Evening star., 1952-11-13
Prince Georges
aces New Fight
On Home Rule
Churterites Have
Petition Building Job
And Foes Have Plan
By ]. l. Michael

By J. L. Michael
Moves and counter moves for
and against charter government
are under way again in Prince
Georges County.
Warnings that the November 4
vote which defeated the hard
fought plan has not finally settled
the issue have been followed by
preliminary moves Of charter back
ers to return to the wars in 1854.
The road back to a new decision
in the State election two years
hence is not an easy one. A new
10, ,000-name charter petition must
be filed. along with 2,500-name
petition to place a slate of charter
board candidates on the ballot
again.
Still more difficult is the task
of convincing the majority of vot-
ers that a charter government
would be more efficient than ira
ditional commissioner administra-
ton.
Opponents Have Plan.
But the opposition amalgama-
ton Of Democrats and Republic
cans. plus town officials. and an
almost solid southern sector pha-
lanx, have ideas they believe will
again sweep back the north end
home rule tide.
For one thing, they hint, Prince
Georges may have a county man
ager before battle lines are drawn
again. The county commissioners
have authority to appoint such an
administrator, and they may do
so to nip off a new county man
ager clamor.
If that occurs, Thomas E. Lati-
mer, present full-time commits
sioner, appears a likely choice for
the title which carries broadened
power.
Proposes Consolidation.
Also under consideration is a
plan being promoted by County
Treasurer Julian B. Mckay. one
of the leaders of the incumbent
G. o. P. group.
Mr.. Mckay proposes that the
Offices of County Controller, Tax
Assessment and Real Estate
Transfers be consolidated with his
Office. A similar consolidation
had been recommended in the
county survey report last year.
Under Mr.. McKays plan, each
agency would function as hereto
fore, except that all would be un-
der the general supervision of the
treasurer. This, it was said. could
be accomplished without changing
lpresent law.
Mr.. Mckay. it was pointed out.
is barred by existing statute from
succeeding himself in the next
election. This provision may be
changed, however, by the next
General Assembly.
Another improvement almost
certain to be adopted is inaugura-
ton of a merit system for county
employees. Plans for this have
been underway for several months.
The Republicans and other
home-rule opponents concede that
governmental changes are needed,
but they insist that reforms can
be effected without radical al
teration of time-tried rules.
G. o. P. Faces Dilemma.
At least one serious dilemma
confronts county Republicans.
They were swept into power in
1850, partly on campaign prom
ises to support the county-man-
ager system. The party slipped
of its platform in the last cam
paign and does not now know
what to do about climbing back on.
What they most fear is possible
formation Of new independent
party in the county. A new party
has been suggested and is now
in the discussion stage, and the
G. o. p quakes when it consid-
ers the possibility.
Such an organization would
have outstanding Democrats on
its slate, they believe, and the
votes they would receive, plus
those Of organization Democrats,
would make Republican retention
OF power exceedingly difficult.
I'VE have just one chance"
said Mr.. Mckay. land that is to
conduct our administration so ef-
ficiently in the next two years
that there will be no popular
demand for a change"