Evening star., 1949-05-20
Library Bills Stir
Council Debate
In Montgomery
Mrs. Himsteod Tokes
Issue With Meriom
On Tax Proposal

A DEBATE between TWO members OF
the Montgomery County Council
provided an explosive climax last
night TO a public hearing at Rock
vile on local library legislation.
The issue was joined by Mrs.
Ralph E. Himstead and Lewis
Merriam. sponsors OF conflicting
bills, whose arguments brought
cheers and applause from their
hackers in sharply divided
audience.
Earlier. more than 80 citizens in
the crowd that almost filed the
big Circuit Court room had partic-
ipated in spirited discussion of
whether Montgomery libraries
should be supported locally or by
countrywide taxes.
Mrs. Himstead is the author OF
pending bill to establish a county
system. !; Mr.. Merriam introduced
measure which would permit
local tax up to 7 cents on 500
valuation for the Kensington IL
brary district. He also offered a
substitute to Mrs. Himstead's bill
for the purpose Of postponing the
countrywide system indefinitely.
Merriam ProvOkes Argument.
Mr.. Merriam provoked last
nights final argument with a
declaration that county system
would require general tax in
creases over and above a probable
raise for school construction.
which he said the citizens cannot
assume now.
Mrs. Himstead jumped to her
feet.
Under your BILL" she asserted,
the people of Kensington would
be paying the additional 7-cent
tax"
In one case" replied Mr..
Merriam. referring to the Him
stead bill, we'd say to all the
people: You've got to pay In
the other. the people of an area
would pay voluntarily"
Government Principle Cited.
"A whole principle of govern
ment is involved Mrs. Himstead
retorted. The setting up of so
many individual taxing areas Is
not a sound principle of govern
ment. A sound principle is to
have the county handle such serv-
ices a sthe people can afford This
makes for economy and efficiency.
IF we keep on allowing special
taxing areas to creep up for every
purpose, we'll be setting a pattern.
as Mr.. Greenaway said. Well
have innumerable tax rates and
innumerable governing bodies
Mrs. Himstead referred to EN-
erson Greenaway. director of the
Enoch Pratt Free Library. Balti-
more, who was invited to the
hearing. Mr.. Greenaway ex-
pressed belief that county wide
library services are more efficient
and more economical.
League Backs County system.
In reply to questions by Coun-
Gil President Frederic P. Lee. the
Baltimore librarian said reason
ably good" service could be pro-
vided on the basis of an ex-
penditure of $3.50 per capita per
year. Mr.. Lee observed that this
would require levy Of about
6l2 cents per 500 IN Mont
gomery.
Mr.. Greenaway said. however,
his figure covered operating costs
only. 1t did not take into ac-
count capital expenditures for
buildings and similar costs.
The citizens who addressed the
council represented various civic
organizations and existing librar-
teS. as we'll as themselves individ-
ually.
In general, the county wide
system was supported by the
League of Women Voters and the
County Council of Parent-Teacher
Associations. The special taxing
district plan was supported by
various citizens associations. OF
these, the largest delegation came
from Kensington.
The council also is considering
bill by Thomas C. Kelley for
special tax in the Rockville area.