Evening star., 1955-06-16
Through-Street
Plan Opposed
By Bet|1esdans
Residents Attack
Proposal at Hearing
On County Budget
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

ming pools highlighted the final
public hearing on Montgomery
County Manager M. L. Reese's
proposed $28.1 million capital
and operating budgets.
The show. however. last night
almost was stolen by the bitter
fight between the Bethesda
Chamber of Commerce and resi-
dents of the area over the cham
ber's proposals for street i'm
Iprovements.
Some 20 residents took the
floor to attack plans for WIDEN
ling Arlington road and making
Pearl street a through street to
alleviate congestion on Wiscon-
sin avenue.
About IS of the estimated 800
persons who jammed the county
building auditorium took the
floor to discuss budget proposals.
1t was a weary council that
after three lengthy sessions in
the previous five days sat for
nearly five hours last night to
wind up required hearings on
the budget.
Some Requests Echoed
During the session the council
heard repeated requests fort
i. An increase from $250,000
to 81 million the amount to be
spent on parking lots in Silver
Spring.
2. A $4,000 increase in Mr..
Reese's proposed $53,15o for the
Isheriff's Office.
3. Restoration of $31,263 cut
by Mr.. Reese out of the library
budget.
4. Another $4,000 for opera
ton of the Civil Defense Office.
5. More funds-not enumer-
Iated-for the Wheaton parking
Ilot program.
Mr.. Reese also heard his pro-
Iposal for a library as part of a
community educational center
that would include recreation.
school and health facilities at
tackled as "uneconomical" and
"unplanned."
Residents of Edgemoor and
Chevy Chase Section 8 led the
fight against the Bethesda street
program which they termed an
"llnwarranted invasion of resi-
dental areas"
Speakers at last nights ses-
sion included:
RECREATION
Mrs. Helen Campbell, County
Recreation Board - Further
study to pass that portion
Iof budget calling for construc-
ition of-one swimming pool' next
year.
Kenneth N X. Abel, Civic
Federation-"We do not wish to
chase mirage any longer" Al
locate $4,000 for construction
Iof two swimming pools instead
of $4,000 for plans and site
purchase for one.
II. F. Brownfield, Community
Chest and Ccuncil-"Lack Of
recreation facilities and leaders
is our biggest problem.
S. H. Ingberg-Give commu-
nifty pools a chance to supply
need for pools. Instead of OUT
door pools build recreation CEN
ters with indoor pools.
Donald S. Sampson, Public
Golfers Committee Public
courses are real good business.
Reserve $4,000 from profits to
purchase farmland for new
courses.
SHERIFFS OFFICE
Alger Y. Barbee, States at
torney-Duties increasing greatly
while facilities standing still.
Joseph b. Simpson, jr., attor-
ney-Work of Office has increased
eight times since 1916. At least
IA deputies instead of present
nine are needed.
J. Hodge Smith, attorney
Attorneys are constantly con-
fronted with delays in service of
papers because of inadequate
staff"
David L. CahOon, Rockville
city attorney-Services provided
Rockville are "woefully made
quate."
Ellis Manning, County liz
brary Board - Departments
budget was minimum budget"
Top priority is for restoration
of funds for new bookmobile
and its staff.
BETHESDA STREETS
Roger w. Eisinger, jr., Be-
thesda Chamber of Commerce
Seward H. Mott Associates, land
planning consultants, support
our proposals for street improve
ments. They will relieve shop
ping traffic. "If there is a bet
ter plan we will study it. A plan
must be evolved"
Arthur Sturgis, jr., Chevy
Chase Section Citizens Asso-
ciation-The proposal to push
Pearl street across the railroad
tracks and through existing
homes is unnecessary. Retailers
will be hurt by this plan pro-
noted by real estate interests.
John Boddie-The proposals
would create greater hazards"
They are greatest farcical abb
Forrest r. Eaton-"We are
satisfied with Bethesda as it is.
We don't want to see big COM
nercial program as adopted in
Silver Spring"
Carl H. Inlay, Edgemoor Cit
Zens' Observation-Disclosures Ar
ington road is threat to Edge
moor" "Edgemoor contributes
OTIS to carriage trade atmosphere
If Bethesda. These proposals
would start prairie fire CONNER
,ialism and create blight
area"
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