Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-01-31
Bill Would Raise
Fire Department
ALLEGATIONS 10 $1,000
By Gene Goodwin
Stor Staff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS. Md, Jan. 31.-A
bill to increase fire tax alloca-
tons to Prince Georges County
volunteer fire departments by
more than 100 per cent in some
cases has been proposed to the
Maryland General Assembly by
Senator John Raymond Fletcher,
Republican. of Prince Georges.
Senator Fletcher introduced
the bill in the State Senate yes
terday at the request of the
county Volunteer Firemen'S AS
ISOLATION. 1t has the approval
Of the county commissioners.
The measure would authorize
the county commissioners to
appropriate $4,000 next fiscal
year to the 33 accredited fire
departments and rescue squads
of the county. That would be
an increase of about $4,000 over
the present total of county aid.
$4,000 for Each.
A fiat $4,000 a year would be
granted to each department.
Fire departments now get 81, 400
apiece for their fire equipment
and $1,000 additional, if it has
a rescue squad. The fiat pay
ment was requested by the fire.
mems association to prevent
controversy among departments
with rescue equipment and those
without it.
The bill re-emphaSizeS the
county's policy of granting no
financial aid to the Takoma Park
Fire Department. That depart
ment has not been receiving such |
aid because, although the city is
located in both Prince Georges
and Montgomery Counties, it's
fire department is on the Mont
gomery side of the boundary line.
Mr.. Fletcher's bill also provides
that no payment shall be made
to any fire company or rescue
squad that has any reason or
regulation limiting the territory
within which it will answer emer- |
gency calls. Since voters of the
Chillum area of Prince Georges
rejected a 10-cent fire tax at the
polls in 1851 the Takoma Park
Fire Department has been under |
a City Council order not to an
Swer calls in Prince Georges.
Under the new bill the COM
misSioners also would be author |
ICED to appropriate additional |
$4,000 grants as each new vol |
unteer company is accepted into |
the association. 1
Urges Peace Cross Action.
Senator Fletcher yesterday |
also introduced a resolution call
ing on Congress to appropriate |
sufficient funds to cure perma-
nently flood conditions in the
Peace Cross area. 1t asks Con-
greSs to give the Army Engineers |
the money necessary to carry out |
plans IN the works for years to
alleviate this undesirable con-
dition."
Senator Fletcher said he in
troduced this resolution at the /
request of the Prince Georges
Civic Federation. 1t was re-
fered to the Senate Finance
Committee. *
Delegate Harry E. Taylor, jr.,
Republican, of Prince Georges
said he is drafting two county |,
bills for introduction soon.
One would impose a secrecy
policy on adoption cases. He said |
Prince Georges is one of four
Maryland counties that still al
lows names of principals in
adoption cases to be made pub
lie. AS a result, he said, many |
adoption cases in Prince Georges
are transferred to Baltimore
City or one of the secrecy coun-
ties.
Would Amend Law.
Mr.. Taylor also wants to re-
wise an ancient law decreeing
that all tax sales should take
place at the courthouse door"
in Upper Marlboro.
This was fine when the court
house had but one door," he
said, ''but now it has six or
more" He said his bill will pro-
vide merely that tax sales be
held at the courthouse"
Two other Prince Georges
bills were introduced Thursday.
One. by Senator Fletcher, in
conjunction with Senator Omar
D. Crothers, jr., Democrat, of |
Cecil County. would increase
State aid to libraries by putting
a 40 cent per person minimum |
on the amount the State must |
spend for public libraries in the
counties and Baltimore City.
In Prince Georges County, for |
example, the State is spending
only $1,000 for libraries this
fiscal year. The county appro-
priation is $4,000.
The second Prince Georges
bill. introduced by the delega- |
ton. would allow Morningside |
to annex the area known as the !
Second Addition to Upper Morn |
ingside, if the voters approved |
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