Evening star., 1948-11-05
| Member Of AssembI,
May Quit 10 Run for
Montgomery Council

AT leaSL one MEMBER OF the ALL
Republican Montgomery County
delegation to the General Assem-
bly, is considering resigning to run
for the County Council under Mont.
gomery's new charter form of gov
ernment.
While no names can be divulged
at this time, 1t was learned that the
matter has been discussed at q
recent meeting of the delegation and
a decision is expected to be made at
a delegation conference at 8 pm.
Monday.
The session will be held in the
Silver Spring Office of Anders r.
Lofstrand, jr., delegation chairman.
Charles H. Jamison, only Demo-
cratic member of the Board of
County Commissioners. announced
yesterday that he was receptive to
suggestions that he run for one of
the council seats.
Leaders to Meet Sunday.
County Republican leaders also
announced today that their Central
Committee will meet at 2 pm. Sun
day in Rockville to decide whether
to indorse a slate of candidates for
the 7-member council.
The question of one or more dele
gates resigning to run for the coun-
Gil with Republican backing was
raised because the delegation felt
such a move, II successful, would
place on the county's new governing
body a person experienced in legis-
lative matters.
Under the charter adopted Tues
day, the council, which replaces the
present flve-men board of Com
missioners, will have power to pass
all county laws, with a few excep-
tions. This function previously has
been exercised at biennial sessions
of the General Assembly in An
napolis.
Would Provide Liaison.
The delegation believes that If one
OF its members were elected to the
council 1t would provide better
liaison between the council and the
General Assembly. This factor
would be important in the event
that changes would be sought in
the charter.
One OF the changes mentioned has
been the raising of the 7 per cent
limitation on the county's bonded
Indebtedness. At present, the coun-
tvs Indebtedness Is over that figure
and 1t would have to be increased to
permit the county council to issue
bonds.
Six Of the seven delegation men,
bers have supported the charter.
They are State Senator Roy Tasco
Davis and Delegates Lofstrand, De
Witt s. Hyde, Mrs. Leona Rush,
Julian p. King and r. Duncan Clark.
The sole opponent was Delegate
John r. Reeves.
Election Slated January 6.
Petitions for council candidates
must be filed by midnight December
13 with the Board of Election Super
visors. A special election of council
members will be held January 6.
Meanwhile, the question OF
whether Montgomery County is
obligated to pay It's five commits
sioners salaries for nearly two years
after they are replaced in January
by the new County Council, was
under discussion today at Rock
vile.
Commissioner Wesley I. Sauter
Of Bethesda, bitter foe of the
charter plan indicated that he may
lead fight to collect pay for the un-
expired portion of the commission
ers' term of Office. The commits
sioners were elected two years ago
to serve until the end of 1850.
I'VE have perfect right to our
salaries for the entire terms for
which we were elected" Mr.. sauter
declared.
Denied by Hayden.
This was denied, however. by
James j. Hayden, a member of the
board which drafted the charter
adopted in a county referendum
Tuesday. Mr.. Hayden said:
THE county commissioners will
presumably vanish into thin air
when the County Council takes over,
and their salaries will vanish with
them"
The charter provides that the
commissioners will serve as a coun-
Gil until the members of the first
elected council take office. Involved
in the question are salaries totaling
$4,000 a year for the five commits
sioners.
The salary issue was raised yes
terday after the commissioners, in
executive session, considered firing