Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-01
Decision on Charter
Ho|dsC Chief Interest
In tuesday Voting
Montgomery County
Issue Also Watched
In Other Areas
BY ALEXANDER PRESTON,

In Other Areas
BY ALEXANDER PRESTON.
Overshadowing all other issues in
Montgomery County, the long-de-
bated charter question will be de-
cided-at least temporarily-by out
right rejection or tentative accept
ance Of home rule plan at Tues
days election.
Acting under a constitutional pro-
vision adopted in 1915, the referen-
dunn has aroused Statewide interest
because Montgomery is the first
county In Maryland to avail itself of
the authority since Baltimore County
defeated charter plan shortly after
the World War.
If majority of the qualified
voters oppose the plan for a study of
q proposed home rule government,
the issue will be killed-unless resi-
dents decide to revive a similar
question at some future time.
No Certainty in Favorable Vote.
On the other hand, a majority
vote in favor of a charter board
would not make changes in county
government certainty. The board
would complete its new proposal
within six months after the cleo
ton. For the next Is months resi-
dents could debate the plan and in
November, 1914, they would decide
whether to retain the present county
commissioner system or switch to
the new proposal.
In a radio address last night, j.
Bond Smith, general counsel to the
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, revealed
that Alfred Bettman of Cincin-
natl, nationally known coming au-
thority, who recetly recommended
postponement of action on the char
ter issue, will be paid by the COM
mission for rendering his opinion.
Committee Confident.
At the same time, the Board of
Directors Of the County Charter
Committee expressed confidence
that Montgomery voters would ap-
prove establishment of a charter
board in the general election Tues
day.
Speaking over Station WRC, Mr..
Smith declared that he, In his ca
pacity as general counsel of the
Park and Planning Commission, en-
ployed Mr.. Bettman to give an
advisory opinion on the charter is
sue to the commission.
This expenditure of taxpayers
money was necessary" Mr.. Smith
asserted, because of grave public
concern which citizens and taxpay-
ers are showing over Mr. Gardner's
proposal to paralyze the county gov
eminent ="
He referred to Allen H. Gardner
president of the County Charter
Committee, who charged that Mr..
Bettman's opinion furnishes a per-
feet example of the spoils system
In operation"
Bettman's Advice Reiterated.
Declaring that Mr.. Bettman has
acted in an advisory capacity to
the commission since it was created,
Mr.. Smith said the coming expert
has received total compensation of
only 1920 during the past five years.
1T Is money well spent" he added
and neither the commission nor
] have any apologies or explana-
lions to make to Mr.. Gardner or
to any one else"
Mr.. Smith also quoted a letter
which he had received from Mr..
Bettman in which the latter reiter-
ated his assertion that under a
charter form of government, the
county governing body would func-
ton only one month of each year.
Backers Make Appeal.
In a final appeal to Montgomery
County voters, the Board of Direc-
tors Of the Charter Committee re-
minded county residents that the
vote Tuesday is only preliminary.
by voting yes" the board said
you can give go-ahead sign to the
drafting of a proposed charter fol-
submission to the voters two year:
from now.
The subsequent results, the char
ter itself, can be judged in 1914
You can take it then or reject il
then T."
Opposing sides in the controversy
will wind up the campaign tomorrow
Thomas M. Anderson, one of the fivt
nominees of the Charter Committee
for a proposed charter board, will
address Potomac residents at {
meeting at BIS pm. in the Potoma,
Elementary School.
Joseph A. Cantrel and Roger
Whiteford, two of the five person
nominated by the county commits
sioners for a charter board, also will
speak today and tomorrow.
Mr. Cantrel will speak at o'clocl
tonight over the Frederick radio>sta
ton while Mr.. Whiteford will speal
at 1890 pm. tomorrow over Station
WRC. .
Regardless of how the voter ma,
feel about the question. he is ex
pected to pull six levers in the votin
machine to record his views on tn
Issue.
First, he will be confronted by thi
question on the voting machin
panel, designated as question g.:
'Shall charter board be create
for Montgomery County,"
Above this question will be tw
levers, one to be pulled down owe
yves" and a second to be lowere
over no" Only one of these lever
should be pulled down to signify tn
voters answer.
10 Board Candidates.
In another section of the pane
adjacent to the names of the candi
dates for chief judge and associat
Judge of the 9Th Judicial Circuit, ar
listed the 10 names of candidates fc