Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-20
Anti-PIanning Bill
May Lose by Votes
In Sponsoring Group
By Gene Goodwin
StaF StaH Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 2O.-Legis-
lation aimed at abolishing the
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission today
faced the ironic fate of being
killed by some. of its own spon-
SorS.
That appeared likely after an
emotion packed hearing here
yesterday on the bills introduced
in the Maryland General AS
sembly by the Joint Montgomery
and Prince Georges delegations.
Delegate Kathryn j. Lawlor,
Republican. of Montgomery, one
of the strongest supporters of
the anti planning commission
bills, said: . ..,'
Its beginning to look like a
lost case"
The bills have been referred to
q committee of it's sponsors
the six delegates from Mont
gomery Gall Repub1icansl, and
the six from Prince Georges
flour Republicans, two Demo-
cratS).
Unless the bills can be re-
ported back to the House with at
least the. 10 Republican delegates
backing a favorable report, most
Observers here believe they stand
little chance of passage.
Two Apparently Opposed.
And today it appeared that
two of the Republican delegates
William r. Hughes and Harry
E. Taylor, jr., of Prince Georges
would join the two Democrats
in voting against the bills in
committee.
Mr.. Hughes said definitely.
sitter listening to q -,pafade Of
witnesses in opposition to 4he
bills yesterday, that he will vote
against them. He said, how
ever, that if the bills are killed.
he is seriously considering in
PRODUCING legislation to force a
reduction in the tax rate the
commission now imposes on resi-
dents of the two counties.
Mr.. Taylor indicated, likewise.
he would not be able to- go along
with the bills, prepared for the
delegations by Montgomery
County Attorney David Mac
donald. 1890
The two Democratic delegates,
Leroy Humphrey and Perry o.
Wilkinson, both of Prince
Georges, left little doubt by their
questions at the hearing that
they oppose the measures.
Furthermore, the hearing ap-
peared to intensity the opposi-
tion that Senator Anderss r..
LofStrand, jr.. Republican, of
Montgomery County already has
expressed against the bills. And
his colleague, Senator j. R.
Fletcher, Republican, of Prince
Georges indicated, without say-1
ing so in so many words. that
he shares many Of Lot
strands views on hhe matter
100 at Hearing.
The opposition of the two SEN
ators would seem to spell almost |
certain doom for the bills, even
If they got through the House.
At the hearing, attended by
about 100 persons, Robert M.
Watkins, chairma4 of he plan
ming commission. said He wished
supporters of the bills would
stop this campaign of harass-
ment so that our. people can do
their work without worrying
about whether they're about to
lose their jobs" -
This is the fourth time bills
have been before the Legislature
to abolish the commission and
transfer all of its functions to
the two counties. The other
three attempts were unsuccessful.
Mr.. Watkins was subjected to
several hostile questions from the
delegates regarding the status of
the commissions public relations
director. j. B. Zatman, who has
been spending full time here this
past week.
Pressed as to what Mr.. Eat
mans present duties are, Mr..
Watkins replied: His present
duties are to assist us in pre-
serving the commission" He
added that Mr.. zatman is not a
lobbyist.
$1,453,OOO Balance.
Jesse w. Nicholson, secretary
treasurer to the commission I'M
der stabbing questioning from
Mrs. LaWlor, said the commits
sion, on January 81, had bal
ance in both counties of about