Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-29
Council Votes
Powers 10 Set
Fire Tax Rates
Mrs. Werner'W Warns
Of Consequences;
Loses Fight, "a

Gil clamped down tighter on vol
unteer fire departments last
night despite warnings its action
is threatening the county's
"home rule spirit"
The council split wide open as
it passed bill No. IL giving to
itself the authority to set all fire
tax rates in the local fire areas.
Councilwoman Stella B. Wer-
ner led the fight on the bill and
lost a number Of parliamentary
maneuvers to table the measure.
The bill passed. 4 to 2. with
President George F. Nesbitt
joining Mrs. Werner in the OPP
position.
The bill, sponsored by Harold
F. Hammond. was opposed by the
county civic federation. the Al
lied Civic Group of Silver Spring.
the County Fire Board, the Asso-
citation of Volunteer Firemen
and a number of individual civic
groups. Its only support came
from the unaffected Takoma
Park Fire Department.
Hopkins Becomes Candidate.
Mrs. Werner. a Democrat, de-
plored the bill as weak and I'M
necessary. She warned it will
discourage the volunteer fire.
men and would seriously set
back home rule movements
throughout the State.
The councils vote brought an
immediate reaction from Page
Hopkins. president of the Silver
Spring Fire Board.
"On the strength of this ac-
ton that the people don't get
the results they want from this
council, I am announcing my
candidacy of the council in
next years elections" he said.
The fire bill fight over
Swallowed passage of four other
measures to reorganize the Ken
sington Fire Board, set up a
recreation tax district. revamp
exemption requirements under
the parking lot district act. and
authorizing a fund for establish
ment, If the council desires. Of
a self-insurance plan for the
county.
Two Hour Debate.
The debate over the fire bill
lasted for nearly two hours, with
Mrs. Werner and Mr.. Hammond
exchanging verbal blows.
Mrs. Werner praised the work
Of volunteer f1remen and warned
the council would be faced with
a tremendous fire protection ex-
pense if the volunteers were dis
couraged much more.
Mr.. Hammond denied the bill
would destroy the spirit Of the
volunteers and referred to this
as bugaboo he did not like.
Paid Move Seen.
Some volunteer firemen have
called the bill another move to
replace the volunteers with paid
flremen. Mrs. Werner denied the
council had this in mind, but
added she understood the fire.
mems feelings.
Mrs. Werner urged that as a
substitute for the bill, the county
fire board be asked to standard
ize equipment in the county and
that the local fire boards be re-
quested to hold public hearings
on their budgets.
Mr.. Nesbitt said he opposed
the bill because he favors budget
hearings at the local fire area
level. with review by the council
if it deemed it necessary.
Democrat Grove Walker
Joined the three Republicans to
pass the measure. A tie vote
would have been fatal to the
measure.
No Limit on Rate.
The bill provides no limits on
the tax rate the council may
establish in each area. A move
to insert the present limits failed
when Mr.. Walker made it clear
he would not support it in such
a form. He said he favors the
bill so the Gaithersburg- Wash
ington Grove department could
get more money.
About a dozen persons, most
Of the fire board representatives
and civic group leaders. turned
out for last nights final meeting
of the May legislative session.
The II measures passed during
the month-long session will not
become law until August IS.
Councilmen emphasized they
could veto any of the measures
by a four-to-three vote before
then.