HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1625

safety of the people in the County by being adequately equipped
to deal with the problem of the influx of population and ade-
quately prepared to meet the problems incident thereto; and

WHEREAS, it is anticipated that post-war events may re-
quire the participation by the County Commissioners of Mont-
gomery County in a program of reconstruction, improvement
or expansion of municipal and public works, facilities and
services; and

WHEREAS, it is, therefore, necessary in the public interest,
as an initial. step, that the County Commissioners of Mont-
gomery County be adequately empowered to finance any of the
foregoing needs as they may occur from time to time and that
said County be immediately enabled to place its present debt
structure on a sound and economical basis so that the County
may be prepared for such future demands and obligations above
outlined; now, therefore:

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That in addition to its corporate powers heretofore
granted, the County Commissioners of Montgomery County
(hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "County"), be and
it is hereby authorized and empowered to—(a) acquire by pur-
chase, gift, devise or bequest sites for County Schools, and to
enlarge or improve such sites, and to construct, improve, de-
velop, enlarge or extend existing County Schools, and to con-
struct new school buildings and grounds and purchase the
physical equipment necessary or incident thereto; (b) acquire,
lay out, open, construct and maintain County roads, streets
and highways, or street or highway viaducts or bridges; (c)
contribute toward the cost of highway projects and construc-
tion of the Maryland State Roads Commission, located in
Montgomery County; (d) acquire by purchase, gift, devise or
bequest or erect community recreation and public assembly
buildings and swimming pools and the physical equipment
necessary or incident thereto; (e) enlarge, move or replace
existing County public buildings; (f) acquire by purchase,
gift, devise or bequest, land for park sites and for an airport
site or sites; (g) contribute toward the cost of any public
works in Montgomery County for the purpose of obtaining
grants of Federal aid in carrying out any such public work;
(h) contribute such a sum, or sums as may be determined by
the Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery County to
the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission
for or toward the erection of community recreation and pub-
lic assembly buildings or public offices or swimming pools in
either Bethesda, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Gaithersburg or
Rockville, or in such other locations in Montgomery County as