Evening star., 1953-03-11
Prince Georges
Home Rule Bill
Under Study
Legislator Delegation
Gets Plan GRANTING
Brood Powers
BY Gene Goodwin
StoT Stoff CorYesponden1


lative home rule for Prince
Georges County, with broad new
powers for the county commits
sioners, is proposed in a bill
under study today by Prince
Georges legislators.
The bill, requested by the COM
missioners and prepared by the
county attorney, would give
Prince Georges most of the poW-
ers of self-government now held
by neighboring Montgomery un-
der its home rule charter.
The measure, it was learned
today, would give the commits
slonerS authority to enact legiS-
lation on certain specific sub
jects and "enact any other ordi-
nanceS for the safeguard of life,
health and property and for the
promotion of public safety,
morale and welfare"
The Prince Georges commits
sionerS have no legislative pow
erS at present. They are re-
sponSible for making policy and
carrying out enactmentS of the
General Assembly.
Defeated at Polls.
A bitter campaign to give
Prince Georges a home rule
charter was decisively defeated
at the polls last November. Many
advocates of home rule charter
argue against legislative home
rule because they say it can be
taken away at any time by
simple act of the State Legisla-
ture.
Among other things, the pro-
posed bill now before the delega-
ton here and prepared by County
Attorney Calvert Lancaster,
would give the county commits
Sioners authority to:
l. Establish new departments
OF government and prescribe
C14e1F IunCClOnS.
2. Prescribe the duties, powers
and functions of county employees
and boards appointed by the
commissioners or under their
supervision.
g. Provide for appointment
and removal of all county officers
and employees, and fix their
salaries.
4. Establish merit system.
5. Set up a pension, retirement
and group insurance system for
county employees.
g.. Allow discounts and penal
ties on tax bills.
Would Refuse Camps.
z License and regulate trailer
and tourist camps outside of
incorporated towns.
8. Provide for competitive bid
ding for county projects and
large purchases.
8. Prevent and remove nui-
Sances. put down contagious
diseases and approve location of
establishments which may cause
mSanitary conditions such as
soap and fertilizer plants and
slaughter houses.
10. Control stray dogs, license
dogs and establish a dog pound.
II. Control use of BIB guns, air
rifles and firearms, as we'll as
firing and skeet ranges, and pre-
vent sale of firearms to minors.
IL. Regulate public amuse-
ments.
13. Control and license hotels,
rooming houses, lodging houses,
convalescent homes and day
nurseries.
IA. Establish building, electri-
cal and plumbing codes.
Is. Regulate trash removal.
Is. Control billboardS and signs
along roads.
II. Establish a county insur-
ance fund enabling the county
to carry its own insurance on
public buildings and property.
Manager Plan Dropped.
The proposed bill is in the
form of sweeping amendments
to the so-called Lillard bill,
which was enacted by the
1851 Legislature and which
granted the county limited home
rule. One provision of that 1851
act is dropped from the proposed
bill-the provision giving the
commissioners authority to hire
a county manager. The present
all-Republican county commits
Sioners have often expressed
strong opposition to a county
manager.
The home rule bill, it was
learned, was discussed at a closed
meeting of 'the commissioners
and the county's legislative dele
cation in Hyattsville Friday
night. The legislators have not
yet decided what action they will
take on the measure.
Also discussed at that meeting
was bill being prepared by Dele
gate Harry E. Taylor, jr., Re-
publican, of Prince Georges, to
establish a system of public
klndergartens for children whose
parents are willing to pay share
OF the costs. It was understood
that the commissioners took a
stand against the bill because
they feel it would cost too much.
Board President Thomas E..
Latimer said yesterday: "I don't
feel the county is ready for
kindergartens."