Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-01
Prince Georges
Survey Opposes
Maryland City
Metropolitan Council
Is Urged Instead for
Suburban Region
Rv nil TaIho.,
BY Bin Talbot

virtually ruled out in survey
of the sections growth problems
by American University.
Instead, the report recom-
mends organization Of a Metro
politan Council and q Commit
tee on the Future. designed to
achieve consolidation and uni
formity of action and planning
1 among the areas many munich.
palities.;
The Maryland City" plan is
not specifically referred to in the
report. But the theory behind
the 27-year-old proposal to COM
bine all Of the areas separate
communities into a single mu.
! nicipality is considered to be in.
applicable to the Prince Georges
situation.
Such a move, the report states.
would result in "the loss of self
| determining, smaller units Of
government which may be less
elaborate In function and more
responsive to the people"
Calls for Cooperation.
The report warns that CO.
operation in municipal functions
within the complex and sprawl
ing Regional District of Prince
Georges County is mandatory
if the area is to be made q
good place to live" for resi-
dents of the future.
These details and others
will be presented to Prince
| Georges legislators and officials
when they meet tonight at Cal.
vert Mansion in Riverdale with
the Committee on Regional Dis
trict Government.
It has been learned from q
well-informed source that the
committee is expected to indorse
the surveys proposals in general
and spell out what steps it thinks
should be taken to coordinate
the hodge-podge of municipal
functions prevalent in the COM
munities adjacent to the Dis
trict.
S Interim Report.
The survey will be presented
as an Interim report,
This has been necessitated
because the university staff found
it had insufficient time since as
Stunning the project last June to
undertake all studies required for
a definitive report.
Its present recommendations,
however, are considered by in.
formed observers to be the crux
Of the overall study, with fu.
ture findings merely an enlarge-
ment Of the proposals to be
considered tonight.
The suggested organization of
q Metropolitan Council is of
fered as modification of several
generally accepted methods for
solving problems of urban gov.
eminent.
Areas Completely Cited.
The plan was found necessary
because of the completely Of
municipalities in the Regional
Districts lao square miles. Popu.
lation in the area has nearly
quadrupled since 1910, standing
now at 227,1l9 persons.
Within the District there are
"a Incorporated municipalities.
81 special Improvement districts,
unincorporated residential areas
and undeyeloped land.
Also considered significant are
the important services provided
for the people by the towns and
their political vitality which
gives substantial Justification to
their retention. -
Offered as the only practical
means of bringing municipal CO.
ordination to these divergent
units Of government, the Metro
politan Council and its Commit.
tee on the Future would seek to
reduce Implications and promote
uniformity in planning.
Six Functions Recommended.
There are six recommended
functions:
1. Studies to improve the econ.
omy and efficiency of govern.
ment in the area.
2. Preparation Of a plan for
economic development.
8. Institution Of public service
activities to provide facts about
the community.
4. Provision OF technical adj
visory services in the fields Of
engineering and engineering In
spection, fiscal affairs. law and
general administration.
5. Formulation Of urban re.
newal plans.
s. Liaison with the Maryland-
National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, the Wash.
lngtOn Suburban Sanitary Conn
mission and other agencies TO
interests Of the District.
Joint Purchasing Suggested.
Joint purchasing was cited as
IN example Of other activities
which might be added to the
centralized functions.
The report was prepared for
he Committee on Regional Dis
riot Government, headed by
Harry A. Boswell, f., under q
ONT resolution Of the Maryland
House Of Delegates at its 1858
ession.
The university staff was head
d by DR. Catheryn Seeker.
hudson, chairman Of the De-
'artment OF Political Science
nd Public Administration, and
Of faculty members Of
ne rank q assistant professor
{ above.