Evening star., 1952-10-31
Son1eCorruption
In County Hinted
By Grand Jury
Probers Offer to
Stuy for Cleanup
In Prince Georges
By chorIes A. McAleer

Inc observations were mace II
q 16-page interim report filed yes.
terday with the county's Circuit
Court at Upper Marlboro. In it
the jury was critical of county
activities and said some of its
governmental procedures stem
from the ''horse and buggy era.
The jury pledged itself to re.
main available for service ever
though, yesterday normally would
have been the end of It's active
tour of duty and announced il
was ready to bring the malefac-
tors to justice"
Presiding Judge Charles C
Marbury took the jury at it's worG
and promptly directed it to return
December for another session.
Praises Report.
The report, Judge Marbury said
was the most outstanding con.
tribution to the welfare of the
county within the memory of thi:
court"
The jury said it set a number
Of precedents, after serious study
and deliberation. "in order to re.
flute some of the points of con.
tention which had had ridicul.
ing and damaging effect upon the
potential accomplishments of ou
grand juries." r...
Step by STEP" the report said
I'VE have attempted to eliminate
those areas of criticism which
have led to the PRONUNCIATION ~o1
the adverse publicity which ha:
convinced the public that Prince
Georges County is indeed the
most corrupt county in the most
corrupt State in the Union.
The jury expressed belief thai
property values and business ir
general have suffered because o1
these intemperate and somewhat
nl-advised allegations.
would Halt Iren0o
"As the representatives Of the
residents and taxpayers in this
county we cannot. in conscience,
let these general misconceptions
of the facts go unchallenged any
longer" the jury declared.
The jury. in session since Octo-
ber 6 in what probably has been
the longest continuous tour for
any Prince Georges grand jury,
reported it made its findings
without malice, prejudice, fear
or favor for any one"
It agreed to carry on its activi-
ties until it's term expires next
April after noting that sit is
matter of legend and amusement
among law breakers that while
the grand jury is in session they
must take a vacation and keep
the lid on" Inversely.. the jury
added, it also is a period when
law enforcement agencies ano
other county officials feel it expe-
dent to keep on their toes and
function to the very best OF theil
ability"
Stand Ready to Indict.
The report continued:
"There are some indications
that, despite significant and i'm
portant progress in the past few
years, some gambling. some cor
ruption. some collusion and some
inefIiciencies still exist. BY oul
action we hereby serve notice that
our investigations will continue
and, if these indications do re-
solve in evidence of wrong doing
we stand ready to return indict-
ments and bring the malefactors
to justice"
The report said the Jurors
would make themselves available
individually and collectively tc
private citizens, civic groups
parent-teacher associations anc
s'others interested in further i'm
proving our county"
About the county itself. the
jury asserted:
without notable exception thu
quality of service rendered thu
citizens of Prince Georges Count!
by employees throughout our gov
ernment organizations seems equa
to or slightly better than thei1
salary compensationS. This OBJ
servation is not necessarily com
plimentary. It is made to remine
ourselves and our fellow residents
that progressive and equitable
salaries are necessary if in fac
we are determined to raise oul
standards of performance To-
county government servants ant
increase the quality Of their serv'
ice.
Buildings Crowded.
again without notable eXcep'
ton our county buildings are de-
plorably overcrowded. Buildings
maintenance is poor. Much o1
our equipment is outmoded ant
many Of our administrative pro.
cedures are those concocted in ths
horse and buggy era. These fac.
tors obviously have a noticeable
adverse effect upon the morale
productivity and efficiency of em.
ployes."
The jury made it clear, however
that no part of the report wa.
5 intended to reflect upon eithel
political party or to indorse ol
reject our present form of count,
government"
Among the major criticisms O.
recommendations were:
A need to increase the polio,
force from SO to at least ISL
men.
Teacher salary scales lowe
than neighboring jurisdictions.
Overcrowding of county jail IA,
cilities.
Failure to use up the full ouots
Of $50 liquor licenses; only "a: