Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1954-05-27

general review of the County's |
policy with respect to changing
the cost of street improvements
to the owenrs of abutting pro-
perty, with view to correcting
inequities in the present 'front.'
foot benefit assessment formula.
At Annapolis
1. The most pressing need is
to secure increased and fairly
distributed State aid for School
house construction The formula
for distribution of such funds
should be designed to render
maximum assistance to those
counties which are experiencing
abnormal increase of population
and school enrolment. We will
sponsor the necessary legisla-
ton.
2. We will press for equal
ratios of property assessment
among the counties and Balti-
more City and for any other
measures that will secure for
Montgomery County an equit-
able share in the distribution of
State funds for school operating
expenses.
3. We will support measures
to improve facilities, operations
and salaries at the State Teachers
Colleges, with a view to reliev-
ing the existing shortage of
qualified teachers.
4. We believe that all, or at
least a majority, of the mem
bers of the Washington Subur-
ban Sanitary Commission and
the Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
should be selected by the local
governing bodies of Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties
rather than by the Governor. We
believe that the Maryland Pub
lie Service Commission should
have some appropriate measures
of control over the rate-making
powers of the Sanitary Commits
sion. In reviewing the basic law
of the Sanitary Commission, we
hope to receive valuable guild
ance from the official study COM
mission recently authorized by
the General Assembly and from
other sources. We also recognize
the need for reorganizing the
Park and Planning Commission
to combine the benefits of re-
gional planning with the advant-
ages of having a single planning
agency serving all of Montgom-
cry County. We are receptive to
the idea of extending the juris-
diction of the MNCPPC to cover
the entire County Thereby abo-
fishing the Upper Montgomery
County Planning Commission)
and perhaps increasing its mem
bership from three. to five in
each county, including rural re
presentation. The five Montgorn-
cry members could also serves as
a County Planning Board to
assist the Council in strictly in
tra-county matters, such as the
preparation of a long-term pub
lie works program.
5. We will support, in general,
the 12-year construction program
of the State Roads Commission,
but we will insist that the Com
mission be fortnight in its deal
ings with local property owners
and coordinate its plans with
local government agencies. Fur
Their, we will support any rea-
sonable compact or agreement
with the District of Columbia
and Virginia for the purpose of
improving mass transportation
in the Washington Metropolitan
Area. We will support annual in
spection of automobiles and
other measures aimed at reduc-
ing the high rate of fatal acct
dents on Maryland highways.
6. We favor revision of the
Trial Magistrate system in Mont
gomery County for the primary
purpose of expediting the hear
ing of civil and traffic cases.
Other blurbs on the political
front:
Four Democratic Council candi-
dates demanded that the present
Council toying with the lives
of every man, woman and child
in Montgomery County," take
the lead in establishing an "active
civil defense system in and for
the County"
The demanders were Wilbur
N. Baughman of Olney; Charles
H. Jamison of Poolesville, Jerry
It. Williams and Robert T.
Shure.
Mrs. Nathaniel ]. Ely, running
for the Democratic State Central
committee, meanwhile, came out
for changes and reorganization
of the committee she hopes to sit