Evening star., 1943-03-12
Civic Federation
Fights Defense
Powersbi|
Expanded Authority
Of Montgomery
Board Protested
By MRS. J. REED BRADLEY.


Charging that the defense powers
bill, as amended in the State Senate
gives the Montgomery County COM
missioners practically the same pow
ers as those sought in House bill lis,
which was withdrawn by the county
delegation after public protest, the
Executive Advisory Committee of
the Montgomery County Civic Fed
GRAFTON last night requested Gov.
O'Conor to veto the measure.
The committee also urged county
residents to write or wire the Gov
ernor before Tuesday, protesting the
bin as amended, since under new
ruling it automatically becomes law
II not vetoed before that date.
Other county civic groups also
have protested against the measure
on the ground it would give the
commissioners unlimited authority
to deal with any emergency result
ing from the war. They also charge
1t would give unlimited power of
expenditure for an unlimited time.
One Provision Removed.
The bill as it originated in the
House of Delegates. the committee
points out, specifically provided
THAT all powers. conferred by the
provisions of this act shall continue
for q period of six months after the
emergency shall cease to exist"
This provision has been removed in
the Senate bill.
With the removal of the termina-
ton clause, the committee explains,
it is doubtful or not whether the
phrase ''or for any other purpose
necessary for the preservation of
the public health, safety or well
fare" could be restricted to war
emergencies
The termination clause in the
House bill. according to the COM
mittee, made it apparent that when
the bill was read as a whole the
clause quoted above was limited to
var emergencies.
Committee Objections Listed.
The committees objections to
House bill lis, which it points out
are equally applicable to bill 101,
are summarized as follows:
Il. Bonds may be issued in un-
limited amount without providing
q referendum check on the bonds
or the project.
"2. Bonds may be issued at public
or private sale at whatever price is
deemed best by the commissioners,
with the only limitation being that
the interest yield rate be not more
than per cent.
"3. The bill should not be con-
fused with home rule under a char
ter form Of government xhereunder
there are definite statutory limits
rs TO the total bonded Indebtedness
that can be incurred by a county
and as to the amount of bonds that
can be issued in any one year with
out the approval of the voters.
Has No Referendum Safeguard.
~. The bill should not be con-
fused with home rule under a
charter form of government where
under it is hoped and advocated that
the charter provide for a referen-
dunn on any project or expenditure.
IS. The people of the county have
not decided as yet that they want
home rule and certainly have not
inundated the delegation at An
napolis to attempt to superimpose
q weak substitute for charter home
rule and without providing any of
the safeguards that would exist un-
der charter government. The
voters of the Montgomery County,
on the other hand, prescribed
mandate at the November, 1912,
election, to the effect that they
wanted to see what an unbiased,
non-political group of four men and
one woman could produce for their
examination, for their study, and
for their (the peoples) vote"