Evening star., 1951-02-27
Assembly Bill
Seeks Repeal
OF Sothororl Act
Prince Georges Plan
Would Order Survey
OfCountyG Government
By J. B. Zotmon
Stoy St1ff Corrssnondenf

leglSlaClOn prOVlQlng IOr Iar-
reaching changes in the Prince
Georges County government and
requiring the county commission
ers to order a complete" govern
mental survey, was introduced in
the General Assembly yesterday.
The bill, offered in the House
by the Prince Georges delegation,
also would repeal the controversial
Sothoron Act. County Repub-
licans pledged such action in last
years campaign. which resulted
in a G. o. P. victory.
Other legislative developments
yesterday included House approval
of a resolution calling for Gen
eral Assembly ratification of a
Federal constitutional amendment
to limit the number of presidential
terms to two. The vote was 81 to
81, and Senate approval still must
be given.
Highlights of County Bill. s..
Highlights of the Prince Georges
bill. in addition to the survey re-
quirement, are;
J. Establishment of a county
architects Office to draft plans for
all new schools and county
buildings.
q. Consolidation of road con-
struction and fiscal functions into
two departments = public works
and budget.
81 Creation Of a personnel Office
to fix salaries of county employees
andl set UP a merit system for
them. as
4. Appointment by the commits
sioners of a qualified" person to
issue all licenses and permits.
S. Empower the president of the
Board of County Commissioners to
act as county purchasing agent.
g. Annual audits of county
finances, with the results to be
distributed widely"
Part pf Sothoron Act Unchanged.
The bill leaves unchanged the
Sothoron Act provision for full
time commissioner. The post now
is held by Commissioner Thomas
E. Latimer, who receives $500 a
year.
Delegate John F. Lillard, jr.,
who drafted the measure with
Delegates William r. Hughes and
Harry Taylor, all Republicans, ex-
plairied the salary of an elected
official cannot be changed during
his term of Office.
The / Sothoron Act, sponsored
last year by former State Senator
L. Harold Sothoref1A of Prince
Georges, had been attacked by
county civic groups on the ground
it was premature pending a survey
OF the county government.
Manager Plan Abandoned.
The bill introduced yesterday,
it was explained, is intended to
meet demands for a more stream
lined and up-to-date setup until
lllc survey ID COIIlplcGeO.
The delegation had considered
a proposal for county manager
but dropped it after the county
commissioners recently took steps
to speed up such a study.
Under the bill, results of the
survey must be made public by
June j, 1852. The commissioners
then would be required to hold at
least three public hearings be-
tween August Is and November IS
of that year.
Tremendous Saving" Claimed.
Recommendations of the survey
firm could be made the subject of
appropriate legislation at the 1858
session of the General Assembly.
Mr., Lillard contended county
architects Office would result in
tremendous savings" to county
taxpayers.
He said a study of architects
fees for schools during the last
five years revealed they totaled
between 100000 and $750,O0O.
operation of the proposed new
office would cost only about $65 900
annually, or about $325,000 over
a five-year period. he estimated.
The provision for budget and
public works departments follows
along the lines set up in the more
progressive counties throughout
the United States" Mr.. Lillard as
serted.
Other Departments Authorized
He also pointed out the bill
authorizes the county commits
sioners to establish any other de-
partments believed necessary "for
a more efficient and economical
administration"
The bill would become effective
June /.
William r. Turner, executive
secretary of the Citizens Com
mittee for Good Government, de-
clared his group is ''going to study
the measure carefully before MAX
ing any direct statement on it."
A brief Senate session last night
assured Senator Fraley, Republi-
can, of Garrett County of his seat
in that chamber until 1855. His
colleagues unanimously confirmed
Senator Fraley's election, which
had been challenged by Democrat
Bernard I. Gonder, who lost by
one vote and asked for a recount
Kensington Residents Hit