Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-21
County Home Rule

County Home Rule
The Star has been one Of
the leaders in providing the
people in Prince Georges
County with information
about the home rule move
ment and the tax savings
and other benefits whic h
home rule holds for them.
A recent Star editorial point
ed out that I'm the months
ahead efforts should be made
on as wide a basis as possible
to stimulate public under
standing and discussion, both
as to the purposes of the
charter movement and the
views Of those seeking men,
bership" on the board to be
elected to write a home rule
charter.
These same thoughts have
been expressed by the Prof.
ect Marlboro Home Rule
Charter Committee that held
a series of four public semi
mars earlier this year. They
have been expressed by the
Prince Georges County Civic
Federation, the League Of
Women Voters, other WASH
ington newspapers, radio and
TV stations. the county's pub
lie relations director, and
Mr.. Reichelt, one Of the
county commissioners.
Because of its reputation,
its facilities and its record
of public service, The Star is
particularly well qualified to
sponsor and coordinate this
educational program. It was
pointed out last week by the
speakers at the National As
ISOLATION of County Officials
in New York that the need
for county home rule is be-
coming more and more
pressing throughout the
United States. 1t is most
fitting that the area next to
the Nations Capital offers
such leadership.
Before the July % dead
line, the Project Marlboro
Home Rule Charter Commit
tee will have gathered over
$4,000 signatures Of regis
tered voters in the county to
get home rule on the ballot
this November. While $4,000
signatures in a county of
over 10000 registered voters
does not prove a groundswell
of public support, this
achievement of public sup
port can be more accurately
viewed in the light of the
following:
% Neither political party
has taken a position favoring
home rule, nor have they ac-
lively supported it as a party.
CD There has been and
continues to be substantial
opposition to home rule, and
the reforms that home rule
will bring, from machine pol
iticians in office, and from
powerful and highly financed
organizations and individ-
uals having a tremendous
stake in the status quo.
81 Our home rule COM
mittee. formed about 10
months ago, has succeeded
in its petition drive without
any assistance from any
other county organization
except the Civic Federation
and its member organiza-
tons. although individual
members of other organiza-
tons have been of great help
In other words, we can
prove that there are over 49,
600 registered voters now
willing to stand up and be
counted, alert to the impor-
lance of home rule, who are
not intimidated by threats
of reprisal or fear of change
With a good continuing edu-
cational program between
now and November 6, we
have a good basis for op-
timism that the voters in the
general election will support
home rule for Prince Georges
County, and will elect a char
ter board committed to q
modernized form of county
government, with an elected
chief executive, checks and
balances, and a bill Of rights
in the charter to guarantee
that special privileges, con-
flicts of interest, and waste
of tax money will be held to
a minimum; that the public
interest will be paramount;
and that modern business
principles Of management
will be practiced.
lance r Vance