Evening star., 1944-10-31
Anti-Churter


Az far rs future estimates can be
certain, the charter would bring
higher taxes. The supporters OF
the charter have not, after three
years campaigning, stated any sim
lgle economy they expect to ac-
complish in the operation Of any
of the several score services Of the
county government. Their most re-
cent pamphlet contains agitated
last-minute language about greater
general economy, which economies,
however. continue totally underlined,
as do most Of the Utopian promises
in the name OF the charter.
The easiest thing to do with pub
lie money is for the ofiicisls with
spending jurisdiction to spend.
Economy only results when the pub
lie ofiicials who practice the econ
omy have some reasonably strong
voting or political support of and
for their practice of economy.
Every uneconomical group, from
the standpoint Of public spending,
In Montgomery County is now sup
porting the charter. This includes
any group Of county citizens who
think that any existing service Of
the county government has hitherto
received too little financial support
as well as any group who desire q
new service Of county government
such as socialized medicine, or great
er spending for welfare, or for spe-
cial education for backward chill
dren, etc.
Services Declared Ample.
Most OF the conservative people of
the county and most of the local
business and professional people, In
cluding particularly the substantial
taxpayers, are opposed to the charter
partly from the very definite fear
that it will greatly increase taxes.
They are of the opinion that both
the services and the cost Of the
county government are as ample and
have increased as fast as the county
can afford. Their general opinion
is cited in confirmation Of the belief
that charter will raise taxes both
sharply apd regularly.
Charter can mean, and probably
will mean, a shift In tax burdens,
both by areas and classes. The
charter strikes down most Of the
checks and balances that have been
developed In the American system
of government and increases the
velocity with which local changes in
law and tax plans and practices can
be made. BY outlawing the two
party system in county elections, 1t
increases the, Importance Of the
pressure groups or sectional groups.
That means that since the several
thousand Montgomery County resi-
dents with really large incomes
would, through q high -bracket In
come tax, contribute enough to the
country treasury to pay for, say,
socialized medicine and the opera
ton Of several other widely enjoyed
isms which would please many thou
sands Of voters, that this relatively
small group Of high-income people
are in considerable danger Of hay-
Ing the County Council, which is SUBJ
ject to no veto, pass . high bracket
county income tax law. Any small
group OF potential taxpayers that
could be tapped for 1 relatively large
return to the county treasury can.
except such treatment under char
ter.
Obviously, II the creation of spe-
ctal road or school districts. with
special road or school taxes, will be-
advantageous to the 1900 voters Of
the Silver Spring Takoma Park Sec
tion and the n, 900 voters Of the Re-
thesda- Chevy Chase section, such
school OK road special taxing dis
tricts win Be created whether the
1900 voters In Rockville, Gathers
burg and the agricultural county
He It or not.
Since special taxing areas are cre-
lied BY local law and the State con-
BtttuttOn gives the County Council
local legislative power lnGsr char
ter Tho G0a1rtw Cs0AsY,ri1 W14Y nnr