Evening star., 1946-09-25
PIatformDrafted
By Democrats
In Montgomery
Party Candidates
Oppose Charter,
Cite. Good Record

Montgomery County Democrats
today stood on their record in urging
voters to return them to office and
to vote against the charter ques-
ton In the November S general elec.
ton.
A 13-point platform in which
party candidates pledged themselves
to continue the couhty's record of
good government and the continued
furnishing of every necessary service
of local government in the most
modern and efficient manner" was
adopted unanimously last night at
a meeting of the Democratic Coun-
ty Congress at Bethesda Chevy
Chase High School.
The more than 500 delegates at
tending the meeting also approved
a resolution attacking the charter
proposal as a dangerous, unproven
and unnecessary experiment"
Got National Recognition.
Declaring that the more impor-
tant" county services recently re-
ceived national recognition and ap-
proval, the congress instructed the
various candidates to add other
planks to the platform, including
one on home rule.
The congress said the county
school system has been included
among 100 of the country's best"
schools in a recent survey by the
editors of Look magazine.
+ In addition, Is was pointed out,
the University of Chicago has To-
Gated the work of its teachers ex-
tension class in child studies in
Montgomery County while the
Teachers College of the Columbia
University Graduate School several
years ago invited the county school
system to be one of the II public
education groups to become asso-
ciated with the Teachers College Of
public education.
Low Tax Rate Cited.
In discussing each county func-
tion, the platform calls for contin-
uation of present administration
policies which have made this great
county the best place around WASH
ington in which to live"
Attention was focused in the plat
form to the basic county tax rate of
$3.50 per S100 valuation. described
by the congress as 'one of the lowest
rates in the country for a compare.
BILE community" with an equally rel
atively low assessment rate.
Experience and proven ability"
1t was declared, have demonstrated
that We can continue to meet every
reasonable need of the people Of
Montgomery County for continuing
and increased service of local gov
ernment and for local public i'm
provements without increasing the
basic county tax rate of s1.5O and
the Democratic county candidates
pledge themselves to continue this
effort
Ten Candidates Are Veterans.
The congress pointed out that 10
OF the 19 Democratic candidates for
important" county Offices are vet
Grams while asserting that the Re-
publlcans have nominated only four
veterans for county offices, three of
whom are seeking positions paying
$1,000 year each.
The county police force was de.
scrlbed as the largest in the State,
outside of Baltimore City, and sec
ond to none in efficiency"
Similar praise was given the
Health Department, which the con-
gress said was described recently bv
outside public health officials as
presenting refreshing contrast to
conditions found in other nearby
Maryland and Virginia jurisdictions
as we'll as in the District of Column.
| bia.
Other county functions reviewed
Included roads. welfare, parks. fire
protection. bond issues, storm water
drainage and zoning.
Raps Charter Board.
Among speakers who condemned
the proposal to elect a charter
board in the general election were
Roger Whiteford, Chevy Chase at
torney, who termed a charter gov
eminent the most monstrous in
strument ever conceived by the
imagination of the outs
j. Bond Smith, attorney to the
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, referred
to charter proponents as "agitators
masquerading as reformers.
Col. Hubert Schneider, Bethesda,
said the charter experiment is COM
parable to that which we recently
destroyed abroad. We have sacred
obligation TO veterans to keep the
American form of government and
defeat charter"
n %