Evening star., 1955-01-25
Prince Georges
Seeks fo.Shiff
Fund Control
Bill Restores Power
To Commissioners;
Bottle Clubs Hit
D. . ssatt cersspsndsn. q Ihs So,

.1 ID : )
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 25.Prince
Georges County members Of the
Maryland legislature are work.
ing on legislation to transfer
control Of county finances from
the treasurer to the county COM
missioners and to outlaw or con-
troll so-called bottle clubs.
Reducing the powers Of the
county treasurer was one Of the
.canpaign pledges Of the Demo-
Gratis, who regained control Of
county and legislative offices
from the Republicans In the
general election last November.
Under Republican County Treas
urer Julian B. Mckay the treas
urer's office, in; 1853, had absorbed
other county Offices dealing with
finances and reorganized them
under q Department of Finance.
The all-Democratic Prince
Georges bloc here made it clear
last night it viii seek to amend
the so-called Mckay bill, which
created the department of A.
nance, to restore the county
treasurer to the position he held
before the Republicans took over
the county in the 1850 election
upset.
Other Bills Requested.
Prince Georges State Senator
H. Winship Wheatley. jr., and
the six delegates met with
County Attorney william Kahler
and his assistant, Robert
Matthias. jr. The two attorneys
presented proposals and re-
quests for legislation from the
county commissioners, includ-
ing. in addition to the treasurer
bill:
!. Aegislation to rid the county
Of after-hours bottle clubs.
Senator Wheatley and Delegate
Ernest A. Loveless, jr., former
counsel to the County Liquor
Board, said they believe the
States attorney and police could
close down bottle clubs now un-
der a State law prohibiting the
sale or consumption Of alcoholic
beverages in a public place be-
tween the hours OF 2 and 6 am.
They urged the county attorneys
to investigate this possibility IF
there Is any immediate problem
with the bottle clubs"
The delegation instructed Mr..
Kahler and Mr.. Matthias to draft
"a bill to control or ban the clubs.
Appeal Tar Court.
Q. Legislation to permit the
county commissioners TO create
an appeal tax. court to hear ap-
peals on property assessments. as
is now done In Montgomery and
Baltimore Counties.
Mr.. Kahler said the commits
sioners have not definitely de-
cided whether they would want
such a court. The delegation
took the request under advise
ment, after Delegates Lansdale
G. Sasscer, jr., and Hervey @.
Machen said they believed the
commissioners should live for
awhile with the present system
Of hearing such appeals them
selves before a tax court bill is
considered.
3. Legislation to transfer au-
thority for storm drainage prof.
ects from the Washington Sub
urban Sanitary Commission to
the county commissioners. This,
too, was taken under advisefnent.
Delegate Machen disclosed
that he is having a bill drafted
now for consideration which
would set up a system Of special
assessments by watersheds In
the county to finance storm
drainage.
On the treasurer's bill. Mr..
Kahler and Mr.. Matthias agreed
to bring back the draft of a
measure which would include
provisions transferring the Off
ces Of transfer officer, controller
and assessor from the treasurer
back to the county commits
sioners.
Tentative agre e m ent was
reached on q $500 annual sal-
airy for newly elected Democratic
Treasurer Charles Callow, with
q fiat $l.000-a-year expense ac-
count and no other compensa-
ton. The Mckay bill would pro-.
vide for the same salary, but an
expense account of UP to $2,500.
q year. It also does not prohibit
the treasurer from accepting
compensation from the State for
selling auto license tags or from
municipalities for collecting their
tnuyT1 fayac