Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-10-30
Late Words on the Charter

To the Editor OF The star:
I have given my support to the Charter
movement In Montgomery County since its be-
ginning in 1912. Knowing a 40 that the only
objective Of this movement more responsible,
more efficient, and more economical local gov
eminent, cannot remain silent when writer
to these columns makes erroneous statements
about the Charter. =. 80 .:
The home-rlle Charter we Ire to vote on
next Tuesday brovides, foE cosntJ gblation on
county matters To say~ynHs"We have such
local legislative power now is misleading. we
do have some degree Of 1t, subject always to
the will of the State Legislature. The State
Constitution provides that a county adopting
a charter is granted sole authority over most
Of its local affairs, and the State Is expressly
barred from legislating on those affairs. It Is
that kind of home rule that we are seeking.
Charter provides for an elected policy-mak-
ing body called county council, chosen for
four-year terms, and representing all areas
of the county as the Commissioners now do
The improvement WHICH Charter offers is that
1t provides for trained administrative officer,
or county manager, with real authority to do
his job well, and with no hold on his job unless
he does it well. He has no term Of Office, can
be dismissed at will More than eight hundred
cities and counties and all business organiza-
lions employ managers to carry out policies
made by governing boards. When government
grows to an 81 -mildon-dollar business as 1t
Is now In Montgomery County, it can no long
er be handled by the board itself, on a part
time basis.
Charter provides for good finance procedure
with limitations on borrowing and strict re-
quirements covering the repayment of bonded
Indebtedness. To imply that any single indi-
vidual or group would gain from such pro-
visions Is worse than misleading. It is clear
that every citizen of the county would gain.
The Charter movement was not undertaken
to get any one out of Office or to put any one
In Office. Our sole purpose Is to provide a
framework for good government and then to
work increasingly to elect people who will work
within that framework, seeking the general
good rather than their own selfish interests.
My SO years as a resident of Montgomery
County convince me that there are many such
people available.
MRS. JOSEPH T. MAGUIRE.
To the Editor Of The Star:
I wish to correct an erroneous statement Of
fact made by Mrs. Jesse Nicholson in q letter
to The Star published october 26.
Mrs. Nicholson in an attack on the proposed
charter for Montgomery County made the fol-
lowing statement: Il do not see where there
will be any improvement over the County Com
missioners who are elected every four years by
a complete change to a county council elected
for life"
Either Mrs. Nicholson has mot read the
charter or she is giving publicity to mistaken
idea about it. Article I of the charter says,
Members have terms of four years except that
the first council will serve for two years until
the next quadrennial election"
Mrs. Nicholson, who is a longtime resident
of Montgomery County, also should know that
the constitution of Maryland provides for four
year terms for all elective officers in the State
and counties.
Whatever her motive, this statement by Mrs.
Nicholson casts doubt on her whole argument.
If she has not read the charterS and I am
sure that is the explanation, she cannot qualify
as a critic of it, or If she has read 1t and is
making false statement Of fact concerning
it. her entire letter should be considered in that
light. DOROTHY 8. HIMSTEAD.
Sister Republics and Spain
To the Editor Of The Star:
It was as refreshing as it was gratifying
to read the factual and well reasoned edi-
torial on our Spanish policy in recent issue
Of The Star.
D The message which The Star formulated In
patriotic terms may be read with profit not
only by the resident Of the District Of Co.
funbia, but also BY an the citizens Of the