Evening star., 1947-06-10
Civic Body Approves
39-Cent Tax Boost in
Montgomery County

Ine montgomery county Civic
Federation last night approved a
39-cent increase in the county base
tax rate and upheld the proposed
county budget in all but two pro-
posals. The basic rate now is $1.50.
The federation demanded reten-
tion of the county almshouse which
is to be discontinued July l, and the
continued payment of 20 per cent
supplementary salaries to State well
fare employees in the county. A l.
cent additional increase in the tax
rate would pay for the two items,
the federation said.
Reversing it's April stand when 1t
went "au out" for the demands of
teachers for higher salaries, the
federation approved the proposed
appropriation of $2,404,2 ,278 for edu-
cational purposes. This is approx
mately S40O 900 less than the amount
requested by the Board Of Educa-
ton and the teachers association.
Budget, Teacher Pleas Heard.
The federation's action on the
educational appropriation came near
midnight at a meeting IN the
Bethesda Elementary School and
followed inpassioned pleas by Coun-
ty Supervisor I. G. McNayr for the
budget as drawn and by Mrs. Mary
B. Mohler, a teacher at Bethesda
Chevy Chase High School, for higher
increases for teachers.
Mr.. McNayr asked for realistic
view Of the budget, and said it was
unfair for citizens associations to
expect the Board of County COM
missioners to correct in one year
the failures of former boards over
a period of 20 years.
Rhees Burket, president of the
federation, stepped out of the pres
ident's seat long enough to urge
the federation not to reverse its
stand taken in April.
Lewis B. Sims, chairman of the
Committee on Public Finance and
Budget, reported that the picture
has changed since the April meet
ing. At that time, he said, it was
thought the commissioners would
have access to other means of taxa
ton, so that the whole burden would
not fall on real property holders.
He said the District teachers scale
of salary increases is not as high
as was anticipated, and that the
Federal Government is no longer
competitor with the school sys-
tenn.
Bond Policy Reaffirmed.
The federation reafirmed its ad-
vocacy of a policy of meeting bond
maturities without resorting to re-
borrowing, and supported a recon-
mendation in the proposed county
budget that all $723, 500 in matur-
ing bonds be paid off as scheduled.
Mr.. Burket was voted The Evening
Star Cup for his service to the COM
munity for many years. The cup
will be presented at the federation's s
annual banquet on June 10 in the
Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church.
Mr.. Burket was reelected presi-
dent. Other officers elected include
Herbert N. Eaton, vice president;
Ernest Woodchek, recording secre-
tary; Mrs. w. w. Rubey, CORE
spending secretary, and Manifold
Ionic, treasurer.
Members of the Executive Com
mittee are Ralph J. Boyd, DR.. Lewis
Merriam, Robert Hanson and Mrs.
Mary Cookson.
Senator Tydings, Democrat. of
Maryland, will be the principal
speaker at the federation's annual
banquet. Theme will be "The Future
of Montgomery County" Other
Speakers are to be State Senator
Roy Tasco Davis, County Commis-'
sioner Brooke Johns, E. Brooke Lee
of the Park and Planning Commits
sion. and Supt. of Schools DR.. Edwin
w. Broome. Carey Quinn is chair
man of the BANQUET Committee.