Evening star., 1944-09-27
Both Sides C.kllIs
Misrepresentation
h Charter Fight
citizens' Opposition
Group Announces
Series Of Meetings

County with charges by both ajao1
that it, provisions are being "miS-
represented"
Meanwhile, the Cltiseus' Commit.
lee to Defeat Charter announced
The drSt Of . series Of meetinks 10
discuss the proposed new, setup ct
B:9o pm. Tomorrow ct the Aner.
wood School. Judge Albert Z.
Brault, executive secretary Of ths
eommfttee. and oeorss K. Brobek
viii speak.
The second meeting win be held
at $50 PM October 10, at the
Chevy Chase Library, Connecticut
avenue and Kirke street, with Roeer
WMteford and It. Col. Charles L.
Frailey scheduled to speak.
In statement today, Judse
Brault described as inaccurate" .
charge by TarltoQ Brooke, . mem.
Der OF the County Charter Board,
on Sunday that under the present
county government there il no limit
on bond issues or their refundinx.
AZ . result, Judge Brault quoted
Ar. Brooke - saying. interest piles
up and taxes have to be increased
to meet It,"
Cites Referendum Cls&ee,
Judge Brault declared that under
present law new county bond issues,
except refunding ones, must contain
. referendum clause II they exceed
$4,000 In any one year for new
school construction or II they are
proposed In any amount for any
other purpose.
He said the law also requires that
the frst $2oo, 900 worth Of county
bonds which come due each year
must be paid Oh and cannot be re-
funded.
"The total outstanding Mont.
gomery County bonds have been re.
duced by 81, ,478,000 since July /,
1885," Judge Brault asserted. Total
annual interest paid on outstanding
bonds has decreased from $457 ,S06 Il
In 1880 to $372, ,28l .47 In 1914"
No new county bonds have been
issued during the last five years, he
emphasized. while the total taxable
basis Of the county has increased
by $4,000. 600 to . present total Of
$l86, ,245, SIS.
Under the proposed charter, how.
ever. Judge Brault pointed out, the
refunding Of all maturing bonds Is
authorized, with q referendum to the
voters specifically prohibited" The
charter also authorizes the county
council to issue $50 900 worth Of
county bonds In any one year. with
. referendum again prohibited" ts
added.
Mandatory Debt Limit.
The only limit ON county bond
issues contained In the charter"
Judge Brault said, Els the manda.
tory limit which the State constitu.
ton places upon the total indebted
ness Of . chartered county, which
Is per cent Of that county's as
sessed property"
At present, he explained, the total
outstanding county bond issues
equal 5.0 per cent Of the total
assessed property Of the county.
On the other hand, Mrs. John H.
Werner, executive director Of the
County Charter Committee, charged
last night that charter opponents
have been "misrepresenting facts 20
as to create an imaginary condition
under charter In order that the
general public win dislike the char
ter ITSELF"
F0r example. she said opponents
have charged that county employees
under . charter form Of govern.
ment win have life tenure of ofice.
This Is not true" Mrs. Werner
emphasized. The County Council
viii be elected every four years
and the county manager can be
fired by the Council. County en-
paoyes must satisfactorily MI their
jobs according to standards set by
the personnel BOARD"
Ceurt Decisions Cited.
She also termed untrue" charges
by the opposition that the charter,
by placing Legislative and executive
functions Of government In q
county council, Is unconstitutional
because the State constitution pro-
vtces that executive, legislative and
judicial functions must be separated.
This question has been conxid-
cred In number Of court decisions,
Mrs. Werner said. Examination Of
such works q Corpus Juris' and
American Law Reports indicates
that the cases all hold such pro-
Visions not applicable to local gov.
eanments. They maintain
that provisions for the separation
Of powers apply only to the State
government and not to municipal
governments.
Mrs. Werner asserted that the
rapid growth Of Montgomery County
necesitates . form Of government
suitable to Its present size and needs,
1T u only natural" she added.
ITO expect . change In the GOV.
ernment viii be still fundamentally
democratic and yet take care OF
the governmental needs broue1t
about BY the county's rapid growth.s
80