Evening star., 1953-03-24
Major Changes
nPIans Group
Seen Unlikely
Committee Shows
Little Enthusiasm
For Compromise Bill
By Gene Goodwin
Sfor Stoff Correspondent

be passed in this session Of the
General Assembly effecting ma
jor changes in the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
A so-called compromise" sub
committee of delegates from the
Montgomery and Prince Georges
delegations delivered its report
late last night, but it was re-
ceived without enthusiasm, even
by some of the subcommittee
members themselves.
The subcommittee report rec
ommends amending the original
bill, introduced by the joint dele
cations, which would have abol-
tshed the 25-year-old planning
agency and transferred its func-
tions to the two counties.
Proposed Amendments.
The proposed amendments
would retain the commission,
extend its jurisdiction through
out both counties, require it to
submit it's budget for approval
: to the Montgomery Council and
the Prince Georges commission
ers, repeal all its mandatory
taxes and let the county govern
mentS levy them, permit the
Montgomery Council to appoint
three commissioners with the
Governor continuing to name
the Prince Georges members.
Delegate Robert A. Wallace,
Republican, of Montgomery
chairman of the subcommittee,
presented the report to the joint
delegations.
1t was decided that the COM
promise amendments would be
studied by the two Senator'S
j. r. Fletcher, Republican, Of
Prince Georges and AnderS r.
Lofstrand, jr., Republican, Of
Montgomery-who would make
recommendations for further
changes.
Pay Raises Reduced.
Meanwhile, the Prince Georges
and Montgomery House members
backed away from a bill put in
by Delegate Albert r. HaSsall,
Republican, of Prince Georges,
under the name of his delega-
ton, which would have granted
big pay increases to the three
members of the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission
The Delegates decided to give
all three commissioners a fiat
$500 raise-from $4,000 to SIS, 900
for Chairman Raymond w. Bel
lamy; from $4,000 to $500 for
full time member L. S. (Ted)
Ray, and from $4,000 to $4,000
for part-time member j. Norman
Agar. Mr.. Bellamy also is a
part-time member, although
their supporters contend they
actually work full time.
Mr.. HasSalPS bill, which he
said was introduced at the re-
quest of the commission, would
have raised Mr.. Bellamy to
$500, Mr.. Ray to $1,000 and Mr..
Agar to $4,000.
Delegate Gilbert GUIDE, Repub-
lican, of Montgomery, disclosed
that his delegation has decided
to withdraw an amendment
which would have exempted his
county from a bill permitting the
majority of property owners to
block location of a new LIQUOR
establishment in their neighbor-
hood.
That bill was referred back to
the House Alcoholic Beverages
Committee last night after sew
eral delegations indicated they
wanted to amend it, most of
them to exempt their counties
from its provisions. Amendments
already tackled on the bill last
week would exclude Montgomery,
Prince Georges and Allegany
counties.
Registration Law Altered.
The Senate approved and sent
to the Governor a bill to close
voter registration books IS days
before each general election in
Prince Georges and Montgomery
Counties, instead of 80 days
prior, as it is now. The registra-
ton deadline for primaries would
remain at 80 days before the
balloting.
Sponsors of the bill, intro
duced by the joint Prince
Georges and Montgomery dele
cations. said election officials
need more time to get registra-
ton books in order.
Other Prince Georges and
Montgomery bills receiving final
approval of the legislature yes
terday included:
/. A measure by Delegate
Harry E. Taylor. jr.. Republi-
can. of Prince Georges, to in
'clude his county in a State law
to protect parents of adopted
children from having their ident-
ity disclosed to the natural par
ents. At present, a county court
can holland has held-that
natural parents are entitled to
learn the identity of couples
who adopted their children.
2. A bill by Delegate Julian
P. King. Republican, of Mont
gomery, to give Gaithersburg the
authority to prohibit or regulate
cattle and horse pens in the
town.
3. Five bills pertaining to Ia
koma Park, including the con-
troversial measure to give the
mayor veto power, subject to a
referendum. One bill would al
low the city council or residents
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