Evening star., 1952-10-10
Opposing States
Differ Widely
On Home Rule
Replies Compared
By Prince Georges
Charter Candidates :

Nn0rrer N0ndl00teS
Statements in the record today
from Z Of the 10 Prince George.
County charter board candidate.
showed wide gap between tht
views on home rule of the two
opposing sides.
The candidates answered ques.
tions posed by the county League
Of Women Voters. All five of the
candidates nominated by the Citi-
zens Committee for Good Govern
ment filed answers. Two of the
five candidates put up for charter
board by the county commission
ers filled out and returned the
league questionnaires. 3D..
The citizens committee candi-
dates-Dr. Joseph M. Ray, Nicho-
las Orem, jr., Charles F. Parker
jr., Walter Mulligan and Reuben
j. Gordon-all stated, in general
that they favor a transfer of au-
thority from the Maryland Gen.
eral Assembly to the county
governing body. Most county
laws are now written in the Gen
eral Assembly.
The two commissioners candi-
dates who answered the questions
H. Winship Wheatley, jr., and
Mrs. Dorothy Baxter Groth-were
decidedly less enthusiastic about
making any changes in the present
county governmental set-up. The
other commissioners candidates
are Edwin Glenn, Edward G. Bell
and George T. Burroughs.
Voters to Decide Nov. 4.
Voters in the November 4 elec-
tion will decide, first, whether they
want a home-rule charter for
Prince Georges and, second, which
5 OF the 10 charter-board candi-
dates they wish to write it. Il
approved, the charter that is
drawn up would be submitted to
the voters for approval in 1854.
In his reply to the league, Mr.
Wheatley said he does not per.
sonally favor home rule, but Il
the voters decide that a charter
board is to be created and I am
elected, I will endeavor to prepare
a charter which will give the
county the best administrative
procedure feasible, safeguarding
the rights Of the people,"
Mr.. Wheatley added that he i
opposed to county manager sys-
TEN and believes the present coun-
ty commissioner system Of govern.
ment provides remedy for most OF
the complaints being voiced by
various citizens and groups. se,
ITO have more, you must pay
more" he declared, land reports
from other areas indicate taxes
under such new form of govern
ment have increased in tremen.
dous amounts" He said "individ.
ualS qualified to pass on legislation
are more available for service ir
the General Assembly than in 9
county council. and the public i.
better served by such individuals. ,
Mrs. Groth said she favored
home rule for Prince Georges, "but
not under a charter such as pro.
posed in the survey" (The survey
report Of Public Administration
Services, Inc, which studied Prince
Georges County government las1
year, recommended a home rule
charter providing a county man.
ager-county council system simila,
to that now used in Montgomery
County.)
Fears Loss of Rights.
Mrs. Groth said she feels "that
under such a charter and county
manager system, we would relin-
qulsh certain rights which are now
ours"
On the citizens committee side
OF the question, Mr.. Orem said he
favored a home rule charter gov
eminent because that is. the only
way In which the Legislature can
be prohibited from interfering
with local matters and because
the experts on government here
and elsewhere are almost unani.
nous In their belief that a home
rule charter stemming from the
Constitution, such as we are seek
ing for Prince Georges County, is
the best and most efficient form
Of government"
The responsibility for local
matters should be centralized In
the commissioners (or county
counciD rather than divided be.
tween them and the county's dele.
cation in the Legislature" he said
Mr.. Orem pointed out that he
is not committed to any specific
form Of charter, nor am I com.
mitted for or against a county
manager"
Sees Need of FlexibiIity.
DR.. Joseph M. Ray said he ia.
vored home rule for Prince Georges
because now "the legislative power
exercised by the county delegation
at Annapolis is difficult for the
people to control and responsible.
ity for county government is diff.
fused among five commissioners
six delegates and a State Sena.
tor" Under a home rule charter
he added. "the county government
would be more flexible and more
responsible to the will Of thu
people"
DR.. Ray said he personally IA.
vorS a county manager system
''but I would not insist upon any
form Of government unless I fell
a substantial majority OF thu
voters favored it,"
Mr.. Parker said he favors hom,
rule because I believe in loca
self government-the right of peo.
pie to make their own decisions OF
matters affecting only them
selves"