Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-08
Fund Diversion
Laid 10 Former
County Board
Prince Georges Heads
Charge Obligations
Of S653,000 Involved


sioners today stands accused Of
using financing methods of doubt
full legality, which may bring SER
luos financial difficulties in the
coming fiscal year.
In blast loosed yesterday, the
all-Republican board elected last
charged that:
Approximately $4,000 was di-
verted from general funds and
$125, Don from the proceeds Of
bank loans, making $653,000 in
obligations for which no provisions
were maze for repayment at the
time the present board was pre-
pairing the 1852 budget"
The charges were made in a
prepared statement, which did not
indicate the manner in which the
diverted funds were used.
Later, the commissioners said the
money was spent or committed for
road projects.
Schooi Fight SmOothed Out.
Copies Of the statement were
handed TO reporters at the close
of an executive conference which
followed the commissioners regu-
lar meeting at Upper Marlboro. In
the regular session, the commits
sioners ana county school officials
smoothed cut their differences
over the Fcrestville school and the
commissioners took under advise
ment a request for an appropria-
ton to construct a new highway
from Seventy-eighth street and
Addison road, District Heights, to
or beyond Central avenue, near
Seat Pleasant.
BY way of ameliorating possible
dangers foreseen from the alleged
funds diversion, the commission
ers said, the Legislature has au-
thorized a bond issue to liquidate
the indebtedness and that they
are now preparing to sell them.
If they cannot be sold, the coun-
ty faces serious difficulties, the
commissioners warned, adding
that "the former boards method
of handling county funds in this
instance was not good financing
and of doubtful legality in our
minds"
Audit Statement Promised.
contending that the alleged di.
version was unknown to them
when they signed the current bud
get, the commissioners held out
hope for a satisfactory working
balance, if the bonds can De sold.
They promised a further state
ment when the audit is finished
and we get a complete breakdown
of county finances.
| Commissioner H. Wilson Spick-
nall, who last Friday declared that
I'VE have been in Office eight
months and to this day have no
idea of the county's financial posi-
ton" demanded then of Control
Ter Carl Mace a simple, clear pic
ture of what the situation Is.
| Asked yesterday whether the
board had received such a report.
Mr.. Spicknall said they had, but
had decided not to make it public
because of its tentative nature. He
said the audit should be completed
within a month and that the re-
port will be released then.
The boards statement was ex-
Ipected to bring a strong reaction
from the Democrats, who said the
county had a SIS million surplus
when they left Office and have
since reiterated that statement.
Amenities Exchanged.
A threatened verbal battle be-
tween the commissioners and
School Supt. William S. Schmidt
and his assistant Thomas S.
Gwynn, jr., over proposed addi-
tons to the Forestville Elementary
School was set aside for an ex-
Ichange for amenities when the
school heads appeared yesterday.
The planned addition was
eliminated when the school board
was given only half of an ex-
Ipected $6.6 million appropriation
this year. The schools trustees
protested to both boards and
charged the school group with
buck passing"
Whereas the commissioners had
called Mr.. GWynn's letter of ex-
PLANTATION sent to the trustees an
evasion, Commissioner Daniel A.
Abbott yesterday tagged it "a
masterpiece of strategy"
Mr.. GWynn said, in reply, that
he would write the trustees again
to the effect that it was up to Mr..
Schmidt and himself to decide
such matters and that they had
mo intention of Sinking their
responsibility. He added that.
while 1000 pupils will be on
double shift this year, Forestville
has no such problem.
Commissioners to Reply.
The commissioners said they
will write letter, too, answering
questions proJounded by the
trustees.
William j. Mcnamara, chair
man of the District Heights COM
missioners. headed a delegation
seeking funds for the proposed
new Addison road. He said the
town of 1000 has only one exit.
by way of Gateway boulevard to
Marlboro pike. near Silver Hill.
He was informed by the COM
missioners that the proposed
3,000-foot segment would cost
$4,000 and that their counsel,
Adrian P. Fisher, had ruled the
problem a purely local one for
which county funds could not be
spent.
Commissioner Spicknall, when
told that rights of way would be
donated and other community
aids furnished. said he believed
t1oot iIoIor