Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-06-07
Council Legislative
Session Passes 26
Bills, Downs Three

The Montgomery County Coun,
Gil wound up its 31-day May legis-
lative session with a record OF 26
bills passed, three defeated, and
two tabled. Approved measures
take effect August Is unless We
toed. Veto requires a SO council
vote.
Most controversial measure
passed was the bill authorizing
construction of a Silver Spring
hospital with So million county
bond issue to be financed from
tax not to exceed seven cents per
500 of assessed property in the
18th (Wheaton-Silver Spring.
election district.
The bill with only minor amend
ments cleared the council on a
4-3 vote. In favor were Robert T.
Snure, who introduced the meas
ure, Charles H. Jamison, Jerry
T. Williams, and Wilbur N
Baughman. Opposed were Mrs.
Stella B. Werner, Grover K. Walk
er and ]. Grahame Walker.
Opponents of the hospital bill
have already begun collecting
signatures in an effort to force a
referendum. Signatures from 10
percent of the more than 100000
registered voters are required to
put the hospital measure on the
November ballot. (See other
story on this page.r
Lease Plan Rejected
Before approving the hospital
plan, the council voted down 81
an amendment proposed by j..
Grahame Walker that was in re-
atty a new bill. He wanted the
county to build the hospital from
a bond financed from the general
county tax. The hospital would
then be leased to a non-profit OPP
Grating association.
Mr.. Walkers plan ALSO called
for abolition of the Medical Care
Commission 1t would be re,
placed by hospital commission
which would decide when and
where to erect future county
built hospitals.
Also turned down was an
amendment proposed by Mrs.
Werner which would have re-
quired non-binding advisory
bond could be floated. County
referendum before the hospital
attorney Charles M. Irelan said
the council has no authority to
initiate referendum.
MIR. Baughman voted for the
hospital bill even though the
council refused to exempt from
the hospital tax that part of the
18th district near the Olney area
Mr.. Baughman represents. Mr..
Baughman told the council the
Olney residents support and use
the Montgomery General Hos
pital.
The 250-bed Silver Spring hos
pital, if the referendum move
fails, will be built at Sligo Creek
Parkway and Forest Glen Road.
Tax Rebate Defeated
The council voted down a BIZ
that would have refunded to
Rockville that portion of county
tax revenue collected in the town
and used to finance the county
library system. The town asked
the refund because a private asso-
citation provides library service in
Rockville.
County manager NJ. L. Reese
urged defeat of the rebate bill.
He said "a fundamental principle
was at stake. He said, Either
we maintain the county system
or we refund money to all the
Incorporated areas"
A similar rebate bill was tabled
by the council last year.
Tables this session was the bill
that would have created a county
revenue authority to build and
operate self-liquidating projects.
County attorney Irelan said the
State Legislature must create
such an authority. Council mem.
bers said the matter will be in.
troduced at next yeai 5 legislature
session.
Another tabled bill would have
increased the area of the Silver
Spring parking lot district by II
acres. The council declined to
take action because the bill was
introduced too late to hold a pub.
lie hearing on it.
The councils legislative record:
Bill l, authorizing construction
CONTINUED on Page 4