Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-31
Council Session
In Montgomery
ToEnd Today
EnIoreine Tox Area
And Trosh Gathering
Are Final Subjects
By John V. Horner

BY John v. Horner
The Montgomery County Coun-
Gil will conclude its first annual
legislative session late today after
completing action on bills to en-
large the suburban tax district
and to take over refuse collecting
functions Of the Washington SUBJ
urban Sanitary Commission. and
several other measures.
Working under pressure of a
May 81 deadline to pass local
laws formerly handled by the
Maryland General Assembly, the
council ignored yesterdays holi-
day and remained in session at
Rockville until $50 pm. In that
session the council:
Bond Issues Authorized.
i. Authorized bond issues up to
IS .465 900 for construction of
county school buildings, roads and
storm drainage systems. and off,
street parking facilities in Silver
Spring.
2. Killed all library legislation
proposed at the 1949 session.
3. Enacted a measure requiring
that County Council primaries and
elections be conducted on a nom
partisan basis. The council in
vited a court test of this action.
4. Enacted legislation establish
ing boundaries of and fixing the
maximum tax rates for fire de-
partments in the vicinities Of
Damascus, Gaithersburg Wash
ington Grove and Hyattstown.
S. Killed legislation to extend
the boundaries Of the Silver
Spring fire taxing district by an
nexing a part of the Kensington
fire area.
Retirement Bills Passed.
8. Passed bills permitting a re-
tirement plan for paid employees of
the Bethesda Fire Department;
outlining procedure for Montgom-
cry County referendums, and
amending the laws relating to the
construction Of streets. cutters and
sidewalks. The council also ap-
proved a bill providing for the
compilation of the new county
laws.
T., introduced three new bills.
all Of which would require a vote
of at least five members If ap-
proved at today's final meeting,
which begins at 2 pm. One new
bill would relieve prisoners Of the
county Jail from the threat Of star
walton" by removing a clause that
limits to IS cents per day the
amount spent to feed each pris-
oner. Another would abolish the
Job of civil service commissioner
and the police trial board. trans
ferring their duties to the new
personnel board. The third
Strengthens local law on procedure
in the Department Of Finance.
The bond issue legislation
enacted yesterday combines into
one law the principal provisions
of bills introduced separately by
Mrs. Ralph E. Himstead and p
Garland Lyon. It also includes
the Silver Spring parking lot pro-
gram urged by that community's
Board of Trade and recommended
last week in County Manager
Irving G. McNayre's budget pro-
posal.
Library Debate Lively.
The law authorizes the council
in business sessions. to issue UP
to $4,265 900 for school building
less such amounts as are received
in State grants and borrowed
from a State credit pool. The
original proposal for q $4,000, 000
issue was cut by $735, 900. the
amount authorized last week In
an emergency bond issue bill.
Discussion of three library bills
developed into the liveliest de-
bate Of any legislative session. It
was started by Mrs. Himstead,
who moved to table her plan for a
countrywide library system. She
said she is convinced the county
is not prepared to bear the addi-
tional tax necessary and said she
believes a study Of the subject by
experts is desirable. The council
concurred unanimously. y
Councilman Lewis Merriam then
made an emotional appeal for the
approval of his bill to authorize 9
special tax in the Kensington area
for benefit of the Moves Library,
Advocating the extension Of home
rule, he declared the Kensington
community favored his bill. Fail
ure to approve it. he warned. may
lead the Kensington Town Council
to convert the library into a NUM-
cipal enterprise and also to ask
that the General Assembly enlarge
the towns area by annexing from
the county.
Nonpartisan Election Plan.
Frederic P. Lee. president Of the
council. said Kensington would
not be deprived Of home rule by
rejecting the bill. since the Town
Council could follow Takoma
Parks plan of levying local taxes
for its library.
Mrs. Himstead's motion to table
the Merriam bill. and thereby kill 1t
at this session, was supported by
Councilman j. Douglas Bradshaw.
A. r. Selby. Lyon and Lee. Mr..
Merriam and Thomas c. Kelley
voted against the motion.
Mr.. Kelley moved to table his
own bill for the Rockville library
for q different reason. He said
he has been assured by town au-
thorities that the local council
will be able to care for the in
stitution's financial needs.
Passage Of the bill for non
partisan elections was expected
but q statement on 1t by Mr.. Lee