Evening star., 1953-03-26
Protests Hint
for ;
County Bills
Home Rule, Finance
And School Board
Measures Hit
By Q stuff cerrespondent of Iha s,nr

BY q Stuff Correspondent Of The ssor
ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 26.-Prince
Georges County legislators to-
day were pondering possible
amendments to three major
county measures put under
sniper fire yesterday by Demo-
Gratis, civic leaders and school
officials.
The three bills put on the
public hearing grill would: "a
Grant permisSive home rule pow
ers to the county commission
erS, (2) create a new department
of finance and 90 enlarge the
school board from three to seven
members, with one member be-
ing county commissioner.
The chief attack OH the, So
called home rule bill came from
the charterites, who contended
the measure would not give the
county real home rule because
that can be obtained only in
charter form Of government.
The chief spokesmen for this
point of view were Mrs, william
H. Wood, president of the County
League of Women Voters, and
Mrs. Irma Bogdanoff, county
affairs chairman of the civic fed
Grafton.
Sees Citizen Pressure.
In a statement, Mrs. Wood
conceded the bill would give the
commissioners power to enact
ordinances but that its chief
effect would be to clarity and
codify existing authority. She
said the bill was drawn to meet
pressure by citizens for more
control at the local level"
Said Mrs. Bogdanoff on that
point:
"The very fact that this bill
was introduced calling for more
responsive county government
admits the need for it, which
was, and still is, the keynote for
a charter government"
Both women emphasized that
any home rule powers granted by
legislation could be taken away
by subsequent Legislatures.
Underlying their attack is the
realization that the bill possibly
could negate many of their argu-
ments for a home rule charter in
next years election. It is obvious
that the Republican county
legislators sponsoring the bill are
aware of that possibility.
Machen FavOrs Bill.
So, apparently, are county
Democratic leaders. Harvey L.
Machen of the county Demo-
cratic State Central Committee
said he favors the home rule
bill. Former Democratic Senator
Harold Sothoron registered only
a minor objection to it. i
In last years election, at
which the charter issue was de-
feated, most organization lead
erS in both parties fought the
charter movement.
On the second bill-the one
to consolidate the present con-
troller'S Office, assessors Office
and transfer bureau under the
county treasurer in a new de-
partment Of flnance-Mrs. Bog
danof and Mrs. Wood joined
Democratic spokesmen in main
tanning that the measure would
release the treasurer from re-
SponSibility to the commission
erS and give him too much inde-
pendence.
They protested the $2,50O
yearly expense account that
would be allowed the treasurer
in the bill, which, along with a
salary increase, would give him
a total county compensation of |
$4,000 annually. Mr.. Machen
also contended the treasurer gets
a fiat $4,000 a year in expenses
now from the State for selling
automobile license tags.
Reelection Opposed.
I'VE should be spending the
maximum of our tax monies
for schools and roads instead Of
raising these salaries without
any public demand" Mr.. Machen
declared. Mr.. Machen also OBJ
jected to a provision in the bill
permitting the treasurer to run
for reelection.
The present treasurer, Julian
B. Mckay, said he had the bill
drawn up in attempt to bring
the county out of "the horse
and buggy days, as far as our
finances are concerned" The
bill, he said, would place all &C
countability for county finances
under one man.
The Democrats were silent on
the school board bill, but civic
leaders and PTA Spokesmen
joined County School Supt. Will
liam S. Schmidt in denouncing
the provision that a county COM
missioner serve as an active
member Of the board. They all
indorSed a larger board.
Mr.. Schmidt said that, when
the voterS elect a county corn.