Evening star., 1944-12-20
Merit System,
Manager Urged
.InMontgon1ery
Ten-Point Program
Given Planners by
Legislators Leader

the principal measures advocated
by proponents of a charter form O.
government for the county, were
submitted last night by James w
Gill, chairman Of the county's dele.
cation to the State Legislature ant
a charter opponent, at a meeting
of the committee in the Woodsid.
Elementary School, Silver Spring
They were referred to a specia
committee on county government.
In statement accompanying tn,
proposed program, Mr.. Gill poiptee
out that postwar planning shoule
include planning in good govern.
ment" as well as the construction Of
roads and highways.
Speaks for Himself.
mo matter how we'll we may de
our planning of the physical de.
velopment of the county," Mr.. Gil,
declared, IF we do not keep pace
with the planning and development
OF the legal and practical admins
tration of government, all our plans
will come to naught."
He also asserted that there has
been entirely too much of a tend
ency on the part of our citizens
to consider every suggestion for i'm
provement of the county admins.
tration from a strictly partisan
viewpoint. We must place the EN-.
phasis squarely on good govern.
ment, rather than on partisan DO
litics."
Mr.. Gill added that he spoke
only for himself, not for any group
faction or political organization
He said he did not recommend the
adoption Of any part Of the pro.
posed program, but merely presented
1t to the committee for study.
Proposals Made.
Proposals included in the program
are:
l. Enactment Of legislation givine
the county commissioners broader
powers over finance and AUTHORIZING
them to determine the number O,
employees in particular office 20,
to do great number of other thing.
of a purely local nature"
Mr.. Gill emphasized he did no,
favor giving the county home rule
as proposed BY charter advocates.
2. Establishment of a civil servic,
system to cover all county employe.
whose work is not Of a policy deter.
mining, executive or SUPERVISOR
nature. At present. only the county
police force is included in a meril
system. Mr.. Gill also proposed the
appointment by the commissioner,
OF a civil service commissioner TO,
term not less than years at 3
salary Of approximately Sc 900 a year
3, Appointment of a county man.
ager at an annual salary of 50 ,O0t
with full-time administrative as.
sistants in the Silver Spring, Be.
thesda and Rockville County Build.
ings. These assistants would tax.
over the duties of the clerk to thu
county commissioners and the chic,
clerks of the suburban district com.
missioners at Silver Spring and Be.
thesda.
County Purchasing Agent.
Declaring that the county com.
missioners would continue to be the
duly elected representatives of ths
people OF the county with full execu.
tive and administrative responsible.
ties" Mr.. Gill said the propose
would vest the efficient co-ordina
ton and operation OF the variou.
services Of the county in one per.
son."
4. Enlargement and more efficient
utilization" Of the Office of county
engineer. 1t was proposed to in.
clude the maintenance and repai,
Of all county roads and all public
buildings, including schools, in tn,
county engineers Office.
S. Appointment of a county pur.
chasing agent for a four-year tern
at an adequate" salary.
6. REORGANIZATION of the county
Juvenile Court procedure with thu
possibility Of employing additiona
professional workers and probation
officers.
7. An "impartial' survey of the
county school system. Asserting
that any dissatisfaction" which NAV
exist over the operation of the
school system is caused by wartime
problems, Mr.. Gill emphasized that
there would be a better under.
standing of the difficulties facing
our schools today and a widespread
appreciation Of their accomplish.
ments' If survey was made.
Fiscal Proposals.
8. Payment in full of all maturing
county bonds out of current revenue
While declaring that excellent
progress has been made toward this
goal in recent years, Mr.. Gill sal
the "time has come to pay all OF
our maturing bonds as they become
due out of current revenue"
9. Re-examination of the county
tax structure. Mr.. Gill pointed out
that at present the tax rate varies
from $1.62 per 500 assessed valua-
ton to $2.32, depending on where
the particular home owner lives
while the tax bill may require pay
ment "of three or more of the 40
odd separate tax funds collected by
the county"
mot only should each of these
taxes be examined to determine ii
they can be consolidated in the in
terest of efficiency" he explained
"but the relative areas covered
should be checked to see If some
consolidation or Standardization can
be made, at least in the suburban
areas"
10. Inspection of the relationships
between the county and incorporated
towns and special taxing areas. Mr.,
Gill explained that many towns and
special taxing areas now use county
water registration, assessing and
tax billing and collection services
without charge, even though they
receive from the State share of
the gasoline tax, road and corpora