Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-02
Committee Approves
University Study Of
Prince Georges Area

An American University report
on governmental needs in the
metropolitan regional district of
Prince Georges County has been
approved with few changes by a
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 it's find
ings last night simultaneously
with formal issuance of the uni-
versity survey.
Details of the American Uni
versity study were included in
stories in The Star yesterday.
THE committee is we'll salts
fled with the university staff
report and -. adopts the re-
port with a few noted changes
or changes of emphasis" the
statement from the Remember
group declared.
Extension Asked.
The committee recommended
that its own life be extended for
a continuing study and that a
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 agen-
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
improvement districts. Departing
from the formal report, he de-
clared:
I'VE 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 100000 and 227,-
900, in favor of the Prince
Georges region, he added.
In addition to the metropoli-
tan council, the committee APP
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,gass a 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 a
pyramid of governmental struc-
lures through effective develop
ment of one or more of sthe nine
systems outlined. Tin the
university survey, but as there
is some possibility that it will
not prove useful, there should
be a limit to its charter requir-
Ing legislative reaffirmation."
Delegate Perry o. Wilkinson
chairman of the county's dele.
cation to the General Assembly
asked that the committee pre-.
pare a draft of legislation needed
and said a public hearing woule
be held, possibly in the Hyatts.
vile area, at a date to be de.
termined after the Legislature
convenes January S.