Evening star., 1952-04-26
By Alex R. Preston

Richard C.. Zantzinger. presi-
dent of the Patuxent Water Co.,
today branded as completely
false" political campaign charge
that his firm has blocked low
cost housing for servicemen in
Southern Maryland.
George P. Mahoney has said
that friends OF Representative
Sasscer, his opponent for the
Democratic senatorial nomination
in the May S Maryland primary,
have delayed housing develop
ments by charging exhorbitant
water rates in the vicinity of the
IPatuxent Naval Air Station.
Mr.. Mahoney has listed Mr..
Zantzinger as one of those
friends. He described the Wash
ington and Maryland real estate
business man as "a close political
friend of Mr.. Sasscer's and a
former Democratic leader of the
House OF Delegates.
Always Has Been Republican.
."As a matter of fact" Mr.. Zant-
Finger said, II am and always
have been registered as Re-
publican. I was a Republican in
the House of Delegates. Politically,
Mr.. Sasscer and I stand on op-
posite sides of the fence. We are
personal friends"
Mr.. ZantZinger also answered,
for his own part, another state
ment by Mr.. Mahoney. The can
didate said Wednesday night that
this same group of men" had
acquired land in the vicinity of
the Patuxent base as we'll as near
the Bainbridge Naval Training
Center apparently knowing in
advance, of the Governments ex-
,, panSion plans"
Mr.. Zantzinger said he had been
spending his summers in Southern
Maryland long before the Navy
, installation came to Lexington
Park.
NO Advance information
-"I had no advance information
Iabout anything. I don't have any
Interests in property at Balm
bridge and to my knowledge none
of the others has"
He said he personally owns
; commercial property just outside
the Navy gates which has IL stores
on it and that he has the same
amount of undeveloped land there
: as we'll as other holdings in
Leonardtown.
Contrary to Mr.. Mahoney's
charges. the water company presi-
dent said his firm has promoted
housing in the Lexington Park
area next to the air base by pro-
viding the largest water supply
system in Southern Maryland. The
company was organized in 1949
!, Listed Stockholders.
, Mr.. Mahoney had listed Mr.
Zantzinger and three others as
stockholders in the company. Mr.
= - Sasscer since has said that his
wife owns IS shares of stock which
!, have never paid dividends. He
! listed the mahoney "innuendos'
as "a downright lie."
: The Mahoney campaign charge
+ is that "a little group of men eager
for big profits" controlled the only
source of water and blocked {
llow-cost housing development ot
1900 units in 1949. The water rate
|. of $3.50 per month was regarded
$ by the Navy as excessive and "tht
n Navy would not allow their people
O to be gouged," Mr.. Mahoney says
{. The person who originally go
|. the bid for the housing develop
e ment, according to Mr.. Zant'
: Finger, found that he could no
build at the price quoted. Th'
contract was renogotiated ant
the bid went to some one else VIII
Submitted a lower offer, the waite
lcompany official declared.
Cites Comparative Rates.
The rate of $3.50 is not out o
lime with. others in this area, h
declared.
Ia The Patexent Water Co., MI
y. Zantzinger said. also offers othe
Ill services. The fees for these ar
le So for trash disposal and SIS
1e for sewage disposal-a total of S
& for all.
lie The Wherry- Maybank Act pre-
vents the Navy from providin
ed such services in competition wit
70, private companies. Mr.. Zant
e. Finger admitted that the Navy hs
ed suggested a fee of about $2.7
n The $3.50 rate was approved
en- the Maryland Public Servi
,ut Commission, he added.
he Mr.. Mahoney has asked for
congressional investigation of t