Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1946-10-24

THIS IS WHAT WE THINK!

handle purely local County affairs Charter advocates seek
to abolish the Board of County Commissioners, which now
every week. and to substitute County Council which,
by law, cannot meet for than month out OF II
AS veterans are opposed to parttme government for
Montgomery County. We insist ful-tlme government OF
local affairs We don't want people running the county while
their annual vacation,
CHARTER PROVIDES FOR AMATEUR GOVERNMENT
We opposed, is any group interested in better
governemn the affairs of County being conducted by
officials whose only interest in the office they hold is the
salary pays and the power gives them We
more strongly opposed however having County affairs
by amateurs matter how ghmnded their intentions
NAV be- Charter guarantees amateur" government we'll
parttme government for Montgomery County because
Charter proposes that the members of the County Council
shall without compensation Advocates OF Charter
argue that this will insure the County Council being filled
with the highest type citizens who will have no interest in
salary of the office We believe that the exact opposite
will result.
1t is common knowledge large numbers of Congress
men and Federal officials resgnng their positions be-
their salaries insufficient and because they can
make money in private business. The whole trend
today increase the salaries of public officials to make
that the best be attracted to stay IN pubic
service Charter seeks to follow the opposite trend and IN
proposes that the chief legislative body OF the County
entirely without compensation.
Montgomery County is $2oOOOO0oO corporation based
on present assessed valuation 1t has approximately
10000 residents all OF whom may be considered STOCK
holders of this great corporation No man. unless ne mas
Interior motive going to assume the responsibility
running this large corporation and not be paid Tor ana
paid we'll You cannot change human nature by Charter
The Government of Montgomery County is too important
to have entrusted unpaid amateurs who will give to
their job only such time they have left over after taxing
their regular business profession from which they
their living The running of this County not spare
time job.
We don't expect want charity from public officials
We expect good service and willing to pay well
for it,
CHARTER PROVIDES FOR Lifetime" JOBS
Under Charter every important executive official OF the
County except the proposed County Manager would hold
office for life The County Council would have to re-
move County Manager but would have power to re-
move any of his subordnates department heads.
We believe that public employees in non-pOcy making
Jobs should be protected in their jobs by good Civil Service
System However, opposed to extending this protec
ton to pocymakng department heads Once Charter is
proved and these department heads appointed there is
nothing that you a voter do to these men
office The only you get chance to vote for
are the County Councmen and Charter expressly provides
that they shall power to department head
We are opposed to any policy making member of the
County Government being insulated from the will OF the
voters expressed the polls and opposed to their holding
office for life.