Evening star., 1951-01-20
County Survey
Preliminary
Work Done
Comprehensive Study
Held Unlikely Until
Legislature Adjourns

Preliminary work on a survey
of the Prince Georges County
government has been done but a
planned comprehensive study is
unlikely until the Maryland Leg
|islature adjourns.
The county commissioners yes
terday informally set April l as
the approximate date for tackling
the controversial manner. Mean
while, they keep tab on what the
county's legislators do in Annapo-
lis, it was said at Upper Marlboro.
The proposed survey will cost
from $4,000 to 100000, board
Chairman Thomas E. Latimer
ESTIMATED.
Doubts People Are Aware.
"I doubt" said Mr.. Latimer,
"that the people of the county
are aware of that"
The survey question bobbed up
yesterday when the commission
ers' secretary, Thomas F. Hicks,
| informed the board he had writ
ten eight firms of experts whose
names he had obtained from the
United States Chamber of Com
merce.
Commissioner H. Wilson Sprick-
nall said he did not see how the
board can act intelligently on the
question while it is under con-
sideration in Annapolis. He sug-
gested that April l be set as the
deadline for beginning action at
the county level.
Chairman Latimer said he be-
lieved the April l date should be
tentative. He added that he IA
vored meetings with heads of
county civic groups as the first
step in preparing a survey blue
print.
when their views have been
considered and incorporated into
general plan," he recommended,
then the outline should be placed
before all interested survey firms
for advice and cost estimates" :"
The subject of the survey of
county government was brought
into sharp focus when the Sotho-
ron Act, now in effect, was in
troduced in the General Assembly
last winter.
Issue in Campaign.
Civic groups and the League of
Women Voters demanded a sur
vey and the Republican Party
backed their proposal and made
the subject an issue in the elec-
ton campaign.
Failure of the then Democratic
incumbents to 60 along with the
survey plan was believed to have
contributed to their defeat in
November.
In an action apparently in
dicating a move toward a home
rule government, the commits
sioners indorsed proposed legisla-
ton which would increase powers
of the local welfare board.
Chairman Latimer said the
board also would favor a larger
measure of local control of other
State-directed and county-ad-
ministered departments. Among
these are the Board of Education,
Health Department, Extension
and Employment Services and the
Office of Vocational Rehabilita-
ton.
Shift in Responsibility Urged.
Welfare Board spokesmen told
the commissioners their agency
functions in a purely administra-
tive capacity under the super
vision. direction and control of
the State Welfare Board. They
asked that conflicting provisions
of present statutes be eliminated
and greater responsibility placed
at the local level.
Meanwhile. colored residents of
the county renewed their demands
| for wider participation in govern
mental affairs.
Alexander Barnes and Mrs.
Thalia D. Thomas. representing
the Prince Georges unit OF the
Allied State Republican Club,
urged colored representation on
all policy-making boards, public
improvements in Negro areas and
removal of Jim Grow" signs from
wash rooms in the Upper Marlboro
Courthouse. 9
Mr.. Latimer said their program,
which was presented several weeks
ago, was being studied. He added
that the county's colored popula-
ton could expect fair treatment u