Evening star., 1948-11-03
For Self Rule and Better Schools

The victories for modernized govern
ment and better schools in nearby counties
give evidence of the growing influence
there OF voters in the highly urbanized
communities around Washington. The
substantial vote for the Montgomery Coun-
ty charter is victory for self government
in a populous Maryland area which long
has been restive under a commission sys-
tenn dating from early rural days. Across
the Potomac River, in war-swollen Arl-
ington, the advocates Of a $4,750,O00 bond
issue for new schools won lively fight
Montgomery County becomes the first in
its State to break away from the traditional
county commissioner form of government
since adoption in 1915 of Maryland's "home
rule" amendment to its constitution. That
amendment recognized thai some of the
States counties were outgrowing their
original governmental systems, under
which the State Legislature had the main
burden of local legislation. Montgomery
County, like other suburban sections near
Washington, has become an integral part
Of the Metropolitan Area in recent years.
As it expanded, new strains have been put
on the remote-control arrangement by
which 1t relied on Annapolis for legislative
action Of q municipal nature
With installation of the council manager
setup, beginning next January Montgom-
ery's citizens will legislate for themselves
through an elected council which will meet
for that purpose in May. 1t will make
appropriations at q subsequent session in
June. This is the second time that the
county has voted on a charter plan, the
1914 referendum ending in defeat by q
narrow margin. The triumph this year is
tribute to the persistent and intelligent
drive conducted since then by the ardent
proponents OF home rule. Most of the
organized opposition of four years ago had
collapsed in the meantime. Montgomery's
innovation will be watched with intense
interest by other Maryland communities
for the charter movement is not confined
to that county. Indeed, Prince Georges
has strong charter group, ready to push
its campaign If the test in Montgomery
proves as successful as they hope.
In Arlington County, the well-organized
campaigners for the school bond issue won
their fight to provide that heavily popu-
lated area with more classrooms and more
teachers for its overcrowded school system.
Opposition to the plan arose chiefly from
a feeling that the money would not pro-
duce full value in this period of high build
ing costs, plus the contention that the
county needs other improvements as ur-
gently as schools. The effort to set q
separate date for school board elections so
as to remove them from politics" was
defeated by the voters
In view of the showing by the school
forces in the bond issue, the apparent elec-
ton Of Alfred E. Frisbie, Democratic in
cumbent of the Arlington County Board,
was surprising. The school bond cam
paigners had thrown their support to
I. Lee Potter, who was the only board can
didate to indorse the bond ISSUE Mr.
Frisbie had argued that the school issue
had no place in the county board cam
paign. He has said he favors not only
better schools, but improved sanitation,
police, fire and other municipal services
Indicative of the expanding size of the
electorate and of the interest of the voters
in the local issues was the record vote of
Il 1857 which Arlington cast in the county
board race. This was more than six thou
sand votes above the previous all-time
high recorded in the presidential elec-
ton OF 1914. 1t also stands in marked
contrast to the light national vote Truly
Washington's suburbs are growing in
stature, not only physically, but politically