Evening star., 1947-01-22
Non-party Vote
Asked by Bill for
CountyCounciI
Lindsay Act Exemption
Sought in Montgomery
Under Charter Rule
BY J. B. Zotmon
S&ov Stoff co,rsscondent

BY }. B. Zotmon
Ssas Stoff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. pa bill
exempt Montgomery County fror
provisions Of the Lindsay Act, whicl
prohibits nonpartisan election Of
county council in any county hav
ing a charter form Of government
was to be introduced today In tn
House by the all-Republican Mont
gomery delegation.
The group also was to submit
bill eliminating the position o
supervisor of school property In tn
county.
Meanwhile, two bills affectin
Prince Georges County were bein,
studied by the county delegation
having been introduced In the Hous'
yesterday.
One would increase the salaries o
circuit court bailiffs from 50 to S
per day. The other would raise tn,
salaries Of circuit court criers from
$3.50 to IS per day.
Guide on Future Voting Seen.
The bill to repeal portion Of tn,
Lindsay Act is expected to deter
mine the chances of passage in tn,
predominantly Democratic House
Of future major measures put for.
ward by the Montgomery delegation
Present party representation In the
House consists of 81 Democrats ane
36 Republicans.
Members of the Montgomery
County delegation expressed the
hope, however, that their bill, while
admittedly controversial one
would not be voted on along party
lines as 1t is purely local in scope.
They pointed out that Democratic
delegations from other counties will
think twice" about opposing the
measure since they may need help
In putting over their own bills.
In addition, Anders r. Lostrand,
jr, chairman of the Montgomery
County group, said delegates from
other areas have expressed "sympa-
thy" with the bill.
Lee Is Criticized.
The Montgomery County delega-
tons decision to introduce the bill
today was accompanied by state
ment from the group sharply criti-
cizing E. Brooke Lee, county Demo-
cratic leader for his action Monday
night in placing on delegates desks
an appeal to vote against such a
measure. In the appeal, MIR. Lee
declared there is mo reason, poliU-
cal or governmental, to attempt to
do in Montgomery County or to do
to the people of Montgomery County
what is not t5 be done to the voters
Of other portions of the State.
ITO break down the two-party
system and the direct primary sys-
tenn in Montgomery County" he said,
would embark Maryland on a pro-
gram to eliminate both systems.
Members of the Montgomery dele
CATION recalled that the proposed
county charter defeated in 1914 con-
tained q provision for non-partisan
election of a county council. They
charged that the Lindsay Act was
passed the following year by the
Legislature to prevent such pro-
vision becoming law If charter
proposing non partisan elections was
approved by the voters.
Charter Due for 1913 Vote.
The Montgomery County Charter
Board now is drafting a proposed
charter to be voted on in the 1948
general election. 1t is not yet known
whether a non-partisan election pro-
vision will be included in the charter.
Charging that Mr.. Lee "has gone
behind our backs to the other dele
gates" the Montgomery County
group asserted:
"Not once has Mr.. Lee ever con-
suited the delegation from his own
county concerning such a bill. His
action is just another example OF
this familiar railroading tactics
which proved successful in previous
sessions of the General Assembly
but which will fail at this session" !"
r. Duncan Clark, member OF
the Montgomery group, stated that
the bill has nothing to do with
other counties, He explained the
measure merely permits the in
clusion of a nonpartisan election
provision in q Montgomery County
charter, "if the Charter Board so
decides. There is nothing compul-
sorry about it," he declared.
Commissioners Select Supervisor.
With regard to the bill to abolish
the post supervisor of school prop
erty, the delegation said such a
measure will enable Montgomery
County to conform with other coun-
ties jim the State, each of which has
an assistant superintendent of
schools appointed by the School
Board. Under the present Mont
gomery setup, delegation members
said, the supervisor of school prop
erty is appointed by the county
commissioners.
AS q result of this system, accord
ing to Mr.. Clark. the superintendent
of schools has no control over the
man who manages school property.
Mr.. Clark said the delegation also
is studying a bill to have School
Board members appointed by the
Circuit Court judges. At present,
they are named by the Governor.
|. Politics in Schools Is Charged.
+ these two bills" Mr.. Clark said,
twill 60 q long way toward remov-
ing the Montgomery County school
system from political control"
T., Among other bills introduced yes
'terday In the House was one by Will
liam H. McGrath, Democrat, Of
Prince Georges County. It provides
that World War II veterans with a
high school education and at least
one year in the Armed Forces shall
not be required to take a pre-legal
course in any university in order to
study law.
/ Two members of the legislature
were added by Gov. Lane to the
Advisory Committee on Sources Of
State Revenue.
!. They are Senator Carter, Demo-
lcrat of Baltimore and Delegate
-f n.;,,