Evening star., 1947-03-12
Annapolis Vote
Slated Today
0nLindsay
Improvement Bonds
For Prince Georges
Before Delegation
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor S.off CORRESPONDENT

Before Delegation
By J. B. Zotmon
St1r S.aff Correspondent
| ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 12.-The hotly
disputed bill to exempt Montgomery
County from provisions of the
Lindsay Act was to come before the
House of Delegates today for final
action.
Encouraged by their victory last
week in having the Lindsay law re-
lpealer substituted for an unfavor-
able committee report, members of
the all Republican Montgomery
delegation were confident that the
exemption measure would be passed.
1--WE won our fight once" Delegate
| r. Duncan Clark said, "and we see
no reason why we shouldn't win
again"
The Lindsay law, passed two years
ago, prohibits nonpartisan elections
of a county council in any county
having a charter form of govern
ment.
Prince Getrges Bills.
Among bills introduced In the
House were three dealing with
Prince Georges County. They would:
Authorize the county commissioners
to issue up to 100000 in bonds to
h,,;JJ n oIJ;f;or,c ~ fI,o Dr;y, "a rsoorxae
General Hospital.
Change the classification of the
hospital from class A to first class.
Allow the Mayor and Council of
Mount Rainier to borrow up to
$15o, 900 for new city hall.
The joint Prince Georges and
Montgomery County delegation sub
mitted a bill requiring that no plat
shall be received by the court clerk
of either county for recording UNI
less it has been signed and sealed
by registered land surveyor or pro-
fessional engineer.
Mr.. Clark put forward a bill to
incorporate as Chevy Chase Village
the special taxing areas of sections
l, 2 and part of la of Chevy Chase.
Bonds Proposed.
Four proposed bills, one of which
would authorize the Prince Georges
County commissioners to issue up to
81 ,000, 600 in bonds for general i'm
provements were presented to the
delegation last night by representa-
tives of the advisory board to the
county commissioners.
The delegation also heard oppos-
ing arguments at hearing on q
bill to authorize the Mayor and
Council of Cheverly to assess own
lers of property along streets need
Ting reconstruction for the cost Of
repairs.
Bills Discussed With Officials.
Earlier. the group discussed pend
ling county Legislation with the
county commissioner. Supt. Of
Schools G. Gardner Shugart and
Police Chef Ralph w. Brown. 8,
Under the bond issue bill, thefunds
would be used only in the metro
politan area and would be repaid
by a levy against property owners
there. The bonds would mature over
a 25-year period.
OF the total bonds to be issued,
100000 would be used for highway
improvements, including tree plant
ing and landscaping; acquisition Of
land for Fairgrounds and other rec
reational activities, and installation
Of lighting facilities along highways
and at street intersections.
The remaining 100000 would be
allocated to the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission for park improvements and
to help bear the cost of constructing
a building to house the Prince
Georges County Office of the COM
mission and the county engineers
staff. :
Substitute Road Bill Offered.
Another bill presented by the ad-
visory board is substitute for a
measure, already passed by the
House, authorizing the county COM
missioners to set up standards for
road construction. The substitute
would strengthen provisions of the
bill now pending before the Senate.
A third measure would empower
the county commissioners to issue a
maximum of $4,000 in bonds to-
equip recreational sites. It also
would set up a f1ve-member recrea-
ton board to be appointed by the
county commissioners.
The fourth bill submitted by the
Advisory Board is a substitute for
a measure, already passed by the
House, giving the county commits
soiners authority to fix the county
engineers salary, now set by law
Bill Defines Duties.
The substitute bill is virtually
the same as that pending before
the Senate. 1t also contains pro-
vision defining the county engi-
neer's duties.
The Advisory Board was repre-
sented by Edgar A. Merkle, chair
man, and Col. Joseph L. Aman, ex-
ecutive secretary. They were ac-
companied by Fred w. Tuemmler,
director of planning for the Mary
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, and County
Engineer Arthur w. Tayman.
Opponents of the Cheverly bill
described it as 'inequitable, unjust
and contrary to sound public pol
icy." r. j. Gordon, representing
the Cheverly Citizens Association,
contended that the cost of recon-
structing street should be taken
out of the general tax fund.
Present Taxes Seen Inadequate"
Fred w. Cast charged that the
hill is an 'unwarranted imposition
on the people who have already paid
for their streets"
Others opposing the measure in
clude B. w. Scholz and Mrs. Betty
Taynan.
Mayor James E. Conover claimed,
however, that present taxes are in
adequate to care for all municipal
| improvements, and urged that the
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