Evening star., 1951-01-10
Assembly Gets
Takoma Park
Bill
Measure Is One Of 6
Affecting Suburb
In Maryland House
By J. B. Zotmon
Stur Stoff CoKrespondenf

By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 10.-For the
second time in four years, a pro-
posal for city manager form of
government in Takoma Park is
before the General Assembly.
The bill was among six affect
ing Takoma Park which were in
troduced in the House yesterday
by the Montgomery and Prince
Georges County delegations.
Meanwhile, the Senate con-
f1rmed Gov. Lanes appointment
of Arthur H. Brice of Kent Coun-
ty, as chairman of Maryland's
Tidewater Fisheries Commission.
Job Pays $500 a Year.
The 64-year- Eastern Shore
Democratic leader. who has been
Motor Vehicles q. Commissioner
since l949. succeeds David H. WAL
lace. Mr.. Wallace repeatedly has
agreed to become executive direc-
tor OF an oyster trade association
Mr.. Brice will receive $500 a
year during the remaining four
years of Mr.. Wallace's six-year
term.
The Senate acted swiftly after
opposition which had been expect
ed over the appointment failed
to materialize. The group then
went into closed session to ap-
prove appointments made by the
Governor to II other State and SO
local offices since the 1949 session.
In the only House business, ap-
proval was given to a resolution
by Delegate John F. McNulty
Democrat, of Anne Arundel Coun-
ty, calling on the States civil de-
Tense director to report on what
has been done for the common
defense and for the protection of
the lives, health, safety and prop
erty OF the people of the State
Similar Bill Killed in l947.
Mr.. McNulty. a former Mary
land commander of the American
Legion, said: Il have heard moth
ing at all about civil defense. r
am forced to assume nothing has
been done"
The city manager bill for Ia
koma Park is similar to legislation
submitted at the 1947 session. At
that time, the measure was killed
by the two nearby Maryland dele
cations largely because of opposi-
ton from Takoma Park residents.
The bill introduced yesterday
however, has been discussed at
several public meetings sponsored
by the Takoma Park Council and
has strong support from the mu-
nicipality's citizens, according to
j. Douglas Bradshaw, a member of
the all-Republican Montgomery
delegation.
Provision is made in the meas
ure for a referendum in March,
1852. If approved at that time
it would go into effect July i
that year.
Council Would Appoint Him.
The city manager would be ap-
pointed by the council and would
act as the city's chief admins
trative officer. He also would
make recommendations for gov
ernmental changes and would
supervise the purchase, storage
and distribution of all municipal
supplies.
The bill also would set up de-
partments of finance, police, fire
and public works, the heads of
which would be appointed by the
city manager with council ap-
proval. Salaries of the manager
and department heads would be
fixed by the council.
Another Takoma Park bill
would require presentation to the
council of all coming petitions. If
the city heads recommend their
denial, the officials of Mont
gomery and Prince George Coun-
ties would have to vote unani-
mously before approving the
changes sought.
Other Takoma Park Bills.
The four other bills involving
Takoma Park would:
Liberalize discounts for prompt
payment of tax bills, authorize
the Mayor to name a substitute
when he is i'll or out of town,
redefine rules concerning a coun-
Gil quorum. and make technical
amendments to local laws.
Local appointments approved
by the Senate included:
Montgomery County-Elizabeth
Diamond and John j. Wachter,
substitute supervisors of elections.
Prince Georges County - A.
Preston Perrie and William P.I
Beall, substitute supervisors of
elections.