Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-03-21
Council Moves On Conflicts
Wilson Urges
Appointment
Of Study Unit
By William III. Smith
Sentinel Reporter

In the face of growing crit
lclsm over the status of Hal
Lackey, new chairman of its
personnel board, the Repub-
llcan-dominated County
Council moved Tuesday to
speed up its settlement of
the Conflict of interest"
issue.
Without taking formal action.
the council urged its attorneys
to intensity their study to deter.
mine If Lackey's continued
membership on the Republican
State Central Committee in
volved a conflict which would
require his dismissal from the
post-a contention brought by
the nonpartisan League of
Women Voters.
DR.. Thomas M. Wilson, Re-
publican councilman, acting as
president protein in the absence
OF John A. Floyd, said he was
distressed" by the numerous
newspaper stories devoted to
the issue, and expressed hope
a legal decision would be
brought In no later than next
Tuesday-the councils next reg
ular meeting date.
At the same time, without
making a formal motion. DIR.
Wilson suggested that the coun-
ell provide for creation Of a b.
partisan committee to probe
future conflict complaints. He
proposed that the committee be
composed Of two Republicans
and two Democrats selected by
their respective State Central
Committees, and two members
OF the council, each represent
Ing one of the political parties.
He made the suggestion after
asserting that the complaints
In the Lackey case were "un.
warranted In my opinion" How.
ever, the council took no action,
nor were there any replies when
he asked for comment.
The discussion came up after
Douglas H. Moore, acting coun-
ty attorney, said he and two
members Of his staff were en-
gagged in extensive research that
has brought no Qualification of
the Lackey status to date. He
said he and his colleagues have
been handicapped by the fact
that there Is no litigation on rec
ord involving similar issues.
Moore said the position Of
merit system employees with re-
spect to their participation In
politics as party officials is
clearly defined. However, he
pointed out that the position of
county attorney, appointed by
the council rather than the per-
sonnet board, Is one of the rela-
lively few county jobs unaffect.
ed by the system.
The question will require
thorough analysis" Moore
said.
Councilman John Henry
Hiser, another member of the
Republican majority, said he
felt the issue had arisen "be-
cause someone's trying to make
a monkey out of a molehill."
In its complaint to the coun-
ell, the League of Women
Voters contended Lackey's con-
tinued service as a member of
the Republican committee after
his appointment to the person
mel board post had eliminated
any question, and that he
should be fired Immediately in
accordance with the County
Charter.
The complaint brought
prompt endorsement from coun-
ty Democrats and fuel was add
ed to the fire last week with the
Of a recent Republi-
can newsletter in which Repub-
lean job hunters were urged to
get In touch with Lackey at Re-
publican headquarters. An add
I'd blaze flared up with Lackey's
by judges of the
Circuit Court as one Of four
new court auditors.
In a statement issued by Ann
Brown, chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Central Commit
zee, 1t was pointed out that
,ome of the jobs cited in the Re-
publican letter involved the
merit system. This demon
'trates that the Republicans are
intent on desecrating our merit
system and certainly have vio-
ated the Republican platform
pledge to the electorate to hold
public hearings on appoint
nents," Mrs. Brown declared.
With respect to the councils
'arlier indication that 1t would
eek a ruling on the Lackey APP
continent from its new Repub-
lean attorney, Robert c. Tobin
r., who has not yet assumed
'ffice, Mrs. Brown said This
'ound.robin deal is scarcely
L