Evening star., 1949-03-18
PrinceGeorges
Slot machine
Bill Due Today
New School Boord
Plan Introduced for
Montgomery County
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent

IL
Prince Georges County. subject tt
a referendum. is expected to b,
introduced today in the Genera
Assembly by the county delegation
If the measure is approved
Prince Georges would become tn,
fourth Maryland county in which
the devices may, be operated
legally. The others are Ann,
Arundel, Calvert and st. Marys
A similar bill for Charles Count,
is pending in the Senate.
Meanwhile. Senator Roy Tasc'
Davis. Republican. of Montgomer,
County yesterday introduced bill
to require the Governor to max,
appointments to the School Boare
from recommendations submitted
by the County Council.
1t is the second measure sub.
mitted at this session to make
the Montgomery Board of Educa.
ton subject to more local control
Election Bill Defeated.
Last Tuesday the House de-
feated a bill for nonpartisar
elected School Board in Mont
gomery County.
Under Senator Davis bill. the
Governor would fill vacancies or
the board from a list of three
names presented to him by the
County Council. If the Governor
rejects the nominations, the coun-
Gil would submit another list.
Expressing confidence that the
bill would pass, Senator Davis
said:
This bill does not affect the
Governors appointive powers. but
merely assures the people of my
county voice in the selection OF
their School Board
At present, the Senator said
the Governor. who is a Democrat
makes appointments to the board
from recommendations by the
State Central Committee of the
political party in power in the
State.
The slot machine bill specificSll,
bans the mechanically operated
type.
S214,O00 Revenue Seen.
Delegation Chairman Perry o
Wilkinson. Democrat, estimated
the county would receive about
S214,000 annually from license
fees. adding that amount woulc
finance bond issue of between
s3,O00,0O0 and 100000 for CAPT.
tai construction.
He said both the Prince Georges
County Civic Federation and the
Hotel and Restaurant Association
have Endorsed the proposal.
According to the bill. license re-
ceipts would go into the county!
general fund for such uses as viii
directly or indirectly either reduce
the county tax rate or avoid o.
reduce an increase which
might otherwise be necessary
There are now about 900 coin
operated amusement devices il
the county from which it receives
no revenue. Mr.. Wilkinson said.
We believe that since th'
machines are already there. thu
county should tax them and ge
some much-needed revenue"
Persons Under Is Barred.
Persons under 18 would be pro
hibited from playing machine
which provide any awards.
Those convicted of permitting
juveniles to play such device
could be fined up to $500.
The following license fees ar
provided:
2; Glass A machines which offe
no awards. s25 year;
Glass B pinball and CLAW
machines which offer award
other than cash, $50 a year. ant
class c console" type machine
which pay off in cash. 5000 year
Operators of not more than f1v
machines would pay $500 annua
license fee while those owning o
operating more than five and no
more than IS would pay a 81. .OO'
annual license fee. A maximum
of five machines of all types woult
be permitted in one establishment
incorporated towns could I'M
pose an additional fee not to ex-
ceed 20 per cent of the county
license fee.
A fine of up to $1,000 would be
imposed on any one operating
machine without license.
Liquor Bill Expected.
Only registered voters ane
nroperty owners who have livec
in the county at least two years
could be licensed to distribute the
machines.
Also to be introduced today by
the Prince Georges delegation i!
a bill to freeze the number ol
liquor licenses at the number II
existence at the date OF passage
of the measure. There are abou1
340 licenses in the county now
Mr. wilkinson said.
A third Prince Georges bill Il
he submitted today would au'
thorize the county commissioner
to appoint a four-member recre'
alton board and to issue up tt
100000 in bonds annually To-
three years to develop play
grounds and other recreationa
facilities.
Board members would receive
$500 each year and would desig
nate one of the group as executive
secretary, who would receive al
additional $500 annually. Th'
members also would be paid $25(
eacb for travelling expenses.