Evening star., 1952-03-29
Prince Georges
Budget Stands
As Hearings End
Vote Set Friday on
SIS Million TotoI
And Tux Rate Trim

S Nh sN0NS tIlbH
Prince Georges record SIS mil
lion budget and $1.98 tax rate on
a 1921 million assessable base will
be approved finally next Friday
without substantial changes.
That was assured when the
county commissioners ended
budget hearings yesterday In Up.
per Marlboro.
The county levy will produce
$40 million in revenue. and S.
million will come from the State
and other sources
Yesterdays hearing concerned
all estimates other than police,
roads and schools. all Of which
were approved Tuesday.
"On the whole, the commits
sioners have turned in an excel
lent performance" remarked Wal
ter F. Mulligan. veteran head of
the county Civic Federation. His
view was echoed by group of
leaders who last year combed the
county heads before and after the
budget was signed.
But before the appropriations
were passed, the commissioners
spared with advocates of higher
health. welfare, almshouse and
jail allotments and took a few
rapS for trimming 2 cents off this
years tax rate.
Plea for More Nurses.
DR.. Thomas S. Englar, county
health officer, asked restoration of
$23, ,997 cut from his $129,887 re-
quest. More nurses and higher
pay scales are needed, he said.
He was supported by William H.
Wood Of Riverdale, who said that,
If DR.. Englar were given twice the
amount asked, the services of his
department could give still would
be below minimums set by the
American Public Health ASsocia-
ton.
IF you had kept the tax rate
at 81, you would have had the
money" interjected Mrs. Mary
O'Dwyer of the Citizens Com
mittee for Good Government.
Mrs. William H. Wood, president
Of the county League of Women
Voters, said the health nursing
staff has three vacancies because
salaries start at $2,820, as COM
pared with So, ,280 in nearby areas.
Montgomery County has 40
nurses" Mrs. Virginia Wolf of
the citizens committee declared
The Health Department is Prince
Georges forgotten child" The
county staff numbers II.
Duplication Charged.
Board Chairman Thomas E.
Latimer told the group there is
duplication Of nursing services
among the Health Department,
the Board of Education and other
agencies. He observed that SAL
aries of Health Department nurses
have been adjusted to State levels
and claSsifications" and that the
budget includes raises higher than
requested and $500 above the scale
at the Prince Georges General
Hospital.
Harry T. Jenkins, member of
the embattled county Welfare
Board, urged increased lay for
staff members and Mrs. Joseph S.
Yuill asked the commissioners to
name a committee to study the
problem of providing letter quar-
ters for health and welfare
workers.
Action was deferred when Com
missioner w. Everett Marion said
he would oppose any motion con-
corning welfare activities until
the agency's confused affairs are
unreeled at hearing Tuesday.
Anyway" said Commissioner
Daniel A. Abbott, I'VE have no
magic wand to point us to pay
lodes."
"You should not have cut the
tax rate" Mrs. Wolf repeated.
"You are trying to ride into Office
on a 2-cents-of platform"
II resent that" Commissioner
Edward j. Waters replied.
Mrs. Yuill asked more money
for the county almshouse, which
houses 13 aged persons and will
spend SPLITS next year.
'T want to see rugs on the
floors, curtains on windows and
soft cushions on the chairs" she
said, 80 it will look like home"
Mr.. Latimer disclosed that a
plan is under way to place other
indigents in the almshouse to fill
its vacant rooms.
Mrs. Yuill also suggested that
the commissioners buy a washing
machine for the county jail. She
said prisoners stand about drink
ing pop, when they could be mix
ing SudS.
Mr.. Abbott turned on the cold
water.
But where would they hang
the waSh," Mr.. Abbott asked.
"Clotheslines around a jail are
somewhat out Of line"
Virninia chamhor Invifne