Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-26
Democratsback
inceGeorges
Roads Program
22-Point Platform
Says Republicans
Broke Promises

Says Republicans
Broke Promises
Prince Georges County Dem
ocrats unveiled a platform yes
terday blasting the Republicans
for "a continuous record of
broken promises" and promising
instead a program of arterial
road construction, improved
health and police services and a
legislative investigation of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission.
Framed as q statement Of
policy" the 22-point platform
calls for a road and street pro-
gram that will permit persons
employed in the District Ito get
to and from work without I'M
bearable traffic tie-ups."
The statement said the pres
ent administration has diverted
road taxes to construction of
"non-accessible roads which pro-
duce no gasoline tax revenue"
Asks "Safe" Roads.
The Democratic Party said it
does not oppose super highways,
"but local roads which, are wide
enough to drive on safely and
straight enough to pass on safely,
should be our immediate objec-
tive"
The party said the county has
been neglected" by the Repub-
licanS on capital improvements
paid for with funds from State
forces.
Republicans, the platform says,
have created many purely polit-
1cal jobs at big salaries"
The platform took a strong
stand against increased charges
authorized last year by the Sub
urban Sanitary Commission. 1t
called for a complete investi-
cation and report by the grand
inquest committee of the Gen.
eral Assembly"
Home Rule Sought.
The party said it favors mu-
nicipal home rule legislation
which will be put up to the
voters in an election day refer
endum. Home rule would re-
quire a constitutional amend
ment.
The epub can-dominated
county delegation at Annapolis
conferred powers on the county
treasurer which were "usurped
from the county commissioners"
and which make the commits
sioners "subservient to the treas
urer." the statement declares.
1t added that the party will
seek revision of this legislation.
Waste, duplication and ex-
travagance," the statement said.
would be ended under a Demo-
cratic county administration by
reducing the operating costs of
the sheriff's and treasurer's Of
fees.
REORGANIZATION" Asked.
The Sanitary Commission. the
Maryland-N National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and
the ONCE of the County Com
missioners should be "co-ordi-
mated" the Democrats said.
The party's statement said the
County Health Department
should be brought up to the
standards recommended by the
State Health Department." and
a study should be made Of the
need for a county hospital for
the chemically i'll.
The welfare program should
be "re-valuated and studied to
eliminate delays in granting
emergency relief. according to
the platform.
Program For Schools.
The party said it will sup
port moves to increase school
facilities.
If elected, the Democrats said
they will use every effort" to
prevent the use of Andrews Air
Force Base as a joint civil and
military air field, a plan the
statement called impractical
and hazardous"
The platform pledged public
hearings on departmental bud
get requests and more financial
details to show how the coun-
tvs money is spent.
The party said it will seek
legislation reducing the exist
ing inventory tax to make 1t
uniform with other counties in
the State. Playground programs,
"inaugurated under the prior
Democratic administration"
would be continued, it was said.