Evening star., 1953-03-21
Asks Sharp
Raise for 3on
Sanitary Board
Montgomery Refuses
To Buck Proposal
By Prince Georges
By Gene Goodwin
Stor SfoH cerVaspondanf

before the Maryland General
Assembly today to provide sharp
salary increases for three WASH
tngton Suburban Sanitary COM
missionerS is causing q family
squabble among the Republican
delegates from Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties.
The bill was introduced yes
terday under the name Of the
Prince Georges delegation.
It would provide that the sal
Ary of Commission Chairman
Raymond w. Bellamy, Cheverly,
be raised from So, 900 to $500.
Commission Member j. Norman
Agar. West HyattSville, would
be increased from $4,000 to
$500. The third commission
member, L. S. (Ted) Ray, Silver
Spring, would be raised from
$4,000 to $500.
Mr.. Ray is now designated in
the law as the only full-time
member of the commission. The
two Prince Georges County
members are designated as part
time.
The six-member Montgomery
House representation refused to
sponsor the pay raise bill. Meas
ures concerned with the sani-
tary commission, which operates
in both counties, ordinarily are
introduced by both counties
Jointly.
Other Opposition Indicated.
There were also indications
that some members Of the six
man Prince Georges County
delegation are opposed to the
bill.
Just where the measure orig
mated is somewhat of mystery.
Delegates Albert r. HaSsall
and j. Frank Lillard. both Prince
Georges County Republicans,
said it was requested by the
commission. Mr.. HasSall is
chairman of the delegation.
Both said they support the
measure.
However, two Of the three
commissioners. Mr.. Ray and Mr..
Agar, denied that the commits
sion asked for the salary in
crease. The three commission
ers were here yesterday for a
hearing on their legislative pro-
posalS.
II did not ask for it," Mr..
Agar declared. II had nothing
to do with the bill"
Mr.. Ray conceded that pos
sible salary raises had been dis
cussed by the commissioners,
but he said he knew nothing
about the bill until I heard it
was being introduced"
BeIlamy Speeds Away.
The chairman Of the COM
mission, Mr.. Bellamy, skipped
away from the hearing too
quickly to be questioned by re-
porterS.
Mr.. Lillard, in explaining his
support of the bill, said the
commissioners, as heads Of one
of the largest municipal utili-
ties in the State, have taken on
increased responsibilities and
should be paid accordingly"
Mr.. Hassall said the commits
Sioners have not been granted
a substantial pay increase since
the agency was created in 1927.
Both delegates contended the
two part-time commissioners are
devoting full time to their du-
ties.
Two main points were devel-
oped at the hearing on legisla-
ton to authorize a $11.9 million
spending program by the COM
mission:
/. The commission went into
the hole $18O,000 last year on its
refuse collection and disposal
system in Montgomery County.
2. The commission will have to
build another incinerator at
Bladensburg or find some land
fill sites to take care Of several
Prince Georges County towns,
which up until this week, have
been selling their refuse to hog
farms. That practice is now
banned by order of the State Ag-
ricultural Board, unless the gar
bage Is cooked.
$3OO,OOO Deficit.
Francis Kelly of New York
City, accounting expert retained
by the commission last June to
unsnarl tangled bookkeeping
practices, revealed the Montgom-
cry refuse collection deficit. The
accumulated deficit in the refuse
account. he said, is about
$300,000
The commission is attempting
to transfer the garbage system
to Montgomery County. but 1t in
SiStS that the deficit must be as
Sulned along with all the equip
ment and facilities. George F.
Nesbitt, president Of the Mont
Romery County Council, said the
county wants no part Of the
refuse collection until it is put
on . going basis"
Harry B. Shaw, chief engineer
for the utility. said officials Of
several Prince Georges towns ap-
pealed to him on Thursday night
to supply additional garbage
disposal facilities because Of the
ban on feeding uncooked garbage
to hogs.
Mr.. Shaw proposed an $780,
O00 amendment to one Of the
sanitary commission bills already
introduced in the Legislature to
finance the new incinerator.
"If we can find suitable land
fill Sites," he added, I'VE won't