Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-09-24
Charter Held
Protection for
|Up-County Area
RuruI Section Given
3 Council Members,
Brooke Declares

SsSSsNS SSSsSsSS
Approval of a charter form Of
government for Montgomery County
at the November election would
give rural residents protection they
are now denied" according to Tarl-
ION Brooke, county farmer and a
of the Charter Board which
drafted the proposed charter.
Meanwhile, the County Citizens
Committee to Defeat Charter an
bounced last night that plans are
under way to mail copy Of the
charter, together with the commit
tees analysis of it's various lex.
perimental and arbitrary" proW-
sions, to at least one member of
each voting family in the county
either this week or during the first
10 days of next month.
Declaring that printing and adj
dressing copies of the charter, with
postage, will cost approximately
So 900, the committee asked for con.
Attacks Present System.
In his statement, Mr.. Brooke
pointed out that at present all local
laws are sponsored by the county's
legislative delegation of seven per-
sons, six of whom are from the
suburban area. The State Senator.
he added, also is resident of the
suburban area.
Under the proposed charter, how
ever, Mr.. Brooke explained, county
legislation will be enacted by a
county council, with the rural area,
with only about one-quarter of the
county's population, represented by
at least three of the nine council
members.
The suburban area of the county
"is given only two members" Mr..
Brooke said, while the remaining
four are elected at large. He as
serted that some" of these four
members will come from the rural
area since suburban residents will
vote for whomever they believe to
be best for the job.
Financing Criticized.
In addition, Mr.. Brooke declared
that large proportion of county
employees are from "up-county"
areas. Under the proposed civil
service system in the charter, they
would be assured of their jobs with
out being politically obligated,
spending time on political activi-
ties or finding it advisable to make
political contributions, he said.
Mr.. Brooke also pointed out that
under the present system. there is
no limit on bond issues or their
refunding. AS a result, he said.
interest piles up and taxes have to
be increased to meet it.
The charter, on the other hand.
limits the amount of bonds issued
in any one year to one-fourth of l
per cent of the assessed valuation.
according to Mr.. Brooke. The only
exception to this rule is by a favor
able vote on a referendum. New
bonds cannot be refunded, he said.
The charter is the best chance
the up-county farmers have to hold
down debt, bring about economies
and, in consequence make it possible
to reduce taxes" Mr.. Brooke en-
phasized.
Lack Full Understanding.
In announcing its plan to send
copies of the proposed charter as
we'll as an analysis of its provisions
to county voters, the Citizens Com
mittee to Defeat Charter said that
there is a general and alarming
lack Of definite knowledge and UNDER
standing of the charter among the
general citizenry of the county and
even among political workers and
speakers who favor the charter
The committee emphasized that
"the only chance the charter has
for adoption is through this failure
to understand the meaning of its
provisions.
Fear also was expressed that thou
sands of emergency warworkers now
living in the county, but who ex-
pect to leave within the next few
years. may vote for the charter I'm
the mistaken belief that it is a
Utopian method of getting rid Of
anything that any one does not like
in local government"
TT Is our firm opinion, however, :"
the committee declared, that sem
sible, self-governing people who be-
lieve in the Importance of the
American system nf life and govern
ment will not be willing, after read
ing this analysis and comment to
vote it upon themselves or even
upon an American community
which thousands Of them expect to
leave during the years immedi-
ately ahead"
Fear Power of Officials.
AT the same time, the committee
reiterated its charge that voters, in
approving the charter, would vote
power away from themselves" to
county department heads and off,
Gals who would be given life tenure
in Office.
The committee also charged that
State laws provide no method of
repeating such 4 setup, once ap-
proved. There is grave legal
doubt" the committee said, whether
any plan of repeal. even that men,
toned in the cnarter itself, would
prove effective because there is no
method, approved by the State Con-
stitution and laws. to resubstitute
the present form of county gov
eminent should the people find the
charter SO burdensome that they
would initiate ana approve a ref
erendum to repeal it,"