Evening star., 1949-03-02
3Mayors s|ndorse
OF
Maryland
Creation of One Lurge
Municipality Urged
In Prince Georges

faVOrlng the aDOllLlOn OF SOlue VI
the numerous small towns in the
metropolitan area of the county
in favor of the creation OF one
large city.
The proposal for a Maryland
City adjacent to the District OF
Columbia has been heard for more
than two decades, but generally
the officials of the various towns
have long jealousy guarded their
independence and the separate
identities of the municipalities.
Perry o. Wilkinson. chairman Of
the Prince Georges delegation to
the General Assembly, said at
Annapolis his group is drafting a
bill to incorporate Rogers Heights.
Riverdale Heights and the area
between Bladensburg and Good
Luck road into one city, to be
known as Maryland City.
Affects 5000 Persons.
About 5000 persons would be
affected. Mr.. Wilkinson said he
had received a petition from about
500 residents of Riverdale Hills
and Riverdale Heights opposing
the plan.
The Board of County Commits
sioners voted yesterday to oppose
another pending bill in the Legis-
lature to permit communities to
incorporate under general law in
stead of by specific acts Of the
General Assembly.
The House Committee on
Amendments to Constitution was
to discuss the plan this afternoon.
Designated House Bill 278. the
proposal is indorsed by the Mary"
land League of Municipalities and
Dr.. Joseph M. Ray, director Of the
Bureau of Public Administration,
University of Maryland.
Favor Present System.
The commissioners declared
there has been no fault with our
present system" which usually
permits residents to vote on in
corporation in a referendum.
Speaking at a forum meeting Of
the Prince Georges Chamber Of
Commerce at the Golf and Coun-
try Club Monday night, Mayor
Caesar L. Aiello of Hyattsville.
Mayor Harry A. L. Baker OF River
dale and Mayor Earl Bourne OF
University Park indorsed the long
standing proposition.
Mayor Baker said there are IL
incorporated communities in the
three or four mile stretch between
the District line and College Park,
namely, Mount Rainier, Cottage
City, Colmar Manor, Bladensburg.
Brentwood, North Brentwood, Ed
monston, Hyattsville, Riverdale,
University Park and College Park.
Mayor Aiello said the Washing
| ton Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion provides water and sewage
service on large area-wide basis
and the Observation-Disclosures Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commits
sion provides planning, zoning and
allied services on the same scale.
Operate Area Wide.
County volunteer fire depart
ments operate on an area-Wlde
basis by virtue of the centralized
Fire Control Board and there 1s
agitation for the same arrange
Iment in the police departments.
Mayor Aiello said.
Mayor Bourne was asked for his
comments by the program chair
man, Nicholas Orem, jr. Mr..
Bourne said he fully indorsed the
views of Mayors Aiello and Baker.
Mi. Orem said the chamber has
taken no formal action on this
matter, but he said the proposals
will be discussed further at the
chambers Board of Directors
meeting next Monday night at the
Washington Gas Light Co.'s West
Hyattsville Office. The meeting,
at 8 O'Clock, is open to the public.
Earlier in the program, Vincent
IA. Simmel, treasurer of the
County Volunteer Firemen's AS
sociation, discussed the work and
financing of the various fire de-
partments. He said the county
contributes $4,000 which is dis
tributed equally among all % fire
companies.
Challenge Equity of Plan.
Karl A. Young, chief Of the
Mount Rainier Volunteer Fire
Department, challenged the equity
of this arrangement by pointing
out that Mount Rainier pays more
to the county in fire taxes than
it receives back through the fire
department.
Mr.. Orem, who is city attorney
for Hyattsville, commented that
Hyattsville pays about $4,700 as
it's share Of the countys fire de-
partment tax but it's fire depart
ment receives only $1,400 back
from the county.
George G. McLeish, member OF
the House of Delegates, reported
that he will offer a bill in the
General Assembly to enable the
towns to make contracts with
each other and with the county
and other agencies for mutual
aid in connection with such serv-
ices as police protection, street
repairs and maintenance. ware
housing and storage facilities, tax
collections and bookkeeping.
Mr.. McLeish's talk prompted
considerable discussion with some
citizens In favor of the abolition
of the town police and centraliz-
ing all police work in the county
and others opposed
permitting police to perform their
duties outside their own COM
This discussion eliminated in
the Maryland City" declarations
by the three mayors.
Womon's Purse Snutched