Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-02
Prince Georges
Report Backed
By Committee
Group Makes Only .
Few Changes in
American U. Study


An American University report
on governmental needs In the
metropolitan regional district OF
Prince Georges County has been
approved with few changes by q
committee established to study
the common interests. problems
and services Of the area.
The Committee on Regional
District Government, authorized
by the Maryland General Assem-
bly, and appointed by the County
Commissioners, released its find.
ings last night simultaneously
with formal issuance of the uni.
yersity survey.
Details of the American Uni.
versity study were included In
stories in The Star yesterday.
1.-THE committee is well satis-
fed with the University staff
report and adopts the re-
port with. a few noted changes
or changes Of emphasis" the
statement from the 19-membey
group declared.
Extension Asked.
The committee recommended
that its own life be extended for
a continuing study and that Q
metropolitan council be created
substantially as suggested by the
university survey.
Generalization is essential In
the Prince Georges city area, not
just between municipalities or
special improvement districts"
Chairman Harry A. Boswell, jr.,
read from the report, "but be.
tween all governmental aseii.
cies, local, State or Federal, con.
cerned within this area"
He emphasized the need for
"area Identification" Of the re-
gion which includes some "a in
corporated places and So special I
improvement districts. Departing
from the formal report, he de-
clared:
1--WE are talking about an area
two and one-quarter times big
ger than Silver Spring, which
sometimes boasts of being the
second largest city in Maryland"
Population Figures.
For instance, he said, the 1850
census. showed Silver Spring had
a population Of about $4,000,
while the Prince Georges city
region contained 10000. Today
the estimate Is 104, 900 and 227..
900, In favor of the Prince
Georges region, he added.
In addition to the metropoli.
tan council the committee ap-
proved the university recon-.
mendation for an advisory COM
mittee on the future Of about
so members.
Mr.. Boswell also departed
from the formal report when he
praised The Stars detailed
stories on the university survey
but took exception to one head
line which read. Prince Georges
Survey opposes Maryland
City"
He said the 27-year-old Mary
land city proposal had neither
been approved nor opposed by
the university or committee.
This language was included IN
the committees report:
1.-THE metropolitan council
and committee on the future
are not intended as a new and
continuing governmental organ.
ization but, instead, as bridge
between our governmental struc-
ture of today and our govern
mental needs of tomorrow.
Limit to Charter.
"If the council performs
effectively. it will eliminate it
self as an extra agency in q
pyramid of governmental struc.
lures through effective develop.
ment of one or more of the nine
systems outlined. lin the
university survey, but as there
is some possibility that 1t viii
not prove useful. there should
be q limit to its charter requif.
ing legislative reaf1lrmation." $,
Among other recommended
tions: That the Council assume
duties of the present commits
sioners' Advisory Committee:
Council appointments be made
on non-partisan basis: that the
county provide a staff for the
Council; that the Council have
authority to secure reports from
utilities and government agencies
in the area. It also recommended:
1.-THE Council be given authors
ity to assume any governmental
function upon request OF the
municipality or area concerned
and upon determination Of the
Council that sufficient funds can
be made available and that as
sumption Of the functions would
be to the advantage of the Met
ropolitan Area.
Delegate Perry O. wilkinson.
chairman of the county's dele
CATION to the General Assembly,
asked that the committee pre-
pare Q draft of legislation needed,
and said a public hearing would
be held, possibly in the Hyatts-
vile area, at a date to be de-
termined after the Legislature
convenes January S.
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