Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-11
School Election
Primary Bill
Being Drafted
Delegation Hopes to
Trim Montgomery
Bourd Candidates.
By Gene Goodwin
Stor SfoH correspondens

By Gene Goodwin
Stor Stoff Correspondent.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. IL. - The
Montgomery County legislative
delegation is preparing a bill to
hold nonpartisan primary cleo
tons for school board members.
A measure also is being draft
ed to allow Montgomery to APP
point some of the members Of
the Washington Suburban SAM
tary Commission.
Those were the two major
proposals discussed by the Mont
gomery delegation in a meeting
1--WE need an elimination con-
test to cut down the size of our
ballot" said Delegate j. Douglas
Bradshaw. delegation chairman.
in proposing the school board
primary. He said there were
more than so names on the 1850
general election ballot in Mont
gomery.
The greatest criticism of the
county's first school board cleo
ton last November, when 10
candidates Wed for four seats,
Mr.. Bradshaw said, was that the
voters did not have ample oppor-
tunity to become acquainted with
all the aspirants. A primary, he
said. would prolong the CAM
paign and cut the field down to
two candidates for each Of the
seven vacancies which will occur
every four years after 1854.
To Tone Down Bill.
On the Sanitary Commission
proposal, the delegation decided
to tone down the bill vetoed by
the Governor in 1851. Mont
gomery County Attorney David
G. Macdonald was instructed to
draft a new measure, providing
that the three present members
Of the commission serve out
their terms.
The 1851 bill. which was
heavily amended and vetoed by
Gov. McKeldin as unconstitu-
tional. provided originally for q
hve-man board. with the Gov
ernor appointing the chairman
and two Prince Georges men,
bers and the Montgomery County
Council naming two Montgomery
members.
Mr.. Bradshaw emphasized
that the Prince Georges delega-
ton will be consulted before the
bill is introduced. Presumably
the Prince Georges lawmakers
might wish to propose that the
two members from their county
be chosen by their county com.
miSsioners.
Mr.. Macdonald also was told
to write into the bill provisions
for public hearings on the SAM
tary commissions budget and
for periodical meetings open to
the public.
Apprehensive About Bill.
Mr.. Macdonald. meanwhile.
disclosed he is apprehensive
about some sections of the Sobe-
loft Commission bill, now before
the General Assembly. to pro-
vide more home rule for Mary
land counties.
The Montgomery attorney ID
particularly concerned about q
provision in the bill that coun-
ties could pass no legislation APP
plying to municipalities. The
present law merely restricts
counties from passing laws
which conflict with the powers
Of its municipalities.
AS he sees it, the home rule
bill would exempt many Mont
gomery municipalities from such
countrywide laws as building
and electrical codes, licensing Of
private schools and nursing
homes and regulations of fire.
arms.
Favors Intent of Bill.
Emphasizing that he is heart
lily in favor of the intent Of the
bill. Mr.. Macdonald said he will
bring up his objection when the
Senate Judiciary Committee
holds its hearing on the legis-
lation.
Senator Aaders r. Lofstrand.
Republican. Of Montgomery, yes
terday introduced a bill to put
kindergartens in the State mini
mum education program. The
senator said such q change Is
necessary before his amendment
to the Green aid-to-education
bill can be adopted. allowing
counties to include kindergarten
teachers in their computations
for State aid.
Mr.. Lofstrand said his bill
would not make public kinder.
gartens mandatory. They now
are in existence on a county,
wide scale only in Baltimore and
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