Evening star., 1952-04-21
Official Rebuke,
sTakor1la Park
Over Drowning
Rescue Squad Chief
For Prince Georges
Cites County Policy

NSS SVuIAy OSsS
In singing rebuke tp officials
Of Takoma Park, Md, the chief
Of the Prince Georges County
Rescue Squad today cited three
cases in which firemen aid neigh
boring areas withoutS cornpensa-
tion. g
7 akoma Parks rescue squad did
not! respond Saturday when g.
yera-old Linda Maloney drowned
in hn unguarded drainage pool
neat her home at TIC Chillum
road. The Bladensburg squad,
some 5 miles distant from the
scene. made the run.
The Prince Georges official,
Richard F. Hughes. said firemen
at Bowie. Accokeek and Laurel
serve adjacent territory.
Duty Is to Save Life.
For these services" ne said,
they derive no special gain ex-
cept that they have a certain
amount of satisfaction in them
selves for helping their fellow
man."
Mr.. Hughes said residents of the
Chillum and Adelphi areas need
ing help should dial Union 1922.
the Prince Georges County fire.
board at Hyattsville. He said this
procedure would result in quicker
assistance.
Mr.. Hughes said Mayor Ross H..
Beville and the council must
know a little about fire depart
ment procedures for a fireman's
first thought and duty is to save
human life above everything else"
The rescue squad chief said he
was not finding fault with Takoma
Park Fire Chief M. c. Mcbride
or f1remen there.
Commissioners Blamed.
Mr.. Beville said the failure of
the city rescue squad to respond
was the fault of the County Com
miSSioners.
Mr.. Beville said Takoma Park
receives no funds for operation in
nearby areas in Prince Georges
County. He said the city council
ordered its fire department to
refuse primary responsibility for
the muShrooming Chillum- -Adelphi
area shortly after the community
voted against a 10-cent fire tax
about six months ago.
Mr.. Beville charged the county
commissioners have lodged be-
hind legal technicalities in talks
on the fire protection problem for
many years.
Chillum- -Adelphi residents have
two means to gain fire protection
and emergency rescue services
from Takoma Park, Mr.. Beville
said.
Service in Another County.
The simplest way is for the
county commissioners to con-
tract with Takoma Park for Serv-
ices to the area. Mr.. Beville said
the commissioners have con-
tinuaHly hidden behind the dodge
that it is illegal for them to pay
a fire department located in
Montgomery County to operate in
Prince Georges.
The second method open to resi-
dents is for any defined area to
agree to a 12-cent fire tax on
each $100 assessed valuation, Mr..
Beville said. He said this way was
left open for the residents to
get fire protection when the Ia
koma Park Council ordered the
service stopped last October at
the insistence of Takoma tax
payers
Chillum- -Adelphi residents said
they voted against the fire tax be-
cause it provided no mean for a
shifting of funds to an anticipated
Chillum-Adelphi Fire Department.
Area Bigger Than Town.
The area, Mayor Beville said, is
greater in size and population
than Takoma Park. He termed it
ridiculous to expect a smaller
community to provide free fire
protection for a larger community.
Mayor Beville pointed out other
surrounding Prince Georges COM
munities receive $1.400 each and
provide fire protection for the
Chillum-Adelphi area under pro-
visions Of a countrywide 2-cent
tax. Takoma Park does not ben
eft from this tax although one
third of its residents pay it, Mr..
Beville said.
Chillum-Adelphi at present has
a skeleton fire department and
one pumper housed at the College
Park firehouse.
The State Legislature next year
will be asked to provide a referen-
dunn on a fire tax in the Chillum-
Adelphi area. Mr.. Beville said.
The proposed formula provides
that the Chillum- -Adelphi fire de-
partment would get one-half of
The proceeds of a 10-cent tax. Six
other departments would split the
remainder.