Evening star., 1951-09-19
Prince Georges
Surplus Fund
Again Disputed
County's Obligations
NuIIify Unspent Cash.
Commissioner Says

Despite final figures of an ac-
counting firm, the question Of
whether Prince Georges has a
surplus is still a controversial
issue in the county today.
In an annual audit report
handed to the Commissioners at
Upper Marlboro yesterday, Loweree
b Barlly. Baltimore certified public
accountants. said the county on
June 80 had $843,786 in unal-
located funds in It's general ac-
count.
1t is this total, made up of un-
used tax returns accumulated
since 1945, which Jerrold v.
Powers and Robert B. Matthias,
counsel to the former county
heads. have labeled surplus.
Obligations Cited.
But Thomas E. Latimer, chair
man of the incumbent Republican
board. said yesterday:
ION the contrary, Prince
Georges has obligations which
will require expenditure of this
and additional amounts. If we
had only the general fund to con-
sider." he asserted, "the amount
might properly be termed surplus.
but when the county's entire f.
nancial picture is painted in. the
so-called surplus becomes nom
existent"
The report was discussed in
executive session at the end Of
one of the longest meetings the
board has held since it took over
last December.
The board rejected a proposal
to spend $4,000 to improve a
/ .25-mile segment of the Marlboro
pike from the District line to WAL
ker Mill road. A letter from the
State Roads Commission informed
the board that the improvements
would cost that much instead Of
the $50 900 the commissioners said
they had been told was the pro-
jected figure.
Delegations Heard.
Several delegations aired their
problems during the day. One
group. from Our Lady of Sorrows
Parochial. School, Takoma Park,
left with nothing more than adj
vice.
The delegation said more than
100 pupils cross the intersection
of New Hampshire and Larch ave.
nues twice a day to reach the
school a few hundred feet away
on Larch avenue. The traffic count
at the point, they said, averages
100 cars an hour.
Michael O'Brien, chairman Of
the schools safety committee, said
he had been unable to obtain help
from the Takoma Park chief Of
police and so brought his prob
lem to "a higher level" He recon-
mended that uniformed patrol
officer be assigned to the crossing.
1t would cost about $1,000 a year,
he said.
Commissioner Latimer replied
that if such a plan is inaugurated
the ultimate county outlay might
reach $50, 900 because other schools
have similar problems.
Traffic Survey Proposed.
Mr.. O'Brien was advised to ask
the State Roads Commission to
conduct a traffic survey with a
view to possible installation of a
manually controlled light.
Another group had better luck.
The board concurred in an action
of a former board which had
promised to improve portions Of
Fifty-Seventh avenue, Tuxedo.
A delegation from Riverdale
brought with them the drainage
problems of section extending
from the towns eastern boundary
to Defense highway and Ardwick
road. They were informed that
the county will survey the situa-
tion when a current checkup by
the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission is completed.
The County Volunteer Fire As
sociation, in letter to the board,
charged that the Maryland Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
tCommiSSion has named streets in
new developments at random and
without regard to its own master
plan"
Additional support for a $100-a-
year pay raise for school teachers
came in letter from the county
League of Women Voters.