Evening star., 1953-03-13
People Court
Bill Drafted
In InNontgonlery
3 FuII-Time Judges
Would Replace
Trial Magistrates
BY Gene Goodwin
Stcr Sioff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS. Mar. ia bill
to set up a Peoples Court in
Montgomery County to replace
the present trial magistrates
system today was being prepared
for introduction in the Maryland
General Assembly.
The proposed court would con-
sist of three full-tim judges,
who would be elected by the peo-
pie every four years. However,
they would be appointed by the
Governor for the interim be-
tween the time the bill goes into
effect-probably in May, if it
pasSeS-and the general election
in November, 1854.
The Montgomery County dele
cation voted to introduce the bill
yesterday. The proposal is some
what controversial in the county.
The delegates conceded that the
officers of the county bar associ-
alton probably would oppose it,
but they expressed confidence
that the great majority of county
lawyers would approve.
Delegate Robert A. Wallace,
Republican, who was designated
to draft the bill, said one of the
Peoples Court judges would
handle only juvenile cases. The
other two would divide up the
criminal, civil and traffic cases,
sitting in Bethesda. Silver Spring
and Rockville.
Three Part-time Magistrates.
There are now three part-time
trial magistrateS-one in Silver
Spring. who also sits one day in
Takoma Park; one in Bethesda.
and one in Rockville-and a
part-time juvenile judge.
Presumably, the three Peo-
pies Court judges would be
chosen from among the present
three trial magistrates and ju-
venile judge. Mr.. Wallace said
one of the four present judges
would not qualify under his bill,
which would require five years
active law practice, membership
in the Maryland bar and five
years residence in Montgomery
County.
Yesterdays delegation meeting,
at which the judge bill was dis
cussed, showed the effects of last
Sundays showdown meeting of
the county Republican State
CentraE Committee with Senator
Anders R. Lofstrand and the six
delegates. The strained rela-
tionshfp between the Senator and
the delegates, which had grown
so evident here as the session
moved on, was noticeably absent
yesterday.
Would Enlarge Commission.
The delegation also voted to
introduce the bill to enlarge the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission from three to five
members, with the two Mont
gomery members being appointed
by the Montgomery Council and
to require that the agency hold
a public meeting at least once
a month and public budget hear
ings. The delegates said, how
ever, they want to amend the
bill before it is passed.
Delegate j. Douglas Bradshaw,
chairman of the all-Republican
delegation, said the Prince
Georges legislators would not
join Montgomery in introducing
the measure.
The delegation also voted an
unfavorable report on a bill that
would have raised the county
sheriff's salary from $4,000 to
$4,000 a year. The vote was
3-to-3, and it means that the
bill apparently is dead for this
session.
The Montgomery and Prince
Georges delegations introduced
a bill to extend the Washington
Suburban Sanitary District to
Norbeck in Montgomery. The
area to be included would cover
about 5000 acres. and is bounded
on the south by the present
northern boundary of the sani-
tary district, on the west by
Twinbrook, on the north by the
Rockville-Norbeck road and on
the east by Georgia avenue ex-
tended, except that it would in
clude the area over to Beall
Cemetery east of Georgia avenue.
Agreement on Drainage.
Mr.. Bradshaw announced that
agreement has been reached be-
tween his and the Prince Georges
delegation regarding a bill asked
by the Sanitary Commission to
authorize 50 million worth of
storm drainage. work in the two
counties. He said the bill will be
amended to provide that Mont
gomery receive so per cent of the
So million, and Prince Georges
40 per cent, which approximate
ly conforms with the ratio be-
tween the asSessable bases of the
two counties.
AS the bill originally had been
drafted, half the money would
have been spent in each county.
The Montgomery delegates pro-
tested that, since their assessable
base is higher, they would
pay a greater share of the cost
of the storm sewer projects.