Evening star., 1950-10-25
Council Attacks
Planners
In Bond Sale
Resolution Calls for
Bidding on Issues,
Not Private Deals

Az 4'AetA y AehA1S 4N1ClOllo1 SdPlUdl
Park and Planning Commission
today was confronted with another
attack from the Montgomery
County Council-this time over
the commissions decision to sell
100000 in bonds without COM
petitive bidding.
Two weeks ago, the council
criticized the commission for al
legedly failing to draft master
zoning plans for all of the countys
metropolitan area.
Yesterdays dispute arose after
Jesse F. Nicholson. the planning
agency's secretary-treasurer, asked
the council to guarantee payment
OF the 100000 bond issue which
Mr.. Nicholson said has been sold
privately to Kidder, Peabody 81
Co., New York
Proceeds of the bonds are to be
used to match Federal funds to
complete land acquisition for the
George Washington Memorial
Parkway and to pay off two pre-
vious commission bond issues.
Law Forces Approval.
Council members conceded they
were forced by law to approve the
request, but they objected strongly
to the sale of the bonds by private
negotiations.
Council President Frederic P.
Lee charged that such a procedure
"opens the way to abuses" and
makes the commission subject to
public criticism, since it handles
public funds.
1--WE don't question the COM
missions authority to do what
it has DONE" Mr.. Lee said, "but
we believe the method it has Sc
lected is improper
He was supported by Council
man j. Douglas Bradshaw, who
proposed that the council defer
action. He was overruled, how
ever.
Mr.. Nicholson explained the
commission acted on the advice
of its bond attorneys.
eve have no objection to the
public sale of bonds" he said.
"but our bond attorneys, in this
particular instance, told us we
could get a better interest rate
through private negotiations with
one firm
Average 2.29 Per Cent Rate.
He added the bonds had been
sold at the average interest rate
of 2.29 per cent.
After approving Mr.. Nicholson's q
request to guarantee the bonds,
the council adopted a resolution
stating that lit is in the public
interest that commission bond,
should be offered for sale on the
basis of sealed bids in the open
market and not by private nego-
tiationS and sale"
\ Later, Mr.. Nicholson told re-
porterS the council had guaranteed
a similar commission bond issue
last year with no objection.
"It is possible" he asserted,
that the coming election had
something to do with yesterdays
objections.
In other business, the Council
denied a request for reconsidera-
tion of its decision last August 8
denying an application for two
family coming of Residential A
property at Wisconsin avenue and
Langdrum lane. Bethesda. The
petition was filed by Helen H.
and Albert London. who operate
tourist home there, according
to the council
The council pointed out, how
ever, that the applicants could
appear before the Board of Zon-
ing Appeals and seek an excep-
ton from the zoning ordinance.
Four Rezonings Granted.
The county heads also granted
four rezoning applications and
denied one. Those approved are:
Rudy c. Will. Residential A to
Commercial D for land on the
east side of the Rockville pike
near Wall lane.
Michael F. Mangan and William
j. Freas, Residential A to Com
mercial D for land on Price ave-
nue. east of Georgia avenue,
Wheaton.
John w. Brabner Smith, Resi-
dental A to c (apartments) for
land at Forest Glen road and
Kensington parkway, Kensington.
Roy R. Hunt, Residential A to
c for land on the south side of
Spring street between Colesville
road and Cameron street Silver
Spring.
Denied was the application of
Louis E. and Betty Grossman for
reclassification from Residential
A to Commercial D of a lot on
the north side of Sligo avenue
near Schrider street, Silver
Spring.
! Gray Pension Approved.
A pension of $50 a month for
Mrs. Florence White Gray, widow
OF Police Sergt. Mason Gray, Sd,
and $10la month for each of her
three children, was approved.
Sergt. Gray died of bulbar polio
recently.
Mrs. Lola Joann Devine. Silver
Spring, was appointed a police
woman to guard the school cross
ing at Burnette avenue and Lyco-
ming street, Silver Spring. Her
appointment brings the number
OF policewomen on duty to 81.
Eleven more are needed.
Appointed as policeman was
James A. Ebbess, 90, of Silver
Spring. Mr.. Ebbess, a former po-
liceman, resigned several months
ago but applied for reappointment
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