THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                  1325

Montgomery County within the regional district for highways, school
sites and other public uses. This would expand the functions of the
Park and Planning Commission into new fields adequately covered by
existing agencies. By amendment to the bill it was provided that
school sites were not to be acquired without prior approval of the
Montgomery County, Board of Education. Thus, in the field of school
sites there would be an unnecessary duplication of function and, de-
spite the amendment, possible conflict between the two agencies. In-
sofar as highways and other public uses now covered by other County
agencies, such as the Department of Public Works, are concerned, there
could conceivably be a clear conflict of authority without even the
limitation of prior approval. A number of representative civic or-
ganizations, including the League of Women Voters of Montgomery
County, have expressed very firm opposition to this proposed extension
of operational functions of the Maryland-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.

In the light of the aforegoing, I am constrained to concur in these
objections as validly taken.

Respectfully,

(s) THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor
TRMcK/tk

House Bill No. 829—Special Taxes, College Park

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 16 (f) and
Section 19 (a) of the Charter of the Town of College Park, in Prince
George's County, as enacted by Chapter 1051 of 1945, incorporat-
ing said Town, as amended by Chapter 68 of the Acts of 1947,
Chapter 149 of the Acts of 1949, Chapter 405 of the Acts of 1951
and Chapter 267 of the Acts of 1953, the purpose of the amend-
ments being to authorize and empower the Mayor and Common
Council of College Park to levy and collect annually a special assess-
ment against owners of multi-family structures located within the
corporate limits of the Town for the collection and disposal of refuse
and to reduce the period of time for reporting delinquent assess-
ments for special improvements from one year to six months.

April 28, 1955
Honorable John C. Luber
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. Speaker:

House Bill 829 authorizes a refuse collection tax on multi-family
structures in the town of College Park, and reduces the grace period
before legal steps for collection are initiated. This bill violates the
new Article HE of the Constitution (the Home Rule amendment)
which prohibits any such legislation unless embodied in a general law
applicable to all municipalities of the same class. Nor does it fall
within the exception as to fixing a tax limit. This view is confirmed