Evening star., 1949-11-23

County Hopes for Plan
To Free State Funds
Blocked by Ruling
Prince Georges County looked
today to Annapolis for action en-
abling it to proceed with construc-
ton of a badly needed 42-class-
room high school at Suitland.
In view of a ruling of the Mary
land Court of Appeals, which
blocks use Of a $50,000,000 State
fund for school construction, the
county must decide by December
Z whether-and how-the $1,318,-
500 Suitland job can be financed.
The county commissioners de-
cided yesterday to bide their time
for two weeks, hoping that Gov.
Lane, meanwhile, will advance a
plan for releasing the State money
to localities. Such action would
permit Prince Georges to build
the Suitland school, since it is
one of the projects which was to
be financed with State loan.
The commissioners face the
necessity of deciding not later
than December Z whether to ac-
cept or reject a builders bid for
the big junior-senio high school.
Technical Defect in Law.
The Court of Appeals last week
barred use of the State fund be-
cause of technical defect in the
law. A legislative clerk assigned
the wrong number to the law
passed at the 1949 session Of the
General Assembly. The ruling
poses problems in many parts Of
Maryland, because localities an
ticipated the State loans in
financing new school construc-
ton.
At yesterdays meeting of the
Prince Georges commissioners,
county school authorities urged
that local financing be considered
for the Suitland school. Supt. G.
Gardner Shugart and Thomas S.
Gwynn, director of school plan
ming, said the county has author.
ity to issue bonds, if necessary.
The commissioners said, how
ever, they prefer to wait for word
from Annapolis before reaching a
final decision.
Mr.. Shugart and Mr.. Gwynn
noted the Suitland bid is $500, 900
less than the estimated cost. They
requested that 100000 Of the
amount saved" be applied to con-
struction of an elementary school
at Brandywine, to replace an anti
|quated structure. They also asked
that q cafeteria now be included
In plans for Suitland.
Object to Proposal.
The commissioners objected to
the cafeteria proposal. saying the
policy is to provide essential class
room space first.
In line with that policy. the
commissioners rejected q request
for cafeteria facilities at the SEN
ior- Junior high school to be built
on the Heurich estate in Hyatts-
vile. The idea was advanced by
the College Park Parent Teacher
Association and the Progress Club
of College Park.
The commissioners issued q
statement of their position on an
incident involving Star Staff
Photographer Paul Schmick and
county policemen, which was the
subject Of investigation last week.
Mr.. Schmick complained he was
unjustifiably mistreated by Pvt.
James H. Burgess November 3
when he tried to take a picture
Of Claire Hanratty, Z, a Lanham
school child found safe after be-
ing missing for 10 hours. The
child was being taken to Prince
Georges Hospital.
Regret Expressed.
The commissioners statement
was as follows:
II. Ordered, that the Prince
Georges County police be notified
to cooperate with all newspaper
reporters in every way possible.
"2. Ordered, that the letter
from The Washington Star be ac-
knowledged, and that the board
go on record as expressing regret
about any misunderstanding that
may have occurred at the Prince
Georges General Hospital on the
night Of November 2, 1949, and
further that the board feels after
listening to the testimony that
the parents, police and every one
concerned were somewhat excited
and disturbed and that the police
department be directed to extend
every courtesy and consideration
to the newspaper representatives
or all that goes on In this county,
and also that a copy of this order
be sent to the Volunteer Fire
mems Association"
The commissioners made no
other mention of the complaint
filed by the County Firemen's As
sociation on behalf of Vincent A.
Simmel, a Cottage City volunteer
fireman, who holds offices in the
State and county fire organiza-
tions. The association complained
that Mr.. Simmel was treated In q
rough manner by two county po-
licemen, later identified as Pvts.
William F. Little and Joseph Vim
cent, when he protested the Incl.
dent in which Mr.. Schmick was
involved.
New Zoning Hearing Denied.
The commissioners rejected q
plea from officials Of Landover
Hills asking q new hearing on q