Evening star., 1951-05-23
Council Passes
bill 10 Outlaw
Fortune Te|Iinq
New Measure Asks
$500, 900 in Bonds
For Parking Sites

VI 1NsatS SsASS
Montgomery County has been
made forbidden territory for for
tune tellers. unless they appear at
benefit performances. under bill
passed by the County Council.
Three other bills and a resolu-
ton also were adopted by the
Council yesterday to become the
first measures to be placed on the
law books since the county heads
opened their annual one-month
Legislative session on May l. All
are effective August is.
At the same time. Councilman
Harold F. Hammond introduced
a bill to authorize a $500,000 bond
issue to buy additional public
parking sites and enlarge existing
ones in the Silver Spring business
district. A public hearing will be
held at 7:3O pm. Monday in the
Rockville Courthouse.
The bonds would be paid off by
special taxes on commercial prop
erty in the area. Businessmen
who maintain their own parking
facilities may be exempted from
the special levies.
$100 Fine Set.
The fortune telling bill, spon-
sored by Councilman George F.
Nesbitt, imposes maximum fine
of $100 or up to six months in
Jail on violators.
Also approved were bills elimi-
mating a law making political ac-
tivity by a county employe a
misdemeanor; requiring boarding
houses and trailer camps to keep
guest registers, and repeating an
obsolete law directing the Liquor
Control Board to transfer the title
of the Silver Spring dispensary
building to the county.
The resolution adopted permits
the council to hold legislative ses-
sions in places other than the
Rockville Courthouse.
Mrs. Stella Werner, a council
member, announced she plans
to introduce amendments tc
strengthen provisions of an act
that makes possible the transfer
of public recreation functions from
the Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission to
the county.
Held Merely Permissive.
Mrs. Werner said the legislation
passed at the last session of the
General Assembly, is merely per-
missive and does not require the
transfer.
She also contended that under
the act. the planning commission
would continue to retain control
over park lands in which recrea-
tion programs are conducted.
At the same time. she said she
has decided not to introduce bill
to change the police retirement
law.
Other council members said the
group has decided to disregard
requests for legislation setting up
the position of public safety di-
rector and to place all fire depart
ments under the county manager
in case Of emergency.
Asks $4O7, 500 Grant.
In its open session, the council
asked the State to turn over a
$407, 500 grant for school construc-
ton for which application had
been made several months ago.
The county heads also notified
State authorities they will need an
additional $265, ,009 for schools fol-
the six-month period beginning
July i. This application also is
under the States grant-in-aid pro.
gram, which calls for 81 from the
State for every 50 the county puts
up for schools.
! County Manager Irving G. Nc.
Nayr was instructed to buy up tc
10 acres near the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad bridge on Brooke.
vile road, Silver Spring, as a site
for a central road equipme.::
depot for the suburban area. The
council said it is willing to pay ur
to 81 900 an acre.
Residents of Indian Spring
drive, Silver Spring, were told the
county will improve the street or
a front foot assessment basis. Il
the residents want the project
The county heads urged the resi-.
dents to make their wishes known