Evening star., 1951-12-08
Prince Georges
Attorney Studies
Offer 10 Resign
Fisher Reeonsiders
Action After Getting
Vote of Confidence

Action After Getting
Vote Of Confidence
Adrian P. Fisher today was con.
sidering withdrawing his resigna-
lion as Prince Georges County at
,orney after receiving a unanimous
vote Of confidence from the five
county commissioners.
Mr.. Fisher, who tossed in a let
Ter Of resignation at the close of
heated argument with two of the
commissioners Tuesday, empha-
sized that he has not made up
his mind one way or the other
about returning to his $7,200-a-
year post, but he said he will
sleep on it" over the week end.
After Mr.. Fishers letter was
read to the board yesterday, the
commissioners first unanimously
declined to accept his resignation.
Stand Up to Vote.
Then, on another motion by
Commissioner Daniel A. Abbott.
who said ''it would work a hard
ship on us and Prince Georges
County to let Mr.. Fisher resign"
the commissioners gave their at
torney q unanimous vote of con-
fidence. They stood up to cast
their votes to emphasize their
unanimity.
Finally. the board moved to re-
tain a special attorney to work
on the county's campaign to get
the Berwyn road grade crossing
over the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road tracks reopened.
That was the issue which caused
the f1areup Tuesday between Mr..
Fisher and Commissioners Edward
]. Ned" Waters and H. Wilson
Spicknall. That motion was made
yesterday by Mr.. Waters, which
was interpreted as a peacemaking
gesture. "a
Ignored Private Practice.
Mr.. Fisher, who has long been
a prominent attorney in the
District and the county. said, in
his letter, that he had accepted
the position year ago, when the
all-Republican commissioners first
took Office, with the intention of
serving only until the board had
itself to its duties.
Mr.. Fisher gave up his post as
attorney to the county Board of
Education to take on the county
attorneys job. which is set up
as a part-time position. However.
Board President Thomas E. Lati-
mer said Mr.. Fisher has devoted
much more time to the job than
he should be required to and, as
a result, has had to virtually
ignore his private practice.
At last Tuesdays heated ses-
sion. Mr.. Waters challenged q
recent opinion by Mr.. Fisher ad-
vising the commissioners that
they had no legal means of re-
opening the Berwyn crossing.
which was closed by the State
Roads Commission nine years ago.
Cooperation Lessened.
Mr.. Waters, who lives in Ber-
wyn, took the position that the
county ought to go to court. Mr..
Fisher said he absolutely refused
to file a spurious and improper
court suit" because Eve don't have
3 leg to stand on"
The board yesterday also was
old that since the Republican,
county police chief, F.
Allen Richards, took over a year
ago. cooperation between town
md county police has been
1windling at a serious rate.
The speaker was 1t. Ernest
of the Colmar Manor
police force and head of the
Prince Georges County Municipal
Police Officers Association. He
said that before Mr.. Richards be-
came chief, facilities at the
ayattsville county substation were
used side by side by town and
county police" Now, he added.
signs reading, County police
only" have begun to appear.
Urges Uniform Bond System
Commissioner w. Everett Mar
ton disagreed with Mr.. Mulligan.
He said he had recently discussed
that very matter with both town
and county police and was con-
vinced that there is more coopera-
ton now between the two than
ever before.
Mr.. Mulligan also reiterated q
plea he has made on previous oc-
,asions for a uniform bond and
system in the county.
He suggested that the states at
;orney confer with all the justices
If the peace and that they agree
On standard bonds and collaterals
20 be charged on all offenses ex-
,ept those with very unusual cir
The law now sets only minimum
nd maximum collaterals and
,onds, but the range in many
ases leaves too much to the dis
'retion of the justices of the
'eace. Mr.. Mulligan said.
Study Cab Rate Increase.
In another action, the commits
toner's took under advisement a
equest from three county taxi
alb companies that county cab
ates be increased to so cents for
he first mile, 10 cents for each
dditional third of a mile and 10
ents per mile additional for all
assengerS over two.
Present rates, set by law seven
ears ago. prescribe 80 cents for
he first mile, 10 cents for each
dditional third of a mile and 10
ents additional for all passengers
yer two no matter how long the
rip is.