Evening star., 1953-02-02
Bill Is Drafted
On ChiIIum Fire
ProtectionSetup
Delegate Hughes
To Offer Measure in
Maryland Assembly
By Gene Goodwin
StoF Staff Correspondent

StoF StaH Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS. Feb. 2.-Legis-
lation designed to untangle the
Chillum fire and rescue protec-
tion controversy has been pre-
pared by Delegate William r.
Hughes, Republican. Of Prince
Georges County.
He said today he has drawn
up two bills after months of
conference with Chillum area
fire departments, town officials
and citizens, and will introduce
them in the Maryland General
Assembly tonight or tomorrow.
One bill would authorize serv-
ice by the Takoma Park Fire De-
partment to the area Of Prince
Georges County directly adja-
cent to the city. The residents
of that area would pay a 12-
cent special fire tax.
1O-cent Fire Tax Proposed.
The second bill proposes a
10-cent fire tax for the re-
mainder of the unincorporated
area of the Chillum election dis
trict to go to the new Chillum-
Adelphia Volunteer Fire De-
partment and five nearby mu-
nicipal departments.
The Takoma Park city coun-
Gil has prohibited it's fire de-
partment from answering first
calls in Prince Georges County
since October, 1851, when Chill
lum voters turned down a To-
cent fire tax. However, it has
allowed the department to go
out on "help" calls after some
other Prince Georges County
department already is on hand.
This has led to a confusing
situation. Three or four of the
several accident and fire alarms
which the Takoma Park COM
pany refused to answer have re-
suited in fatalities.
Tak0ma Park Agrees.
Mr.. Hughes said Takoma Park
agreed to the 12-cent tax for
providing fire and rescue services
to the area bounded by New
Hampshire avenue, the south side
of Ethan Allen avenue, the Ia
koma Park city line and the Dis
trict line.
This first bill does not provide
for a referendum, Mr.. Hughes
said, since the majority of the
residents Of that area demanded
a notarized petition that the
service be rendered for the agreed
upon tax.
The second bill will be subject
to a special referendum. 1t pro-
vides that for the first two years
half of the proceeds of the To-
cent tax would go to the new
Chillum Adelphi department
with the other half going to the
fire departments of Mount Raj
nier, Brentwood. Hyattsville, Col
lege Park and Riverdale.
Would Increase Shares.
Every two years. the proper
ton received by the Chillum
company would be increased by
10 per cent until an 1920 ratio
is achieved. The ratio would be
stabilized at that level.
The SO per cent earmarked for
the municipal companies would
be divided this way: Is per cent
each to Mount Rainier, Brent
wood and Hyattsville, Is per
cent to College Park and 10 per
cent to Riverdale.
Mr.. Hughes said he still Is
working on some means Of Civ
ing Takoma Park county finan-
cial aid so that it would permit
its fire department to answer
calls throughout all the county
if necessary.
The Prince Georges county
commissioners in the past have
declined to give Takoma Park
the same share of tax money
appropriated to all accredited
county departments. They argue
that, although Takoma Park lies
in both Prince Georges and
Montgomery Counties. its fire
department is located on the
Montgomery County side Of the
1iY1n