Evening star., 1944-10-03
Hayden and Morgan
Debate Charter Merits
|Af Citizens Meeting
Columbus u. Deon Praises
Merit System; Attorney
Fears Bureaucracy

/ SSbS 0bS0 - MI
The Rollingwood Citizens Asso
citation last night heard representa-
tives of both sides debate the pro
posed charter form of government
for Montgomery County.
Dean James J. Hayden of Colum
bus University Law School, speak
ing in favor Of the new government,
compared the charter system to tn
organization Of successful bushes
corporations, and declared II woul,
install the merit system in tn
county and replace the spoils sys
tenn now in use."
|. 10 v. Morgan, attorney, called tn
charter setup unconstitutional II
that it failed to make distinc
separation Of legislative and execu
tive powers.
Selection of Manager.
Dean Hayden asserted that tn.
charter government Is designed Il
provide larger measure OF rea'
home rule for the people Of Mont.
gomery County. He pointed oul
that the county manager would bs
selected by the County Council fol
his administrative ability, and tina,
he would "act as the general man.
ager for county business without
regard to political consideration anc
with the sole eye for a good Job OF
an economical basis, and could no
be fired by the County Council"
He described the charter form O.
government As intelligent" anc
"efficient" and declared that party
politics have been proved unneces.
sary in effective county government
by 562 municipalities and 8 countie.
throughout the country using ths
council-manager form OF govern.
ment.
Mr.. Morgan. a member of tn,
Montgomery Housing Authority
called the lack of compensation fol
members Of the County Council a,
provided IN the charter absurd
and dangerous" He said person,
able to accept such ofIices would b,
relatively rich persons or those whit
have axes to grind or have ulteriol
motives
Fears Bureaucracy.
He declared the charter affects few
elective ofices, but sets up a bu
reaucracy and provides for many
departments. He pointed to thu
confusion" he said would be in.
herent in the system.
MIR. Morgan said that once the
charter is adopted, despite argu.
ments OF charter proponents to tn.
contrary. there would be no lega
or valid way to end it.
The effort of the charters author
to keep the matter of county govern
ment out Of politics he described a
clumsy" The purpose would b,
thwarted, he declared, by the provi
sion that election of the Count,
Council would be on the same da,
as that o fthe States attorney, cleri
OF court, register of wills and othel
such officers.
There is nothing to preyen
either major party or any othe
group from having their candidate
for the county Council, and from
handing to voters as they 60 in t,
the polls, a sample ballot indicatin,
how they should vote" he said.
Other Talks Scheduled.
Stephen James, member of tn,
charter board, will speak on tn,
charter at $50 o'clock tonight be,
fore the County B'nai Birth at til,
Liquor Dispensary Building in Sill.
yer Spring.
In other talks, Mrs. Alice Hos.
teller, also a member of the Char.
ter Board, will address a dinner
meeting Of the Quota Club at ths
Columbia Dining Room tonight.
Tomorrow, Mrs. John H. Werner
director of the Charter Committee
will speak at noon meeting Of thu
Silver Spring Rotary Club. In tht
evening, John Willmott, chairman
OF the research group of the Charter
Committee, will talk to the Rocl
Greek Forest Citizens Association a
the Rock Creek Recreation Center
Tomorrow night, James Hayden
Will take the charters side in debate
with q charter opponent before the
Sligo Brandview Citizens Association
at Montgomery Blair High School
Herman G. Loeffler, Somerset, viii
speak for the charter at the home
OF Carson Lyman at Bannockburn.
AT an open meeting for resident.
OF Potomac tomorrow night in ths
Potomac School, the Charter Com
mlttee will present Earl Miller, Alts
Vista, and a Government tax exper
as speakers.