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

The Veterans Better Government Group formed in
Montgomery County to provide veterans with means of
expressing their views group local governmental
matters. 1t is strictly nonparsan organization and well
members all veterans regardless of political aila
ton 1t hopes to take active part each major
mental matter as it arises in the County
THE CHARTER QUESTION
The most pressing governmental problem facing the
County at this time is the CHARTER question For the
information of those veterans who when the
CHARTER question raised in 1912 and 1914 this ques
ton involves proposal abolish present form of Coun-
ty Government and replace with something entirely
Although the CHARTER question defeated in 1914 it
has been revised and will appear the ballot the election
in November The people who urging that this change
be made the who urged it in 1912 and
services devotng their time and rskng their lives to the
task of wipng out alien doctrines abroad Fortunately we
betrayed by the folks at home the in 1918
the Prohibition question and we now have fair
opportunity of meeting the issue.
careful consideration and analysis the Veterans
Better Government Group has concluded that the best inter-
ests of veterans and the best interests of the County
whole will be served the CHARTER question defeated in
November In making this analysis we have not allowed
ourselves misled by the labels of Good Government
and Reform which the Charter advocates place upon their
movement and to which they claim exclusive title
CHARTER VIOLATES TRADITIONAL AMERICAN
GOVERNMENTAL PHILOSOPHY
The United States Constitution separates legislative,
executive and judicial functions of government and sets up
system of clearly defined checks and balances Our Mary
land Constitution we'll the Constitution OF all other
states adopts the philosophy OF separation OF egsa
tive, executive and judicial functions .
Charter chooses to Ignore these wen established gude
in the body, the County Council
We opposed to this undesirable unAmercan deviation
from the basic political doctrine in this country.
CHARTER PROVIDES FOR PART-TIME GOVERNMENT
Article ia of the Maryland Constitution requires that
any Charter for county must include provision that the
County Council which is to be the chief legislative agency OF
the County Government shall not meet more often than one
month any year for the purpose of egsang No provs
ion is made for meeting often to deal with emergencies
special circumstances All local legislation must be passed
during this month with the result that during II months
of every the County is without legislative body
authorized to act.
Charter advocates point support of this month
limitation that the Maryland Constitution also PROVIDES that
the State Legislature shall meet only for period OF 80 days
each years They conveniently forget however, that the
Governor call the State Legislature into session at any
time to meet emergency special circumstances No such
emergency provision be written into the proposed Char
ter since the Constitution authorize it. Furthermore
Charter advocates forget that there need for the state
Legislature remaining in continuous session lnasmucn as te
local Board of County Commissioners is always available to