Evening star., 1947-03-11
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY
TUESDAY, MARCH II, '1947
Citizens Favor
Tax Increases
But Federation Asks
Foir Portion Only Be
In Levy on Realty

The Montgomery County ciu,
Federation last night approved an
increase In takes to finance a pro.
posed 5000, 900 school construction
program and to pay of all maturins
county bonds.
1t Is recommended that a afai,
proportion only of this increass
come from real property taxes and
that the balance be raised ain a
manner deemed suitable by the
board OF County Commissioners and
the General Assembly"
The federation's action was taken
az It's 20Oth meeting in Bethesds
Elementary School and followed re.
ports by Russell Whyte, chairman
OF the Schools Committee, and Ger
hard Isaac and Lewis B. Sims Of the
Public Finance and Budget Com
mittee.
Mr.. Isaac said that "the general
financial condition of MONTGOMERY
County Is poorer than that of the
bulk Of its citizens" He stated that
all available current revenues are
being used to meet current operating
expenses and interest on bonds
without any provision for retire.
ment OF maturing debt. He said the
tax rate increase needed to put ths
county on a meet rnaturities' basi,
Is 48.5 cents. '
II Revenue Sources Cited.
Mr.. Sims listed II possible source,
OF revenue in the county In addition
to the proposed increase in tn,
real property tax:
Consumers utility tax, admissions
tax, supplement to Maryland in.
dividual income tax, cigarette tax
rental tax, lotteries, gasoline tax
motor vehicle license tax, gross re-
ceipts tax or supplement to pro.
posed Maryland retail sales tax
payroll tax and soft drinks tax.
Mr.. Sims suggested the supple.
mental income tax would amount to
l per cent of the net income col.
lected by the State along with its
tax, but would be returned to the
county. The supplemental sales
tax also would be imposed for tho
county, under the plan.
In an emergency resolution in.
troduced by Joseph B. Matre, thu
federation voted to uphold the
county delegation to the Legislature
IN its opposition to the proposed
State sales tax.
Charter Program Adopted.
An additional four-point program
for inclusion in the proposed county
charter was adopted, upon the rec.
ommendation Of DR.. Lewis Merriam
It asks that:
l.. The county civil service system
be under d board Of three, ths
members To- serve without pay o,
for nomiual pay. .s5.
.. County employees be prohibited
from contributing to q political cam.
paign.
3. The County Council be author.
lied by ordinance to establish such
departments and agencies as may
be necessary to comply with State
laws; to delegate to such depart.
ments, If legally permissible, such
Pother duties and responsibilities a
1t may deem advisable, and to Gre
ate any other departments and
agencies that may be necessary for
the efficient and economical admin.
istration Of local government affair,
within its legal Jurisdiction.
4. The County Council shall have
and exercise all such power ane
authority with respect to health
welfare, public education and othe,
matters as has been heretofore
vested in the Board of County
Commissioners under general State
laws, or which may subsequently, be
vested in 1t by general State laws
The County Council by ordinance
shall establish and maintain such
administrative departments and
agencies as may be required unde,
general State laws. The County
Council, in the exercise of such
independent powers or delegated
powers as it may have in the fields
OF health, welfare and public educa-
ton shall work comparatively with
agencies established In compliance
with State requirements and pro-
vide for coordination in admins.
tration in the interests Of economy
and efficiency.
Power Conduits Urged.
The federation recommended the
replacement of all overhead power
lines In the business sections of the
urban areas of Montgomery County
by underground conduits whenever
major changes are required, the
change not to be delayed more than
10 years from the passage of enab-
ling legislation which now Is before
the General Assembly.
Responsibility for initiating tho
program Of placing the facilities
underground would be given the
Board of County Commissioners.
Samuel Stonebraker, chairman Of
the Public Utilities Committee, in.
troduced the resolution.
It was recommended that the
present custom of holding zonine
hearings twice a year, in June and
December, be continued. Proposals
had been made recently that these
hearings should be held more fire.
quently.
Richard B. Parker claimed that
more frequent zoning hearings place
an added burden on property own
ers who must scrutinize closely all
notices of rezoning applications IN
order to protect their own property.
Tests for Clerical Jobs
To Be Held Late in April