Evening star., 1950-03-03
.PrinceGeorges
Federation Hits
Sothoron Bill
Asks Lone to Defer
Signing Measure
And Call Hearing

The Prince Georges County
Civic Federation plans to make 8
last-ditch fight against the Soth-
orCn bill to reorganize the county
government.
Following the General Assembly
approval of the measure, the fed
Grafton last night voted to urge
Gov. Lane to defer signing il
pending a public hearing before
him.
At the same time the group
tabled a resolution calling for for
nation of a non-partiSan citizens
committee ito consider a charter
and county manager plan of gov
ernment.'
Referendum Possible
The Sothoron bill. sponsored by
State Senator L. Harold Sothoron
of Prince Georges, provides fo1
the election by the county COM
missioners of one of their men,
bers as a full-time commissioner
at $500 a year. 1t also authorizes
the county heads to set up a
purchasing bureau.
Daniel M. Greene. chairman OF
the Laws and Legislation Com
mittee, told federation members
that county voters could force a
referendum on the bill.
He explained it would be neces-
sary to obtain petition signed
by 10 per cent OF the qualified
voters in the last general elec-
ton in the county.
In urging the Governor to de-
lay final action on the bill, the
federation reiterated its demand
for a survey of the county govern
ment.
Bauer Offers Resolution.
The resolution calling for a
study of a charter form of gov
ernment was offered by Richard
E. Bauer as a substitute for an
other motion, which also was ia
bled.
The latter proposal, offered by
Mrs. Georgia Benjamin, urged the
federation to vote in favor of an
appointive county manager, in
stead of a full time county COM
missioner, and the creation of two
other county posts-budget officer
and a purchasing agent.
MI. Bauer, in his resolution, said
the county's present government
Does not adequately meet the
needs of the rapidly expanding
population.
He also contended that "ar
effort is being made by the domi.
nant county machine to divert the
attention of the people from the
need for a thorough-going reform
by jamming through the Legisla-
ture a superficial reorganization
bill which would leave control in
the hands of the said machine.
Demand Welsh's Resignation.
In another action, the federation
Joined a group of Woodlawn anc
Landover Hills residents in de-
manding the resignation Of County
Commissioner T. Hammond Welsh
Mr.. Welsh had made a motion
for approving a petition for re.
zoning property in the WoodlaWr
area to permit construction Of
semi-detached homes.
His action has been Endorsed
however, by another group of resi-
dents of the area.
The federation also recommend
ed an increase from 2 to 2la cent
in the county's library tax ant
passed a resolution asking tn
Public Housing Administration tt
transfer approximately 1,400 acre
along Edmonston road, nea
Greenbelt. to the National Capita
Park and Planning Commission
for park development.
Committee Heads Named.
Committee chairmen for tn
coming year were named by Mr.
Mulligan. They are Mr.. Greene
laws and legislation; Mrs. ReubeI
Bogdanoff. county affairs; William
r. Turner, public utilities; DR.. R
C. Wiley, education; Mrs. Benja
min, citizenship; Fred w. Cast
parks and food control; E. L
Hines, roads; Charles F. Luebner
zoning; Frank Fierstein, hospital
Mrs. Vera A. Willard, health ant
welfare, and Fred Ridgeway, mem
bership.
Named as delegates to the In
terfederation Council were Mr.
Greene, Wallace L. Hall, Mr.. Cast
'Mr. O'Dwyer, Mrs. Bogdanoff
John F. Kirby and Mr.. Mulligan
The Hyattsville Lions Club wa
ADMITTED to membership.