Evening star., 1947-10-05
@ q
Slated
On Park Issue
In Montgomery
Planners, Delegates
To Seek Agreement
On Land Acquisition

An agreement on legislation to
make possible additional land acqui-
sition by the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Caital Park and Planning Commits
sion will be sought tomorrow night
at . meeting of commission repre-
sentatives and Montgomery County
members Of the State Legislature,
it was learned last night.
Such legislation, discussed Thurs
day at meeting of the Maryland
Legislative Council, was defeated
at the last session of the General
Assembly, largely through the efforts
of the all Republican Montgomery
County delegation.
A planning commission member
pointed out last night that legisla-
tion is absolutely necessary before
the commission can proceed with
land acquisition in keeping with the
program of parks extension in Mont
gomery and Prince Georges Coun-
ties, authorized by the last session
of Congress.
Opposition to Bill Explained.
After defeat of the bill, which
would have authorized the commits
sion to increase its borrowing power
to take advantage of additional aid
proffered by the Federal Govern
ment, Congress cut appropriations
to the extent that the commission
park acquisition program would
have been helped.
Under the Act of Congress, the
planning commission would have
been given the total amount needed
to acquire the land in question.
One third of the money would have
been an outright grant but the other
two thirds, secured by bonds issued
by the commission. would be repay
able without interest, within eight
years.
The reason the Montgomery
County delegation worked to defeat
the bill introduced at Annapolis was
because the planning commission
would not agree to provision that
the Montgomery County Commits
sioners approve all land purchases,
according to Montgomery delegates.
Unit Has Own Appraisers.
Delegate Anders r. Lofstrand, jr.,
pointed out that since the county
commissioners must levy the taxes
to pay off the bonds issued by the
planning commission. they felt they
should be empowered to pass on
acquisitions.
The planning commission,
spokesman said, has its own ap-
praisal experts and. in addition,
Federal authorities pass on the pur-
chases, since the Federal Govern
ment contributes one-third of the
cost. :
The Prince Georges County dele
cation sided with the planning
commission when the bill was intro
duced and continues to do so, Perry
o. Wilkinson, delegation chairman,
and State Senator L. Harold Soth-
oron, declared.
Clarence Keiser, a member OF the
planning commission. pointed out
that the law states the Montgomery
County Commissioners shall
guarantee the bonds issued by the
planning commission while 1t pro-
vides the Prince Georges County
Commissioners may" guarantee
them.
Meeting to Be in Silver Spring.
Mr.. Lofstrand, chairman of his
county's legislative delegation. as
serted his group does not want to
stand in the way of park extension
in the two counties. He said the
delegation feels it is essential" but,
at the same time, with the rising
tax rate, it feels the Montgomery
County Commissioners should give
approval to all purchases of land
by the planning commission.
Tomorrow nights meeting will be
held in Mr.. Loftsrand's Silver Spring
Offices. The planning commission
will be represented by Mr.. Keiser,
a Montgomery County member, and
j. Bond Smith. general counsel.
Mr.. Loftstrand is a member OF
the Maryland Legislative Council,
through which any legislation
which the planning commission and
the Montgomery and Prince Georges
delegations ultimately agreed upon
would be submitted to the General
Assembly at the special session ex-
pected to be called soon by Gov.