Evening star., 1950-02-25
PrinceGeorges
Reorganization
Near Passage
House Expected to Get
Bill After State Senate
Takes Final Action
By J. L. Michael
Speeiol Correspondent Of The Ste

piAA w lCOi SdIllIG LIE PrlQCe
Georges County government is
expected today or Monday.
The measure, in revised form
passed second reading yesterday
and seems certain to 60 to the
House with little or no opposition
Senator L. Harold Sothoron
Democrat, its sponsor, brought it
from the Finance Committee
tackled OH six amendments, and
gained quick approval after a
verbal tilt with Senator Roy
Tasco Davis, Republican. OF
Montgomery County.
A significant change in the
proposal which had aroused a
storm of protests would eliminate
a provision setting up a merit
system for employees. Charges
that the merit plan was a politi-
cal move have been made and
denied.
Emergency Questioned.
One amendment would make
publication of financial state
ments mandatory and also would
require that files of effective Or
dinances be kept for public in
spection.
When the bill came up for con-
sideration, Senator Davis asked
why it was held of an emergency
nature.
Senator Sothoron replied that
a similar measure passed in 194e
did not specify how many COM
missioners the county should have
That is something the election
supervisors would have to know
he explained, before ballots could
be prepared for the November
election.
Couldn't you have corrected
that with a simple bill?" asked
Senator Davis.
Senator Sothoron conceded that
he could have. Then he said a
new bill was desirable because it
would concentrate "multitudin-
Gus" county laws into one statute
and would permit the commits
sloners to function without COM
ing to the Assembly except on
major matters.
Charter Rule Suggested.
you might have exercised con-
stitutional rights to set up a
charter government like ours" re-
marked the Montgomery Senator
For the fact that we have nc
such thing" replied Senator Soth.
oron. we are very thankful"
Senator Davis extended his
comment to say that he did not
wish to violate precedent by op-
posing a local bill offered by a
colleague. He asked that he be
excused from voting on the meas
ures, a privilege accorded him
under Senate rules.
In written statement the
county delegation said a plan to
set up a merit system was can
celed because Republicans charged
that its establishment would be
the end result of a political move
COP leaders claimed, the state
ment said. that the idea was "te
entrench present employees in Of
flee because the Democratic Or
ganization was in fear of losing
the election in November"
Political implications Denied.
Actually. said Delegation Leader
Perry o. Wilkinson, the proposal
had no political implications
whatever. He added that the
chief reason it was stricken was
to allow time for thorough
study of "a complex and involved
problem"
Declaring that passage of the
bill, with amendments, ''is re-
quired in the public interest" the
statement referred to a hearing
here February II.
From suggestions made at thaI
time. and later by county legis.
lators," the statement continued
''it appears that some changes
should be made in the bill with.
out sacrificing the intent to give
greater and more flexible au.
thority to the county commission.
ers."
Referring to objections voicee
at the hearing, the statement sale
principal opposition stemmed from
desire to do nothing about tn,
matter at this time, "but to OBJ
tain a professional survey looking
toward a revision of the govern.
mental system in the future"
Postponement Opposed.
while the question of a surve,
Is not within the province of To-
delegation" it added, "its mem
bers feel that a definite improve
ment so obviously designed to &C
complish efficiency and econom.
should not be postponed in favo
Of later and indefinite plans"
The statement made it clea
that the delegation wants moth
ing to do with "so-called non
political administrative system
used in some other Jurisdictions.
We firmly believe, it added, "tha
the best administration come
from those officials who have
direct responsibility to and con
tact with the public they serve.
One amendment would give tn
chairman of the county commits
sioners the title of president, an
another would specify that tn
other four would receive annua
salaries of $500 each.
Another amendment provide
that the commissioners would tax
Office on the first Tuesday of De
cember following election and on
would require the presiding Office
to serve full time and the boar,