Evening star., 1954-09-22
Issues ShapeUp
In Debate by
II Candidates
County 6. O. P. Rule
And Sanitary Agency
Among Torgets


Among Turgets
The Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission, the eff
cheney or inefficiency of Repub-
lican county rule and alleged
machine control of Democrats
shaped up today as major issues
in the Prince Georges County
campaign.
Those points were hit hardest
by 81 local Republican and DEM
ocratic candidates last night in
their first public debate of the
current campaign. It was held
in Langley Park School before
about 200 members of the Adel-
phi Citizens Association.
State Senator j. Raymond
Fletcher started the ball rolling
for the Republicans, who have
controlled Prince Georges for
four years.
When the Republicans took
Office in 1850. after 26 years of
Democratic rule, Mr.. Fletcher
declared, Prince Georges County
had been reduced to a Nation
/ wide low level, both from the
standpoint of vice and corruption
and the inability of a powerful
machine to cope with gambling
element that was running wild
in the county" ...
He said the Republicans have
done more in four years Ito
lift the standards of Prince
Georges County than was done
in Is years before
Wheatley Charges Waste.
I H. Winship Wheatley, jr., the
Senator's Democratic challenger,
charged that the Republicans
have been guilty of duplication,
waste and extravaganza in Gov
ernment."
1.-THE tax cut granted this year
was pure fiction" he said, "be-
cause property assessments have
gone way up"
Allegations of machine-con-
trolled Democratic candidates
were made by Republican Dele
gate J. Frank Lillard, jr. He
said the same persons active in
the Democratic Party today were
active in 1850. when the G. o. 9.
"upset a firmly entrenched ma
chine"
s. Not to be outdone, Democratic
Delegate Perry .. Wilkinson
swung hard at frequent public
criticism of the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission,
also Republican-controlleds since
1850. !
= Senator Fletcher replied that |
the big sewer and water utility
had installed more new facilities
in the last four years than it |
had in the previous 10.
Cites Study Commission.
Stating that the commission
is "a creature of the Democrats,
the Senator pointed out that Gov.
McKeldin on Monday appointed
a commission to study the laws
of the sanitary agency. There
are many things that need to be
corrected" he conceded.
Mr.. Wheatley said, You Re-
publicans have been running the |
sanitary commission for four
years and now, on the eve of the |
election, you say you are going |
to make study"
Carlton r. Sickles, candidate |
for the House of Delegates, and
Jesse L. Baggett. candidate for
county commissioner, led the
Democratic assault on the county |
Republican record.
Mr.. Sickles conceded that the |
Chillum area had gotten more |
county services. But we all |
know how hard we had to work |
to get these services" he said,
pledging that it would be mat
ter of course under Democratic
rule.
Mr.. Baggett said the Demo-
Gratis will have more money to
buy, additional services because
they will halt administrative
waste" He said the city of
Hyattsville, where he is Mayor,
has no debt.
Hicks Defends Record.
Thomas F. Hicks, chief clerk
to the present Republican county
commissioners and a candidate
for one of the five seats on the
board. defended his party's local
record. He said that despite
mushrooming school enrollments,
there are only 500 pupils on
double shifts today as compared
to 2,700 in 1850
The police force has been in
creased from At to 112 officers,
he said, and whereas the police
chief of the previous admins
tration cruiSed around the county
in a big Buick. our police chief
finds he can do his cruising COM
fortably and efficiently in a
Ford"
Julian B. Mckay. Republican
seeking reelection as county
treasurer, said he stands on hts
record, which includes establish
ment of "a modern and efficient
Department of Finance" quar-
terly published financial reports
and investment of idle county
funds.
CallOw Delays Fire.
His Democratic opponent,
Charles E. Callow, said he would
discuss Mr.. McKay's administra-
ton at a later date and contented
himself with reading a biograph-
ical sketch of himself.
Other candidates present were:
Democrats-Lansdale G.. Sas-
seer, jr.; c. Philip Nichols and
Hervey G. Machen. for House of
Delegates, and Lansdale G.