Evening star., 1953-10-22
Allied Civic Gfoup
Asks McKeIdin 10
Probe Sanitary Unit
BY J. l. Michoel
StoT Stoff Correspondent

Star Stoff Correspondent
BALTIMORE, Oct. 22.-Gov.
McKeldin may order a probe of
the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission.
The Governor yesterday told
Montgomery County civic leaders
protesting the agency's policies
and practices that he will con-
slider such a step when he has
received more information.
Four representatives of the
Allied Civic Group, Inc, of Silver
Spring told the executive in his
office here that the commission S
recent rate increases are unjus-
titled and that some property
owners are illegally billed for
sewer service charges.
ClOSed-DOOr Decisions.
Furthermore, they said, the
commission has been unrespon-
Sive to public opinion and has
been prone to make important
decisions behind closed doors.
They informed the Governor
they will seek remedial legisla-
ton and asked that he name an
interim investigating committee.
Write me letter fully setting
forth your claims" the Governor
said, so that I can confer with
the sanitary commissioners and
other officials to determine
whether a board should be ap-
pointed, or whether the State
auditor should be asked to look
into the situation"
Willard A. Morris, president
of the Allied Civic Group, headed
the delegation. He was accom-
panied by Stephen Hotsko, the
units tax and finance commit
tee chairman, and Attorneys H.
Ralph Miller and James Robert
Miller of Silver Spring.
They told the Governor the
ire of some 10000 property
owners in Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties is
aroused because the commission,
last March /, inaugurated a
sewer usage charge without
holding a public hearing.
The new rates are a Accent
sewer use charge, added to the
27-cent rate for each 1000 gall
Ions OF water consumed. Subse-
gently, incinerator rates were
increased from So to 81 a ton,
and refuse collection charges
were advanced from $1.65 to
$2.25 a month.
Sewer Charge Protested.
A storm of objections arose
when the sewer charge was an
nounced. The Civic Group con-
tended the increase amounted to
a So per cent advance in water
rates and asked the State Pub
lie Service Commission to hear
both sides of the case. ...
The agency at first declined
on the ground that it lacked
authority. Later, it reviewed op-
posing arguments and held that
the new rates are neither ex-
ceSSive nor unreasonable.
Mr.. Morris said the 1851 law
authorizing a sewer service
charge specified that such levies
be applied only to properties
connected to sewer mains.
Nevertheless" he added, "the
new charge is billed to, and in
most cases paid by. many per-
sons who still use septic tanks.
Just how many I don't know,
but I do know that in at least
one area about 35 per cent of
the properties billed for sewer
charges are not connected to the
commissions sewer lines"
"The commissions records are
so fouled up they don't know
who is on the sewer lines" H.
Ralph Miller declared. Mr.. Mil
Ter said the Sanitary Commission
has argued that the new sewer
charge is necessary to permit
changes in accounting proce-
dure. The commission has said
that it had been paying too
much of its operating costs from
the proceeds of bond issues and
that additional revenue is need
ed to defray such expenses.
That objective was proper, the
civic leaders agreed, but they
said the changes went too far.
Gov. McKeldin asked the dele
cation whether they had dis
cuSSed their problems with the
sanitary commission.
We've tried to-" they replied.
What does the commission
say" the Governor queried.
Frankly" H. Ralph Miller
answered, they are indifferent"