Evening star., 1948-11-03
DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC
WORKS
Montgomery Adopts Charter;
Separate Bethesda Move Seen

ida Move Seen
commissioners will hold Office ana
perform legislative duties until their
successors. the councilmen, are
elected Januaryi6.
Backers Are Enthusiastic.
The enthusiasm OF charter pro-
ponents. who gathered for the re-
turns last night In Offices of the
Charter Committee and the Bethes-
da Record, in Bethesda, seemed to
know no bounds. The crowd re-
burst into song and cheered
those most active as sponsors of the
proposal.
Col. Norman B. Ames, president
of the Montgomery County Charter
Committee, asserted the decision
assures the county of very bright
future He called upon all fac
tions to unite and work for the
new governments success.
Allen H. Gardner, former presi-
dent of the Charter Committee and
now chairman of its important
Committee, attributed
the victory to improved organization
and "the fact you can't fool all the
people all the time"
Mr.. Gardner said the next step is
to get council candidates Of inte-
gritty, ability and acquaintance with
county affairs. His committee is
already at work sitting council
Of about 100 persons,
but this list has not been made
public. Eventually the group will
indorse . slate Of offlcers.
I'VE are perfectly willing Mr..
Gardner said, ITO sit down with all
groups In the county, includirlg re-
representatives. Of the two ma joY
parties. and agree on the names 81
the council candidates"
Parties Course Uncertain"
Whether the Republican and
Democratic parties will be willing to
accept this invitation Is question
able. Candidates have until De-
cember IL to file notices of inten-
ton to run.
The charter provides that five of
the new councilmen must come
from the five existing commissioner
areas. The remaining two will be
elected from the county at large.
The first council will serve until
1850. At the general election then,
members will be elected for four
year terms.
All local laws inconsistent with
charter provisions will be repealed
automatically. James j. Hayden, a
of the Charter Board, said
one such law is that empowering
the county commissioners to legis-
late for the county's health, welfare
and safety.
The charter abolishes four county
offlces-treasurer, attorney to the
county commissioners, clerk to the
commissioners and the police COM
missioner. Their duties will be as
sumed by new group of agencies,
which include a finance department
and a county attorneys office.
Incumbents who hold those Of
fees are Treasurer John B. Dia-
mond. Attorney r. Barnard Welsh,
Clerk J. Ernest Hawkins and Mr..
Sauter, who is police commissioner
Bailey Explains Charter.
Mr.. Bailey said the transitory pro-
visions of the charter are exceed
ingly important" These include the
election procedure and the repeal OF
the inconsistent laws.
Mr.. Bailey pointed out the treas
urer win continue to serve until
the new director of finance takes
office and that appointed officers OF
the county are permitted to con-
tinue their employment at existing
salaries, subject to regulations OF
the County Personnel Board.
In other words" Mr.. Bailey said
the way is paved for a smooth
transition from the present form of
government to the new, and expert
enced employees now on the county
payroll have the assurance that
they will be retained in their jobs.
Will Act Next May.
THE new council will be
unable to enact legislation until
next May, the legislative month of
the charter, but that will in no way
prevent the council from preparing
a legislative program, so that when
May rolls around 1t may be ready to
hold public hearings If desirable
and finally enact the laws
during the month set aside for that
phase of the councils work."
Mr.. Bailey said the seven member
council will place the balance OF
powef in the suburban area, where
the greatest population is concen-
trated. He said that while one
will come from each
of the existing five commissioner
the other two will be
elected at large and obviously will
represent the choice OF the pre-
ponderance of the voters"
Thus" he said, the suburban
areas will have an. opportunity to
assume q 4-to-3 control instead of
being a 2-to-3 minority as under the
old commissioner form of govern
ment."