Evening star., 1951-05-30
Council Passes
9 Bills, Acts on
a Tomorrow
Votes to Set Up z
Parking Lot Districts
z Measures TobIed

z Measures TubIed
Members Of the Montgomer!
County Council took a day of
today from their law-makinl
duties. with only four bills re-
naming on which to act in wind
ing up their annual one-montf
legislative session tomorrow.
They approved nine bills yes.
terday, including two setting uI
public parking lot districts ir
Wheaton and Montgomery Hills
and tabled two others. Those
adopted win take effect August Is
One Of the two bills tabled
would have transferred coming au.
thority from the Council to five-
man Board of Appeals. The other
would have increased the Cath
ersburg- Washington Grove fire
tax from 10 to IL cents in the
areas sanitary zone and from s
to 2 cents for that portion out
side the sanitary zone.
Since unanimous consent is
needed to take a bill of the
table, it appeared likely both
measures are dead for this ses-
sion.
The zoning bill had beer
strongly opposed by civic groups
while council members explained
they tabled the fire tax measure
because the Fire Department has
been unable to produce figures to
justify the proposed increases.
Bond Issue Bill Pending.
One Of the four bills still facing
action would authorize a '$10.-
100000 bond issue, including So
million for school construction,
$1.S million for roads and storm
water drainage facilities and
$4,000 to complete and furnish
the new county building under
construction in Rockville.
The three others would create
q recreation department, elm
mate a requirement that pur-
chases Of land for libraries be ap-
proved by the Board of Educa-
ton and authorize a $500, 900 bond
issue to buy new parking lots and
improve existing ones in the Sill
yer Spring business district.
The $10.2 million bond issue
bill Is being held up because of
doubt over how many additional
bonds the county can issue under
the law limiting its bonded in
debtedness to 10 per cent of its
assessable base.
The county's bond attorney.
Henry Russell of New York, ruled
yesterday that $4,716,000 in State
school construction loans must be
included in Montgomery's bond
ed debt.
Other Rulings Due.
And he Is expected to give q
decision today or tomorrow on
whether an additional 81 million
debt to finance street improve
ments, publiq& parking lots and
fire area bonds also must be in
cluded in the total debt.
Finance Director Alexander K.
Hancock said that If Mr.. Russell
rules they are subject to inclu-
sion, the county will be able to
issue about $12 million in bonds
during the coming fiscal year be-
fore reaching its 10 per cent limit.
This would necessitate a dras-
tic reduction in the $11 million
appropriation requested by the
Board of Education for new
schools and additions to present
buildings, for which bonds would
have to be issued.
The School Board met with the
Council yesterday in closed ses-
sion in an attempt to reach a
solution. But both groups de-
cided to await Mr.. Russell's deci-
sion before taking any action.
Meanwhile, County Attorney
David Macdonald said Glen Echo
Park officials have complained
that bill passed last week, which
banned fortune tellers in the
county, would affect a palm reader
In the amusement center.
He said the council, If it wished,
could add a provision exempting
licensed amusement parks. But
Mrs. Kathryn Lawler, a council
member, said she is opposed to
fortune tellers milking the pub
lic."
Referred to Dawson.
The council referred the matter
to States Attorney Walter w.
Dawson, explaining he had re-
quested the bill.
Highlighting yesterdays legis-
lative session was an unsuccessful
fight by the county to buy parking
lot sites outside the Bethesda
business district.
Declaring only small number
Of the residents whose homes ad-
join the business district oppose
the measure, Mrs. Werner said the
county is prevented from buying
sufficient parking sites in the
shopping area because of excessive
prices.
She emphasized the county
would not buy into residential
areas indiscriminately and warned
the council that, if the bill is de-
feated, "you will be voting against
any chance of improving business
conditions in Bethesda"
Strong opposition to the meas
ure was voiced by Councilman
Lathrop e. Smith and Mrs. Law
lor, who said it would remove
from the community the important
protection built up around homes.
They suggested that businessmen
work more closely with home
owners to solve the problem.
Other, Portions Passed.
The council then voted, 4 to /
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