Evening star., 1948-11-28
Gradual Change
ToCharter Rule
Starts Thursday
Montgomery Board
To Stoy in Power Till
Election in January
By John v. Horner

Sy SSb"
The charter system of government
will become effective in Montgomery
County Thursday.
Not all its provisions 60 into force
Immediately. however In general,
the county government will operate
for a while about as it has under
the county commissioner system, be-
ing discarded.
This is true regardless of the out
come of a pending legal action de-
signed to prevent the people from
holding county council election i'll
January.
Under the governmental change,
the five incumbent commissioners
automatically become Montgomery S
first county council Thursday, with
authority to exercise executive and
administrative powers, including de-
cisions on zoning.
Election Set January 6.
The hold-over council will serve
until seven councilmen are elected
and qualify as the governing body
The election is scheduled January
6 and the new councilmen are
scheduled to take Office. January 10
The legal action to prevent the
special election takes the form of
an injunction suit filed Friday in
Circuit Court on behalf of the four
commissioners who are Republicans
1t will be fought by charter pro-
ponents, and quick settlement of the
constitutional issues involved seems
assured.
If the courts rule in favor of the
commissioners, thereby blocking the
election. other questions about man.
agement of county affairs will have
to be settled.
If the ruling favors the charter
ites, however, the hold-over council
will run an interim government only
until January 10. Then the charter
system would go into full effect.
No interruption Seen.
County officials and those who
lead the opposing sides in the pend
ing court fight apepar to agree that
the Montgomery machinery will
function without interruption or
incident until the suit is settled.
County Treasurer John B. Dia-
mond. for instance, will continue
in Office with full authority over
public funds until he is replaced by
q director of finance.
County Supervisor Irving G. Nc
Nayr will continue to direct admin
istrative affairs. Offices will operate
as heretofore, with a few possible
exceptions. The exceptions are
technical and will not affect county
business. in the opinion of officials.
The charter specifically abolishes
the jobs of attorney to the county
commissioners, police commissioner
and clerk TO the commissioners. Ap-
parently, it was the intent of the
charter drafters to terminate these
jobs Thursday.
Authority of Board.
Still the commissioners, acting as
O council, are believed to have
authority to employ personnel for
duties of these Offices during the
transition.
F. Banard Welsh, the attorney tc
the commissioners, said there was
no question that the governing
board could provide for such serv-
ices as needed to carry on its busi.
ness. Thus, if the jobs are abol-
ished Thursday, the attorney might
be designated legal adviser" the
clerk as secretary" and so on.
Other officials involved are Wes-
ley I. Sauter, police commissioner
talso one of the five county com
missioners), and j. Ernest Hawkins
clerk.
The major changes under charter
will come later. The law reserves
these to the first elected council.
They involve an assumption Of
legislative authority by the County
Council, which heretofore has beer
held by the Maryland General AS
sembly; the appointment of a coun-
ty manager as administrator, ano
the reorganization of county de-
partments.
Nominations Planned.
Meanwhile, the Nominating Com
mittee of the Montgomery County
Charter Committee, is preparing tc
propose seven citizens for the coun-
Gil.
Since the Democratic and Repub-
lican organizations have agreed tc
abstain from opposing the charter
ticket, these nominees are virtually
assured of election-if the vote is
not blocked.
Allen H. Gardner, nominating
chairman, said yesterday that the
slate will be made public mot later
than December T." which is the
date of the annual meeting of the
charter organization. He said the
ticket may be announced before
then.
In an effort to recommend the
best possible group, Mr. Gardner
said. the Nominating Committee
has added fourth stipulation fol
its candidates. The new test" fol
nominees is their ability to WORK
together harmoniously and to inspire
and maintain the good will of the
people as a whole" he said.
Other Qualifications.
This does not mean that they
will always agree on questions which
will arise" he added, but it is ou
hope and belief that the member
of the new council will respect th
opinion of each other and of an,
of the public with whom they ma,
disagree"
Previously the committee had salt
that it would require each OF 1t
candidates to be of outstanding
demonstrated ability; unquestione'
integrity and to have a wide ac
quaintance with Montgomery Coun
ty affairs.
The Montgomery County Counci
Of Parent-Teacher Associations an
nounced it would urge the Nominal
ing Committee to choose school
minded" citizens for the council an
also that a committee of its mem
bers would ascertain the school view
and records of the candidates.
Toupfv Ieeuee RI Re Aired