Evening star., 1950-10-11
Prince Georges
Promises Full
Finance Reports
Commissioners Act
After Complaint
Law Disregorded

Low DISreqor0ed
More detailed reports in tn
future on the financial condition
of Prince Georges County hav'
been promised by the count.
commissioners.
The promise was made yeSter
day in response to a charge tina
they had failed to comply with {
State law requiring statements OF
county expenses.
The first such report will b'
publicly advertised in week.!
papers CT the county October /!
and 2U. The commissioners said tht
report will contain a full break
down Of all revenues received, al
expenditures and a balance sheet
1t will cover the fiscal year ending
last June 80.
Statements published annually
in the past, the commissioners ad
mitted, were "breakdowns of thu
county tax levy by budget items
and Gid not include revenue
from other sources.
Acts Following Letter.
In a letter to William R. Turner
former executive secretary of th'
Citizens Committee for Gooo
Government in Prince George.
County, the commissioners
through their clerk, Lin d er
Briscoe, declared:
1.-THE law you referred to wa.
passed in 1902, and within my
memory, which goes back about
40 years, the kind of statement
published has been considered to
have been in compliance with that
law"
Mr.. Turner was the one who
made the charge of failure tc
comply in letter written to Mr.
Briscoe on Monday. He advised
Mr.. Briscoe he was prepared to
take legal action to obtain COM
pliance with the State law unless
the commissioners took remedial
action yesterday.
The statement for 1949-50 fisca
year will comply with provisions
of the recently adopted Sothoror
law, which revises the county gov
ernmental setup, the commission
ers announced. 1t will be baseo
on an auditors report for the
same period, they said.
Earlier Information Offered.
Mr.. Turner. member of the
Citizen Committees Board of Di-
rectors, also had asked that SIM
liar detailed reports be prepared
for the three-year period begin
ming July 1, 1916. Such informa-
ton, the commissioners replied
can be obtained by him, if he de-
Sires, at their office in Upper Marl-
boro.
Mr.. Turner had written that
he was unable to obtain such rec
ords or information last April.
The commissioners explained that
this was because the records were
needed in preparation of the
1950-51 fiscal budget. The COM
missioners denied they were with
holding information.
Survey Request Studied.
In another action the commits
sioners again took under advise
ment a request that a survey of
the county government be con-
Quoted. The new appeal was
made by the County Civic Fedora
ton. which repeatedly has tried
unsuccessfully, along with other
groups, to have such a survey
made before adoption of the
Sothoron Law.
Commissioner Harry w. McNa
NEE, board president, said it was
"the feeling of the board" that nc
surveys should be started until
the Sothoron measure "has beer
given a chance to operate"
Advised that such a survey
might cost the county $4,000
Walter F. Mulligan, federation
president, asserted: 1--WE have ar
So million business here anc
$25,000 to run it seems to be a
small investment indeed"
In other business, the board:
Authorized the county's Boarc
of Election Supervisors to exer-
else an option acquiring 40 addi.
tional voting machines for the
county at an annual rental cost
of $3.50 each, which could be ap-
piled towards their purchase price
of $1,202.
PTA Request Studied.
Took under study a request by
the ]. Enos Ray Elementary
School PTA, Takoma Park, recon-
mending appointment of womer
as part-time school crossing
guards, the same as in Montgom-
cry County.
Directed Commissioner T. Ham.
mond Welsh and P. E. Clark
county civil defense director, te
represent the county at an area.
wide meeting called by District
Commissioners to discuss civil de.
fense. The session will be held II
the District Building at pm
Tuesday
Agreed to give "top priority" ir
1851 to the proposed widening ane
resurfacing of Allentown roae
from Camp Springs to Friendly
following presentation of a peti
ton signed by members of thl
Oaklawn Citizens Association.
Officially proclaimed October Al
"Red Feather Month" in thu
county in support of the annua
Community Chest drive.