Evening star., 1951-02-04
County Manager
Plan backedin
Georges
Civic Group Leaders
Favor Move PENDING
Survey Completion
ByJ. B. Zotmon

~ @otHb0u
| Legislation to provide a county
manager form of government in
Prince Georges County has met
with approval from leaders Of
groups seeking more up-to-date
county setup.
But these leaders emphasized
they regarded the proposal, re-
vealed yesterday by the, county's
legislative delegation, as a stop
gap, pending results of a full-scale
survey of the county government.
Opposition to the plan. however.
came from Thomas E. Latimer, the
county's full-time commissioner.
Mr.. Latimer said he believed the
survey should be completed before
any governmental changes are
made.
The county manager proposal
will be part of a bill to repeal the
Sothoron Act, according to John
F. Lillard, jr,. one of four county
delegates to the Maryland General
Assembly who are drafting the
legislation.
The Sothoron Act, sponsored at
last years session of the Legis-
lature. by former State Senator
L. Harold Sothoron of Prince
Georges. provided principally for
a full-time commissioner and a
county purchasing bureau.
Sothoron Act Was Target.
Its passage in the face of strong
opposition from civic organizations
was believed a major factor in the
sweeping Republican victory in the
county last November.
Another factor. according to OBJ
servers. was the refusal of the for
mer Democratic Board of County
Commissioners to approve the civic
groups request for county sur
vey. The Republicans supported
such a study in their campaign
and the present all-Republican
board authorized initial steps for
the study on Friday.
William R. Turner, executive
secretary of the Citizens Com
mittee for Good Government, in
dorsed the county manager pro-
posal as "a step forward" He
made it clear, however, that he
spoke only for himself.
My organization" he explained,
wants to study the legislation
very carefully from the stand
point of how we'll it will imple-
ment recommendations of the
survey.
I'VE want to make certain any
such bill passed at this session
can be modified as a result Of
the survey recommendations. T
think the plan at this time should
be regarded as an intermediate
step in improving the county gov
ernment.'
| Other Support Voiced.
Similar attitudes were taken
by Walter F. Mulligan. president
OF the County Civic Federation,
and Mrs. Reuben Bogdanoff.
president of the League of Women
Voters.
Mr.. Mulligan said that Speak
ing personally, feel a county
manager would expedite the work
OF the county commissioners, who
need someone to administer their
policies"
THE existence of a full-time
commissioner" he added. docs
not eliminate the necessity for a
county manager"
Mrs. Bogdanoff said the Leagues
Board of Directors suggested two
months ago that any bill to re-
peal the Sothoron Act include a
provision for a county manager.
But she pointed out the group
also asked for creation of a per-
sonnel board and merit system
for county employees, as we'll as
elimination of the full-time COM
missioner post.
Mr.. Latimer, who receives
$500 a year as full-time COM
missioner, said he is acting as a
county manager under the pres
ent system.
Il believe the new Office would
be superfluous. he asserted. In
any event, further study should
be made of such a plan in the
light of the survey recommended
tions before it is adopted"