Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-31
Council Session
In Montgomery
.ToEnd Today
Emerging Tax Area
And Trosh Gathering
Are FinoI Subjects
ey 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 Sub
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.
/. Authorized bond issues up TO
S5,465 900 for construction OF
county school buildings, roads and
storm drainage systems. and on
street parking facilities in Silver
Spring.
2. Killed all library legislation
proposed at the l949 session.
3. Enacted a measure requiring
that County Council primaries and
elections be conducted on q 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.
6. 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.
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 include.
the Silver Spring parking lot pro.
gram urged by that community.
Board Of Trade and recommended
last week In County Manager
Irving q. McNayre's budget pro-
posal. 5ii5f,ak
The law authorizes tn council
in business sessions et6s1e VI
to $4,265, 900 for school building
tless such amounts as are receives
| in State grants and borrowed
from a State credit pool. Tit
original proposal for a $4,000, o0t
issue was cut by $735, 900. tn,
amount authorized last week II
an emergency bond issue bill.
Road Bonds Authorized.
Bonds totaling 100000 TO
roads and similar projects arr
authorized in other sections o.
the amended act. Such a steI
was sought by the Montgomer,
County Farm Bureau and indi'
vidual citizens.
Passage of the bill for non.
partisan elections was expected
but a statement on it by Frederi,
P. Lee. council president. con.
stltuted a challenge to politica
opponents of charter government
He said:
There are differences Of opin.
ion among lawyers as to its valid.
ity. The County Council believe.
| it is valid and that it will be sus.
tanned by the courts. However. Il
permit a test without delay. thu
County Council has passed thu
bill at this session. affording thost
who differ with us q full oppor.
tunity to settle the issue.
II sincerely hope they will &C,
promptly. If they plan to act. al
all, and not withhold proceeding.
to date that would interfere
with the elections in 1850. Thi!
action would seem to call for cor.
responding response In good faith
if they intend to proceed
Councilman Lewis Merriam lee
the successful fight to block tn.
bill which would have given ths
Silver Spring fire area part Of
Kensington's district. The vote
was 4 to 3.