Evening star., 1951-01-31
Nearby Counties Draft
Bill 10 Notify Towns
0fzoningAppIieation
BY stoff Correspondent Of The Star

VLUlIllIyAppIlCdIlUnS
BY O ssoff Correspondent Of The star
ANNAPOLIS, Md, Jan. 31.-A
bill intended to provide incorpo-
rated towns in suburban Mont
gomery and Prince Georges Coun-
ties with adequate notice of zoning
applications affecting them will be
drafted by delegations from the
two counties.
The proposal, which would re-
quire the Maryland National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commits
sion to send such notices to the
towns, was decided on at a hear
ing yesterday before the two dele
cations on legislation involving
Takoma Park.
In another legislative develop
ment, the House passed and sent
to the Senate the perennial bill to
repeal the Jim Crow law requiring
segregation Of Negroes and white
persons on intrastate railroads and
steamboats,. It now is enforced
only on Chesapeake Bay ferries.
The Senate received a bill from
Dewitt S. Hyde, Republican. of
Montgomery County, to clear the
way for nonpartisan council elec-
tions in the county.
Would Repeal Lindsay Law.
1t would repeal the Lindsay Law,
which prohibits such a procedure.
In addition it would empower the
County Council to offer an amend
ment to the county's charter au-
thorizing it to enact local non
partisan election law. Isl
The Senate also adopted an un-
favorable committee report on a
bill which would have set up a
commission on alcoholism, with
provision for treatment clinics.
The measure would have carried
an annual appropriation of
100000.
Senator Hyde, who argued the
expenditure would result in a
saving in relief funds to the fami-
lies of alcoholics, attempted to
substitute the bill for the unfavor-
able committee report. But his
motion failed, 19 to 10.
The Zoning notice bill is ex-
pected to be offered as substitute
for a measure requested by Ia
koma Park officials. The latter
proposal provides that, if the city
council recommends denial of a
zoning application, the Mont
gomery County Council or the
Prince Georges County Commits
sionors could not grant the petit
tion except by unanimous vote.
Want Some Authority.
In arguing for support of their
bill at yesterdays hearing, city
officials insisted they have no de-
sire to take zoning authority
away from the heads of the two
counties. But they contend they
should have some SAY" in the
matter.
At present. according to Mayor
Ross H. Beville, the city often
fails to receive adequate notice
Of zoning applications involving
property in the town.
J. Douglas Bradshaw, chairman
of the all-Republican Montgomery
County delegation, said the County
Council opposes the bill on the
ground its approval would lead to
similar demands from other in
corporated towns in the county.
He said the County Council also
expressed the fear that, if one of
its members should be elected
from Takoma Park, he would have
veto power over all zoning ap-
plications in the municipality.
Other Bills Discussed.
Also discussed at the hearing
were Takoma Park bills to:
Provide for a city manager,
eliminate a provision for a one
half of l per cent discount for
payment of tax bills in October,
authorize the Mayor to name a
substitute when he is i'll or out of
town, redefine rules for council
quorum, make technical admend-
ments to a law concerning city
Indebtedness, authorize the city
to sell a lot on Baltimore avenue
and add to Takoma Park a 12-acre
tract at New Hampshire avenue
and University lane. This prop
erty, according to Mayor Bevi1le,
was taken away without the city's
knowledge under a bill passed at
the 1889 session of the General