Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-06
Prince Georges
Gets Variety
OF Legislation
Less Thun Half
Of IS Measures
Enacted, However
BY GENE GOODWIN
Star Staff Correspondent

DI uE(NG UOODWxN
Star staf Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, April 6.-The
legislative program enacted at
the 1855 Maryland General As
sembly by the all-Democratic
Prince Georges County delega-
ton ranges from authorization
for cat licenses to a ban on
bottle clubs.
The Prince Georges repre-
sentation led all others here in
the number of local measures
introduced in the Legislature,
which closed its 90-day session
early yesterday. OF the total Of
95 local bills put in by the Prince
Georgeans, however, less than
half were enacted.
The cat license bill was one Of
those that made it. It authorizes
the county commissioners to IL
cense and control cats and estab-
lish "a pound therefor"
That was about the only reve-
nue-producing measure for the
county pushed through this As
sembiy by the six Prince Georges
delegates and Senator II. VIM
ship Wheatley, jr.
Cut Inventory Tax
In contrast. they lived up to a
campaign promise to the county's
business community and reduced
the inventory tax by 40 per cent,
which is estimated to cost the
county over 5000, 900 a year.
The measure. If signed by Gov.
McKeldin, will provide that
Prince Georges business inven-
tories be assessed at go per cent
Of full cash value, making the
levy uniform with Montgomery
and other Maryland counties and
the District Of Columbia.
Another campaign pledge was
taken care Of in twin bills to
transfer control Of county
finances from the treasurer to
the county commissioners. Those
bills already have been signed by
the Governor.
Also signed have been bills au-
;horizing establishment of Coun-
~ Bureau Of Licenses and Inspec-
lions and permitting the county
commissioners to set speed limits
on county roads.
In addition to the constitu-
tionally-touchy bottle club han,
the Prince Georges group enacted
\ measure increasing the total
number of liquor licenses In the
county from $50 to 36l, but freez-
ing the number Of retail outlets
and taverns at the present level.
The eight new licenses would go
for country clubs, hotels and vet-
Grams and fraternal organizations.
Two Bond Authorizations
Two bond issue authorizations
we're voted-one totalling $40 mill
lion for schools and the other
81, $50, 900 for an addition to the
Court House at Upper Marlboro.
and construction Of ther county
office space.
Two important measures affect
ing improvements in the Metro
politan area and perhaps spelling
doom for special improvement
districts were enacted.
One authorizes the County
Commissioners to levy special
taxes in unincorporated areas
for special services such as
refuse collection, street lights
and street signs. The second
bill would allow 81 per cent of
the property owners on any road
to petition the county for con-
struction Of streets and sidewalks
at their expense. Those func-
tions now are handled in the
unincorporated areas Of Prince
Georges by the cumbersome spe-
cial improvement districts.
No extension of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission in Prince
Georges was proposed, but the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission district was extend
ed to vast new areas Of the
county. Taken into the sanitary
district was the Muirkirk-
Beltsville area from the Mont
gomery County line to the Pa
tuxent River west and south Of
Laurel, the area from Morning
side to Marlboro pike north of
Military highway, the Clinton
area west of new Route S, a
large part Of the Greenbelt area
outside the city proper and small
sections along Ardmore road and
between Dodge Park and Glen
Arden.
Four fire tax elections were
enacted, along with a pension
and disability plan for county
volunteer firemen. Under the
plan, the county would pay in
jured flremen S. a day up to SO
weeks for disqualification and $50
a month thereafter for the
length Of the disability. In the
case Of f1remen killed in line of
duty. the county would pay
widows $50 a month and SIS a