Evening star., 1952-06-14
LeagueActing
On Home Rule
In Maryland
Municipal Meeting
Expected to Support
Curb on Legislature
By ChorIes A. McAleer
StoF SfcH Corresnondent

BY ChorleS A. McAIeeF
Star Stoff Correspondent
OCEAN CITY, Md, June IA
The Maryland Municipal League
today had its sights set on home
rule for municipalities throughout
the State.
Opening the second day of it's
fourth annual June conference
here this morning, the league was
due to take action endorsing rec
concentrations of the States So
belof Commission.
In its second progress report
last week the commission suggest
ed adoption of a constitutional
amendment which would bar the
Maryland Legislature from enact
ing local laws for municipalities
and counties except to set maxi
mum property tax and debt limits.
Kelly Heads Committee.
Former Mayor G. Lamar Kelly,
jr., of Rockville was named act
ing head of the leagues Legisla-
tive Committee, which was di-
rected to prepare resolution be-
fore business meeting of the full
organization today.
Mr.. Kelly. committee vice chair
man and immediate past presi-
dent of the League, was one of
five members in a panel discus
sion on home rule during the
opening session yesterday after
noon.
"The subject of home rule is
the most salient thing the League
has before it," he said.
The opinion of other delegates
was virtually unanimous. They
agreed with Mr.. Kelly and direct
ed him to draft the resolution last
night, after failure of the sched-
uled key speaker to appear.
Senator O'Conor, the States
Democratic senator, had been ex-
pected to speak. but sent tele-
gram expressing his regret. He
told the League consideration of
the st. Lawrence Seaway proposal
delayed him in Washington.
Speech Summarized.
A summary of speech pre-
pared by Senator O'Conor was de-
livered instead by DR.. Joseph Ray,
League executive secretary. Mr..
O'Conor urged revision of the tax
structures of Federal and local
governments and elimination of
overlapping and duplication. He
likewise warned against increased
Federal spending and called for
a balanced budget. The Nation
also must strive for world peace,
he said.
DR.. Ray, another member of the
home rule panel, said the Sobeloff
Commissions recommendation
would bring municipal legislation
"out from the dark corner" If
adopted, he said, lone delegation
meeting in the dark of the moon,
after a boatride, can't come up
with legislation to slug the towns"
DR.. Ray said the best argument
for the measure was strength in
unity" He said he did not believe
there would be any abuses by the
Legislature of another recon-
mendation-which would author
ize classification of municipalities
into four categories based on pop
ulation.
Backed by Mayor.
Mayor Irving l.. McCathran of
Washington Grove during a dis
cussion from the floor also sup
ported home rule for municipali-
ties. He warned. though, that
in Montgomery County there is
"a danger of their thinking they're
in favor of home rule as long as
the county rules it to the exclu-
sion of towns"
Some people. Mayor McCathran
said, want to abolish towns and
put everything under the county"
1--WE want to preserve the
towns" he asserted, They're
really the grassroots of democ-
racy."
Another panel discussion, on
subdivision improvement, drew
considerable interest yesterday.
Most of it centered on RESPONSE
bilities for providing streets. storm
drainage, sewers, water and other
facilities in new subdivisions. The
solution, the panelistS and audi
ence agreed, was to require de-
velopers to provide these facili-
ties rather than municipalities.
One panelist, Mayor Ross Be-
vile, of Takoma Park, said his
community enacted an ordinance
in 1948 which required developers
to provide the improvements in
accordance with prescribed stand
ards.
Two more sessions were to be
held today. The conference was
to conclude with a boat ride at !
4 pm. Some 100 league men,
bers and their wives are attend
ing.