Evening star., 1951-12-07
PriinceGeorges
Official Assai|s
Rezoniing Foes
Bar Tox-Producine
Enterprises, SpieknoII
Tells Meeting

IeilS Meetinq
Industrial and commercial de-
velopment of Prince Georges
County is hampered and its citi-
zens pay high taxes because of
their attitude on zoning problems,
in the opinion of County Commits
sioner H. Wilson Spicknall.
Citing the preponderance of
residential and apartment con-
Struction, Mr.. Spicknall last night
told the County Civic Federation
that Prince Georges is becoming
"a lodging house county"
There is no reason" he con-
tended at the federation's Decem-
ber meeting at Hyattsville, that
we cannot attract department
stores and other large enterprises
as Arlington and Montgomery
Counties have done"
Potential Tax Loss Cited.
Opposition to rezoning of suit
able tracts. he asserted, has cut
of potential taxes which could be
used for schools and other i'm
provements.
He made it clear that he will
oppose any advance in real estate
levies. Our 50 rate" he declared,
lis as far as we can CO."
Mr.. Spicknall cited the case of
a large concern which planned to
locate in Prince Georges but in
stead built plant elsewhere on
land assessed at $25 million, be-
cause of zoning opposition.
There are plenty of sites avail.
able in sparsely settled sections
which industry might obtain, he
said. Specifically. he added, suit
able locations exist near Muirkirk
and Ardwick.
misunderstanding Seen.
Mr.. Spicknall said he believes
objections arise from "a fog of
misunderstanding which can be
cleared by giving people the facts"
He indicated that he will wage
a personal Campaign of enlight-
enment."
Mr.. Spicknall says the county
commissioners violently dis
agree" with the Maryland Nation
al Capital Park and Planning
Commission which he said docs
not want too much commercial
zoning."
During lively session, the fed
Grafton also:
/. Voted 18 to Is to commend
the county commissioners for
having Sufficient intestinal forti-
tude" to reject two United Ma
tions flags offered by the Busi-
ness and Professional Womans
Club. The tally came on the eve
of protest expected today from
delegation representing the
county's League of Women Voters.
2. Gave the county heads, all
Republicans. another pat on the
back for rejecting demands from
G. o. P. leaders who insisted on
the custer of Democratic county
employees.
Firm on School Raise.
8. Resolved to support an i'm
pending move by State legislators
to override in the February Gen.
eral Assembly session Gov. Nc
Keldin's veto of a bill to raise the
pay of school teachers.
The latter two resolutions were
offered by Mrs. Irma Roganoff,
chairman of the federation'S
County Affairs Committee. She
lost another, criticizing business
transactions between the county
and its officials.
The resolution, she explained,
was intended to prevent "a re-
currence of criticism resulting
from recent awards of county in
surance to two delegates.
Other Moves Adopted.
Other resolutions adopted in
cluded one which proposes that
the commissioners ask Gov. Nc
Keldin to have the Washington
Indian Head highway taken into
the State roads system so that it
will receive adequate traffic patrol.
While the highway is Govern
ment-owned, it is not a part of
the park setup and thus is not
policed by Federal officers.
Another asks Maryland legisla-
tors to ascertain the facts con-
corning Korean atrocities and
move for dismissal of persons who
may have been responsible for
Withholding information.
Federation President Walter F..
Mulligan said he has received
complaints from community asso-
Citations as to the position of his
organization on proposal to abol-
iSh police departments in favor
of force under one command.
He emphasized that the fedora
ton has not acted on the plan
which is under consideration by
a committee headed by Albert
Guidott.