form; hus,
band Is in business where his inter.
ests might be hurt If he signed, hi
said; both favor improvements tc
present system. No signatures.
Wants "Shake-up."
Sixth house-Man feels would bt
good idea to have a "shake-up"
says a charter board would have the
healthy effect of keeping the ad'
ministration on its toes and serve
notice for them to behave; fears
that county commissioners woulc
nominate charter board that woule
deliberately sabotage" charter
movement by reporting a totally
unacceptable plan in 1914; doubts
that capable charter board members
could be drafted to perform then
duties without compensation; feels
arguments by both sides have be-
clouded the issue now pending; mar
and wife sign.
Seventh house-Man Is officer ir
armed forces, is not certain if he Il
allowed to sign, but expresses sym.
pathy with movement and urges hi;
wife to sign. Both agree that move
ment sis step In the right direc-
tion," but neither processes exten.
sive knowledge of charter plan. She
thinks "the politicians" have toe