Evening star., 1947-04-01
Assembly Splits
On Montgomery
Office Transfer
Componion Measure
70 Senate Passed Bill
Killed BY House
By. 3. zatmon ],
Stor Stuff Correspondent

Stor ISfotf Correspondent
\ ANNAPOLIS, April THE oues-
ton Of who would have authority
over building and electrical inspec-
tons and the Board OF Zoning Ap-
peals In Montgomery County II Gov.
Lane signs bill now on his desk.
confronted county authorities today.
This development occurred as q
result OF the defeat in the House
yesterday OF measure to place
these functions under the county
commissioners.
A few hours later the Senate
passed and sent to the Governor q
companion measure to take the
three offices away from the Mary
land National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
After the House voted, Al to 43,
against the first bill, Anders r.
LofStrand, jr., chairman of the ALE
Montgomery delegation,
pointed out that the action leaves
the three offices ''up in the air" be-
cause one bill has passed and the
other has not.
He charged that members of the
Prince Georges County delegation
who led the attack on the measure
previously had agreed to support It
in q conference with the Montgom.
cry group.
Charges Ripper" Legislation.
William H. McGrath, Prince
Georges Democrat, said the bill con-
stituted ripper legislation and was
Intended to oust Democratic en-
ployes Of the three offices affected.
This was denied by Montgomery
Delegate Duncan Clark, who said the
present system is unsatisfactory"
and leaves large portion of Mont
yomery County without adequate
inspection.
Later, in the Senate, Montgomery
Senator Roy Tasco Davis helped de-
feat bill which would have in
creased the amount of bonds to be
issued by the park and planning
commission for purchase of park
lands In Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties. The vote was
II to 8.
AS originally introduced, the bill
affecting the planning commission
would have authorized 1t to increase
from $1,200,00o to 100000 the
amount Of bonds it could issue to
purchase park lands in Montgomery
County and from $4,000 to $780,
600 for similar purchases in Prince
Georges County.
Sothar0n Attacks Amendments.
The Montgomery delegation had
amended the bill to allow the COM
mission to increase the amount Of
bonds 1t could issue in Montgomery
County subject to the approval Of
the county commissioners.
Senator Sothoron, Democrat, of
Prince Georges County, argued that
the Montgomery delegation had
amended the House bill until it was
not acceptable to the Planning Conn
mission. He added that the amend-
ments were removed so as not to
jeopardize Prince Georges County.
which also Is under the commits
sion's jurisdiction.
Senator Davis said he would vote
for the bill If the amendments were
restored but Senator Sothoron re-
fused to permit such action. He
said 1t would put the commission
into politics"
This is the first cat and dog
fight Prince Georges and Mont
gomery Counties have ever had"
Senator Sothoron declared, land it's
all due to the fact there are four
Republican county commissioners in
Montgomery County and they want
to rip into this commission until
nothing Is left"
Among bills passed by the Senate
and sent to the Governor was a bill
establishing pari-mutuel betting at
midget auto tracks in Prince Georges
County.
Engineers Duties Expanded.
Other Prince Georges measures
given final Senate approval would:
Expand the duties of the county
engineer and allow the county COM
|missioners to fix his salary.
Provide that appeals from deci-
sions OF the Liquor Board be made
to the Circuit Court instead of to
the State Liquor Board.
Eliminate the provision that q
person having liquor license who
has conducted his business in the
county for one year or more may
transfer the license to noncounty
resident.
Increase the District Heights tax
from 80 to maximum of rs cents
for 500.
Change the boundaries between
the 18th and 21st election districts.
Taxing Area Abolished.
Authorize the mayor and council
OF Fairmount Heights to borrow
$75, 900 for municipal improvements.
The Senate also passed bills abol-
ishing the special taxing area of
Northwest Park in Bethesda and
authorizing the Montgomery County
Commissioners to issue up to $500, 600
AsA SOAAto &SA oSWd6C dlku VI dlIldR&
systems.
The House passed bills increasing
the Bethesda Library tax from
4 to 9 cents and giving the Mont
gomery County Commissioners au-
thority to Ak policemen,s salaries not
set by law.
Another bill authorizes District
Heights and Prince Georges County
to borrow up to 8 per cent Of the
assessed valuation Of property in the
town for public improvements.
The House also approved a bill
authorizing the two Prince GEORGES
County trial magistrates to act as
Juvenile Court judges at no addi-
tional salary. The measure oripinal-
ly would have established separate
Juvenile Court in the county
Alexondrio Hospital Unit