Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-01-15

Hearing Slated
On Municipal
Home Rule
Maryland Senote
Group Tokes Up
Problem Tuesday
By Gene Goodwin
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ANNAPOLIS, Jan. is. - The
Maryland Legislature viii hold its
first hearing on Tuesday on what
shapes up as the thorniest legal
problem of this seSsion--munici-
pal home rule.
Senator Stanford Hon. Repub-
ican. Of Carroll County. chair
man of a Special Senate Judici-
airy Subcommittee on Municipal
Home Rule, announced the hear
ing viii be held at $50 pm. in
the Senate Office Building here.
The voters at last November's
election approved q constitu-
tional amendment granting home
rule to Maryland municipalities.
but it has no actual effect until
the Legislature implements 1t.
Two bills for that purpose have
been introduced in, the Senate
from the Legislative Council.
Sets Town Procedure.
One would set up procedures
for towns to follow in amending
or repeating their charters or an
nexing new territory. 1t would
provide that a municipality might
change its boundaries upon ini-
tiation Of the Town Council or
petition of Is per cent OF the
residents in the area in question.
If the Council approved the an
nexation, after a public hearing,
it would take effect in 30 days,
unless a petition for q referen-
dunn was forthcoming from 10
per cent Of the registered voters
in the would-be annexed area or
10 per cent of the voters in the
municipality itself.
This procedural measure also
would provide that new munich
palities could be formed in any
area Of more than 100 residents,
if approved in a special referen-
dunn. County commissioners
would have to call these special
elections upon petition Of 10
per cent or more of the residents
in the area proposed for incor-
poration. II the incorporation
was approved. the new town
would pay for the election. II
! it lost, the county would foot the
bill.
The second augmentation
measure is a model charter, with
sweeping powers OF self-govern-
ment. which could be adopted
by new or old municipalities on
their own initiative. The Legisla-
ture would retain its authority
| over tax rates and debt limits of
municipalities.
Concern Expressed.
Some Montgomery and Prince
Georges County legislators here
are concerned about provisions
in the model charter to give mu-
inequalities complete power over
such matters as coming and
| planning.
| The Legislature is under pres
sure to enact some implementing
legislation as soon as possible.
The Attorney General has ruled
that, under the new home rule
amendment, the Legislature cam
not pass laws for municipalities
until the implementing legisla-
ton is on the statute books. This
is hurting some towns that need
legislative approval for capital
improvement bond issues.
| Senator H. Winship Wheat
ley, jr.. Democrat, of Prince
Georges County. which has %
municipalities, Is q member Of
the Hoff Subcommittee. He said
he has notified all of his con-
stituent Mayors Of the hearing.
Accreditation Report Received.
In. other developments here
yesterday. as the legislators
went home for a weekend re-
cess:
/. The controversial Univer-
sity Of Maryland accreditation
report arrived here. and three
copies were delivered to the
Governor. the Senate President
and the Speaker OF the House.
George w. Fogg, an assistant to
the president at the university.
delivered the copies Of the re-
port. which figured in last falls
heated gubernatorial campaign.
Legislative officials put the
documents in safekeeping and
said they would be turned over
on Monday to the Senate
Finance Committee and the
House Ways and Means Com
mittee.
2. Deleeate Myrtle Polk, DEM
ocrat. Of Worcester, introduced
q bill to provide for q constitu-
tional amendment doing away
with the State real estate and
tangible personal property taxes
after January /. 1857. The
voters would have the final say
on the proposed amendment in
the 1866 general election.
3. A bill to put an end to
special legislation every time q
Maryland horse track loses a
day Of its meet because OF bad
weather was put into the House
hopper by Majority Leader A.
Gordon Boone and Minority
Leader Melvin H. Derr. Their
bill would authorize the state
Racing Commission to grant q
track extra days to make UP for
those lost through inclement
weather.
Assembly Bill Proposes
-