Evening star., 1954-12-11
Patronage Jobs
Become Issue
In New Board
Typist Appointment
Blocked as Reichelt
Speaks for ChiIlum
BY Ben Eronklin

The new Prince Georges
County Commissioners started
on four years In ONCE yesterday
by breaking ranks over the APP
pointment Of q $2,40O-a-year
typist in the Office Of the county
clerk.
The clerical appointment. rec
commended by r, Lee Van Horn,
a member Of the Democratic
State Central Committee. who
Is the commissioners clerk. ran
into opposition from Commis-
sioner Herbert w. Reichelt.
"Just a minute" Mr.. Reichelt
broke In. "I didn't know that
vacancy existed. A lot of people
up in Chillum may want that
job" Mr.. Reichelt formerly was
mayor Of Mount Rainier, In the
Chillum election district.
I've got q lot of people who
want jobs" Mr.. Reichelt said.
They're on my neck all the
time. I would like to submit two
names"
Job Complications.
The job situation for DEM
ocrats in the county has been
complicated. despite the party's
election victory last month, be.
cause Republican Gov. Nickel
din controls many appointments.
Mr.. Van Horn said 1t was ian
embarrassing situation" because
his applicant may already have
resigned her present job. But
he said, "I don't want to do any
thing that's outside my jurisdic-
tion.p And the commissioners
postponed making the appoints
ment until next Tuesday.
Personnel Director Harold T.
Rice told the commissioners
three $2,50o-a-year police desk
clerkships also are open for quail
fed women typists. Mr.. Reichelt
insisted that Mr.. Van Horn had
agreed, at o meeting Of the COM
missioners and the party heads,
that I'VE would notify our peo-
pie who are interested when
jobs are open"
'If that's the understanding"
Chairman Jesse 8. Baggett de-
clared, "then we haven't much
use for our personnel man, have
we?"
Wants Minutes Changed.
Earlier, Mr.. Reichelt insisted
on q change in the minutes Of
the new boards 15-nih,ite in
augural meeting last Tuesday to
show that he will succeed Mr..
tBaggett as board chairman after
two years. The minutes stated
merely that Mr.. Baggett was
sworn in as chairman To- serve
for the next two years. Under
an unusual arrangement, an
nounced jointly by the commits
siohers and the State Central
Committee, Mr.. Reichelt will
take over the $500 chairman
ship in 1856.
In a more unanimous frame
Of mind. the commissioners
abolished the job of Leroy F.
Houck, special Improvement dis
trict accountant, appointed last
year by the old Republican
board. County Attorney william
L. Kahler said the expenditure
now seems unnecessary" He
said Mr.. Van Horn and his staff
would assume Mr.. Houck's
duties, effective December Is.
The action was not q reflec-
ton on Mr.. Houck. Mr.. Baggett
emphasized. The accountant re-
ceived a salary Of $500 plus
travel expenses and secretarial
allowance. But when Mr.. Rel
chelt wanted to know what
would happen If Mr.. Houck's
work proved too much for Mr..
Van Horns staff to do. Mr..
Baggett declared: "We're not
abolishing the job-we're abol-
ishing him."
Street Waiver Denied.
The Democratic commissions
ers took a firm stand against
waving subdivision improvement
requirements for builders in
denying a request by Arthur L.
White for permission to build
streets to rural instead Of urban
standards - without curbs and
gutters-in the Cool Spring
Village subdivision on Adelphi
road. The Democrats had con-
tended throughout the campaign
that the Republican commis-
sioners were too lenient In forc-
ing developers to meet county
requirements.
Public Works Director Arthur
L. Tayman said waivers ap-
proved by the former board
proved to be "a pain In the neck
to maintain"
Mr.. Baggett announced the
appointment Of Mr.. Reichelt to
serve as the. Prince Georges
representative on the National
Capital Regional Planning Com
mission. He appointed Commis-
sioner Lansdale @. Claggett to
the commissioners Hospital
Committee, and Commissioner
Frank j. Lastner to the Health,
Welfare and Recreation Commit
tee.
Following the lead Of the Fed
eral and District governments,
the board voted to give county
employees q holiday on December
"A and q halliday on Decem-
Der 81.