Evening star., 1950-11-29
Monarch Named
Head Of Council
In Surprise Vote
Sees Possibility Of
Gradually Eliminating
Closed Sessions

]. Louis Monarch, Washington
attorney. will head the newly
elected Montgomery County
Council for the next IL months.
Mr.. Monarch. who lives at 9104
Alton parkway. Silver Spring, was
elected unanimously by his fellow
Council members, after they were
sworn in yesterday by Circuit
Court Clerk Clayton K. Watkins.
The Council also designated
Lathrop E. Smith as presiding Of
ficer when Mr.. Monarch is alb
sent. and Mrs. Kathryn J. Law
lor, as its secretary.
Mr.. Monarch's election as
Council president came as a sur
prise. 1t had been expected that
Harold F. Hammond would be
elected in view of his experience
as a member of the former Coun-
Gil and because he led the Re-
publican Council ticket in the No.
vember Z election.
Smith Withdraws.
Mr.. Smith vas nominated for
the presidency by Mrs. Stella
Werner. one of the two Democrats
on the Council, but he asked that
his name be withdrawn. The
other Democratic member IL
Grover Walker.
Also on the Council is George
F. Nesbitt, who acted as tempo
rary chairman pending Mr.,
Monarch's election. Mr.. Nesbitt
announced it will be the Councils
policy to rotate the presidency 80
that different sections of the
county will feel they will receive
full and proper representation and
to distribute the burdens of the
Office"
After taking the presidents
chair, Mr.. Monarch expressed the
hope that I'VE will all work in
harmony with a single purpose
to advance the interests of the
county as whole and to conduct
its affairs economically and ef-
ficiently."
Open Session Tuesday.
He also announced that the
Councils next open session will be
held at 2 pm. Tuesday, adding
that the group might work grad
ually into the elimination of all
closed sessions"
1t was learned that, at a closed
session preceding yesterdays open
meeting, Mrs. Werner attempted
to have the group go on record
as favoring such step.
In other business, the new Coun-
Gil appointed Mrs. Werner to the
Welfare Board to represent the
county heads.
In addition. the County Com
mission for Youth was instructed
to make a study of all public and
private recreational facilities and
tc make recommendations con-
cerning establishment of a coun-
ty-wide public recreation pro-
gram.
Lee Thanks Members.
Earlier, the outgoing council,
headed by Frederic P. Lee, ap-
proved appointments of Thomas
E. Hardesty, jr., Bethesda, to the
police force and Glenys Adee
Weakley, Silver Spring, as a po-
ilcewoman to guard school cross
ings.
Mr.. Lee thanked the other
council members for their faith
fulness and devotion to their
jobs"
"All your decisions" he said,
have been non-political and per-
fectly unselfish. guided only by a
sense of what was in the public
interest"
He and the other council mem
bers then adjourned to complete
their % months of service and
accompanied the new council
members to Mr.. Watkins Office
for the swearing-in ceremonies.
The new council will serve four
years.
Among those attending the
ceremonies were Col. Norman B.
Ames. Charter Committee presi-
dent; Mrs. James v. Bennett.
president of the League of Women
Voters, and DR.. Edwin w. Broome.
county superintendent of schools.