Evening star., 1947-04-16
Board Studies
FireCode Plea
IN Montgomery
Bethesda Requests
Creation Of Office
Of County MorshoI

Of County MurshuI
The Montgomery County Board Of
Commissioners today was studying q
request Of the Bethesda Fire De-
partment to create the Office Of fire
marshal and adopt uniform
countrywide fire code.
G. Wady Tmirie, chairman Of a
special committee appointed by the
fire department, explained in let
ter to the commissioners yesterday
that the county building code of 1927
Is at present the nearest thing to
q fire code.
1T seemed adequate then," he as
serted, "but the time has long passed
for such code to meet our present
growth and demands. Buildings and
homes have been built without re-
gard to proper safety measures"
Inspections Cited.
He added that inspections by the
fire department have revealed exit
doors in public and private schools
locked and "craSh-door hardware
not in working order"
The exit door, he further charged.
in at least one local theater" was
found during an inspection to be
locked.
Many stores and Office buildings.
he continued, have only one means
OF exit wherein the code (of 1920
requires two" Trash has also been
found in the Easements of various
public buildings, he added.
he recommended that fire code
be drawn up which would be SINH
lar to that in effect in the District.
Sedgewich Quits Post.
Byron Sedgewick, appointed pub.
lie relations officer to the commits
sloners two months ago, announced
his resignation yesterday.
He gave as his reason for quitting
the post, which pays 50, 400 a year.
the necessity for devoting his time
to personal business.
The commissioners voted to allow
pablum and canned milk once more
on the official diet at the Animal
Shelter on the East West highway.
Both items were banned by the
commissioners several months ago
IN an economy move.
Col. Stanford Chester, president
OF the Animal Rescue League of
Montgomery County, and William
A. Neacey, president of the Dog
Owners Association, Inc.,- told the
board milk and pablum are neces-
sary to keep the young dogs at the
shelter in good health.
Both men said they are not op-
posed to a suggestion previously
offered by Brooke Johns, chairman
of the Board of Commissioners.
that stray dogs which might kill
livestock be shot. They said the
plan should be carried out with
care" however.
Salary Cut Protested.
Mrs. Beulah McCuen, Mayor Of
Glen Echo, wrote the commissions
erS, protesting a recent reduction
OF her salary as justice of the peace
from $43 a month to $25 a year.
She pointed out that she receives
no salary as Mayor. No action
was taken on the letter.
At the same time the commission
erS voted to reduce the salary of
another justice of the peace, James
P. Doten Of Silver Spring, from $65
TO $25 a month.
They also increased the salary Of
Fred Heine, clerk to the trial magis-
trate IN Silver Spring, from $25 to
500 a month until May /, at which
time his term expires. The COM
missioners had reduced his salary
from 500 two weeks ago.
Salary OF Paul Taggart, who the
board said Is part-time zoning
officer, was discontinued. The COM
missioners reported Mr.. Taggart was
being paid $3.50 year both by the
commissioners and the Park and
Planning Commission.
Isl Properties Sold.
John B. Diamond, county collector
OF taxes, reported that Isl properties
have been sold by the county for
nonpayment of taxes. The county,
he added, bought back IA of them
for total of $40.
A petition from the Bradley School
Parent-Teacher Association urged
the commissioners to meet the full
school budget "even If it means the
tax rate is increased"
Mr.. Johns asked for opinions Of
those present at the meeting on
daylight saving time. The discus
sion was called off after rural dwell
ers noted their opposition while the
suburban residents spoke in favor Of
such a move.
A delegation from the County
Council of Cooperative Nursery
Schools asked the commissioners to
assign some legal place for nursery
schools IN the county education set
up.
Nursery Schools Seek Rights.
The delegation included represen-
tatives of the Glenbrook Nursery
School on Old Georgetown road in
Bethesda.
Last week the commissioners had
granted the school permission to op-
crate temporarily after the Bethesda
fire department had ordered 1t
closed for alleged lack of safety pre-
cautions.
James G. Christopher, attorney for
the school, told the commissioners
Yesterday that cooperative nursery
schools, In his opinion, are exempt
by law from licensing requirements.
Brook Johns, chairman of the
board, said that under the circum-
stances the board would have to
grant the school indefinite permis-
sion to operate, pending Qualification
OF the legal point raised by Mr..
Christopher.