Evening star., 1949-02-19

StateDe|egation
Legislators Charge
, Attempt to MisIeud on
Plan to Shift Powers
By J. l. MichoeI
Special Star Correspondent

BY }. 1. MehoeI
Special Star Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 19.-Mont-
gomery County's solid Republican
delegation returned home in week.
end recess today after launching
a synchronized attack on the
Maryland-National Capital Parks
and Planning Commission.
In prepared statement, made
public by Chairman Anders R.
Lofstrand. jr., as the General As
sembly recessed yesterday until 8
pm. Monday, the delegation
charged the Planning Commission
with deliberate intent to mislead
and confuse the public" The dele
cation denied that it seeks COM
plete destruction of bi-eounty
planning" as charged by j. Bond
Smith, the commissions general
counsel.
The commission, State agency,
serves both Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties. Pending
legislation would transfer most Of
its powers in Montgomery County
to the County Council, which fa-
vors the legislation.
Danger to Parks Denied.
The bill. the delegation de-
clared, would return to the elect
ed officials of Montgomery County
supervision over building inspec-
ton. electrical inspection, zoning
recommendations. street and high
way planning. but would in no
way endanger the park system or
the planning or acquisition Of
parks"
Statements to the effect that
parks programs would be leopard
lied. the delegation asserted.
were made in the public press by
representatives of the Maryland
National Capital Parks and Plan
ming Commission with the delib-
crate intent to mislead and con-
fuse the public, and were ahso-
lutely unwarranted.
The delegation said it is well
known to the counsel for the COM
mission that the administrative
functions of the commission which
it proposed to transfer to the
county council are separate and
distinct from the park acquisi-
ton and park planning functions
of the commission"
1916 Pledge Cited.
In seeking transfer of other
powers, the delegation said it was
acting to carry out it's pledge of
the 1916 election campaign in
which the delegates promised to
return to Montgomery County the
functions of local government
which had been wrongfully
usurped by various independent
agencies appointed by the Gov
ernor."
In denying that the pending
bill would interfere with BIZ
county planning, Mr.. Lofstrand
pointed out that the commission
itself in 1947 established a sep
arate Office and maintains sep
arate records for each county. as
we'll as authority to publish a sep
arate building code for each
county.
If pending legislation does not
become law. he contended. Mont.
gomery County then would be un-
der the necessity of establishing
two zoning and planning agencies,
two building and inspection serv-
ices and two electrical inspection
services"
Damascus Given as Example.
He added that extension of the
regional district would not answer
the problem. las there are many
fast-growing sections of the
county far removed from the re-
gional district requiring municipal
services"
Mr.. Lofstrand cited the town
of Damascus as an example of a
community that has enjoyed
phenomenal growth" where
property owners need "the pro-
lection and advantages to be de-
rived from sound zoning and
planning practices"
Mr.. Lofstrand said that, al
though the planning commission
was organized in 1927, no master
plans were developed or published
until after the election in 1916 of
a Republican Board of County
Commissioners.
In the Senate. the so-called
"anti- Communist" bill passed to
third reading, with one amend
give persons discharged
on subversive grounds the right
to jury trials and further appeals,
if necessary.
Bill Asks Police Benefits.
Another amendment which
would have empowered rather
than directed the State attorney
general to appoint a special as
sistant for subversive activities,
failed on a voice vote. 1t was
offered by Senator Thomas F.
Johnson, Democrat, of Worces-
ter County.
While deferring action on all
bills, the House received new leg
islation which would create a new
offce-that of Lieutenant Cow
ernor-in 1851. Another measure
would provide additional benefits
for members of the State police
force, liberalize pensions. and set
the compulsory retirement age
at Sd.