Evening star., 1951-02-16
Lofsfrand Plans
Home RuIefor
All Maryland
Drafts Bill to Give
municipalities Power
Like Montgomery's
By J. B. Zotmon
Stur Staff Correspondent

land would be given home-rule
powers broad enough to enact
practically any local laws they
want under legislation being draft
ed by Delegate Anders R. Lof-
strand, jr., Republican, of Mont
gomery County.
Mr.. Lofstrand, House Minority
Leader, said his measure would
81 "a Mt municipalities authority
similar to that held by the Mont
gomery County Council.
The Council, set up under a
charter adopted by ths voters in
1948 referendum, meets in May
Of each year to pass countrywide
laws. It has no jurisdiction over
incorporated towns, however.
Depend on Assembly.
Previously, Montgomery, like the
% other Maryland counties, had
to depend on the General Assem-
bly, to pass its laws.
Il see no reason" Mr.. Lofstrand
said. why Incorporated towns
should not be able to take care of
their own affairs at home.
Il realize not every county wants
a charter like that of Mon, gom-
cry. But certainly towns, which
have multitude of comparatively
trif1ing problems, should not have
to come to Annapolis every two
years and overburden the Legisla-
ture with flood of local bills"
He pointed out most of the
nearly 1000 bills dumped in the
legislative hoppers during odd
year sessions of the General AS
sembly concern local matters
which he contended could easily
be taken care of by the towns
themselves.
Bills by Storm Defeated.
If these local bills were elimi-
mated, he contended, the Legisla-
ture could devote more time to
Statewide problems. He also said
the Maryland League of Munich
pallties has advocated for many
years that towns be given more
power to govern themselves.
Similar proposals were presented
at the 1947 and 1949 sessions by
former Senator Edward Storm,
Democrat, of Frederick County,
but were defeated
But Mr. Lofstrand is confident
his bill will succeed.
Now is the time to adopt such
a plan," he declared while the
State is confronted with civil de-
fense and financial problems that
require all our attention"
At the same time the Montgom-
cry Delegate disclosed he is pre-
pairing a bill to reorganize the
State Planning Commission.
Name Would Be Changed.
He proposes to rename the
agency the Planning and Develop
ment Commission and to set up
three departments under it-re-
search and planning, commerce
and economic development, and
services.
Meanwhile the House Ways and
Means Committee yesterday gave
tentative approval to bill re-
semiannual inspection of
motor vehicles at privately op-
Grated garages.
The bill, sponsors of which in
clude Mr.. Lofstrand, originally
provided for 81 charge for each
inspection, but was amended to
reduce the fee to so cents.
Among those urging favorable
action was j. c. Darrell, manager
OF the Automobile Trade Associa-
tlon of Maryland. He read a let
ter from George E. Keneipp. Dis
trict Traffic Director. in which
Mr.. Keneipp referred to the gem
orally poor condition of Maryland
vehicles travelling on District high
ways" Mr.. Keneipp added:
I'm some isolated cases Metro
politan Police have escorted Mary
land drivers to the District line.
and told them not to return"
Special Funds Criticized.
In another legislative develop
ment. Senate Majority Leader
Louis L. Goldstein, Democrat, of
Calvert County, charged yesterday
there are millions of dollars in
special funds lying around" while
the State is struggling to find
money to balance its $3.50 million
budget.
I'm not going to raise taxes
on anything until we look into
these special funds" he told the
Senate Finance Committee, of
which he is chairman. Il want to
find out where they are, how much
is unspent, and if it can be trans
ferred to general funds.
AS the first step in his proposed
treasure hunt, he asked Deputy
State Controller Joseph O'C. Nc
Cusker to give each committee
member list showing all special
funds of the State, how much is
obligated and what disposition has
been made of their surpluses in
the past.
Several other committee mem
oers complained the State has no
control over special funds, which
cannot be used for the general
budget, but which are earmarked
for certain agencies, such as the
State Roads Commission, the De-
partment of Motor Vehicles and
the University of Maryland.