Evening star., 1951-12-17
.PrinceGeorges
'Charter Plan
To Be Pushed
Civic Leaders
Ready to Sell
Proposal to Voters
By J. |. MichoeI


Prince Georges civic leaders to-
day began the task of convincing
voters that the big half urban
county should adopt charter
government.
That procedure was recon-
mended in a $4,000 survey re-
port which advocated home rule
under policies formulated by
five-member County Council and
administered by a professional
county manager.
Sweeping governmental changes.
amounting to almost complete
reorganization, were advocated in
the 85-page report prepared after
five months field work by agents
of the Public Administration
Services of Chicago.
Copies are available at the
County Service Building at Hy-
attsville and the Upper Marlboro
Courthouse.
FOresee Hard Fight.
Newspaper summaries Of its
findings drew guarded comment
today from civic workers who
waged long battle for the survey
and now envision a major strug-
gle for implementation of its sug-
gestions. The county may adopt
it in whole or in part, or toss it
aside.
Spokesman for the Citizens
Committee for Good Government.
the League of Women Voters and
the County Civic Federation ex-
pressed elation at the recommen-
dation for a charter-their chief
objective. They were reticent on
its other provisions until they
have studied the report.
/ Et they made it clear that they
will set to work Immediately to
complete plans for workshop"
activities designed to acquaint the
public with the facts so that they
may have the proper basis on
which to decide whether they
want a charter government.
First Meeting Set.
+. These will include area and
countrywide meetings, newspaper,
radio and television publicity. The
first meeting is set for 8 pm.
January in the auditorium Of
Bladensburg Junior High School.
! When the educational cam
Ipaign ends, the Citizens Com
mittee for Good Government, if
public action is favorable, will
begin rounding up signatures Of
10000 registered voters. Mrs.
Virginia S. Wolf, the units pub
icity chairman, said this work
is expected to begin in May.
If the signatures are forthcom-
ing. voters will ballot next No
vember on setting up a five-mem-
ber board to draft charter. The
charter board would be required
to submit its documents within
six months and the charter pro-
posal itself would stand or fall
at the 1854 general election.
. Pleased by Proposal.
Mrs. Wolf said her group is
, happy to see that a recon-
mendation for home rule is
!. stressed"
r I'VE are much pleased with
s the home rule recommendation"
, declared Mrs. William H. Wood,
president of the League of Wom-
en- Voters, land we will help to
+ get the charter plan through"
The leagues program this year
: had home rule as its major sub
, ject. Mrs. Wood explained, and
also listed for study the county's
, problem in education, health,
, welfare, budget practice and the
merit personnel system.
:. The league views favorably the
surveys findings on these ques-
tions. she said, but will not now
comment on topics other than
, the charter.
She added, however, that I'VE
, believe that if all the surveys
, provisions could be put into ef-
feet, we would have good gov
, Iernment in the county"
my reactions are mixed" said
Walter F. Mulligan, president of
the County Civic Federation, who
said he gave his views as an indi-
vidual.
Il am elated at the surveys
advocacy of home rule, but dis
appointed because it does not rec
ommend a county liquor dis
pensary system and is vague in
its suggestions on police prob
Ilems."
Mr.. Mulligan said he agreed
with the reports recommended
Ition on the sheriff's Office and the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. The
Sheriff's office is obsolete, he as
serted and the planning commits
sion is no longer necessary be-
cause its primary purpose. prep
aration of a master plan, has been
accomplished.
very good" Mr.. Mulligan said
OF nndlngs on the merit system,
finance, health welfare and other
reorganization plans. "On the
whole" he declared, "it is an en-
couraglng report and one author
ltleS Will find difficult to reject"