The Washington times., 1905-06-10
A. NJ. LAMBETH.
Dropped From the District Pay Roll
After a Service Of Seventeen Years.

A spirited controversy arose late
yesterday afternoon in Assessor Dar-
neille's Office at the District building
between Hopewen Fl. Darneille and A.
II. Lambeth, clerk in the arrears di-
vision.
The Assessor. according to stories re-
lated today by both parties to the quar-
rel. had called Mr.. Lambeth, who is
sixty years of age and has been in the
District employ for seventeen years.
from his desk in the basement to the
Assessors office on the first floor and
Informed him that it had been decided
to reduce his salary from 81, 100 to
$500.
The aged clerk grew indignant and de-
fed Mr.. Darneille, according to those
who heard the conversation He threat
ened to fight the proposed action. Both
men spoke loud enough to be heard
through the entire office. Over a year
ago Mr.. Lambeth was transferred from
the Assessors office to the arrears di-
vision
Claims an Agreement.
In excited language Mr. Lambeth re-
minded the Assessor of an agreement said
to have been made with him year ago
by Mr.. Earneille that he would retain
his 81, 400 salary In his new position The
Assessor denied this. and each then In
timated in tones heard down the corri-
dors that the other was in error. and
the truth vas not in him.
Al this point, so it is stated by those
In the office Mr.. Lambeth seemed about
TO strike the Assessor They saw the
TWO men Were prevented from an ac-
suaI encounter en- only by the intervention
oi j. I Petty and Assistant Assessor T
t.. Alvey and several clerks in the
neighborhood, who rushed to their
chiefs assistance
Quick Work Done.
This occurred at O'Clock. Imne-
diately Mr.. Darneille brought the clerk
tefore Commissioners Macfariand and
Bfddie, and asked his dismissal on
charges Of insubordination. The two
Commissioners agreed, but the sigma
ture of Commissioner West, who had
left the District building early to take
q train for the Bl1e Ridge Club, was
lacking. Mr.. Vests train left the Bal
timore and Ohio Station at o'clock.
Five minutes before train time the case
was stated TO him by Assessor DarneilIe
and Mr. Vests private secretary, Louis
g.. Wilson. at the station, and the Com
missioner signed the order Of dismissal
Just one hour after the encounter in
the Assessors office Mr. Lambeth was
dismissed.
lLdtcT III lHe evening MT. Lambeth
called upon the Assessor ana apollo
gized. With tears in his eyes he asked
10 be reinstated. He was refused His
pastor called today at the District
building on similar mission, but failed.
What Lambeth Says.
Mr. Lambeth when seen by a Times
reporter today denied the published
statement that Mr.. Darneille had crit
1cised his work or charged him with in
competency. He also denied that he had
ATTEMPTED to strike the Assessor. He
said today:
One year ago I held the Office of
clerk to the personal tax board. AT the
request of Mr.. Darneille, I resigned the
off1ce and Peter Lesh was promoted to
the place / was given the clerkship
OF the arrears of taxes. which had been
held by Mr.. Lesh. Mr. Lesh. however.
was not put in charge of the clerkship
OF the personal tax board. but DR..
Kirk, a $, 200 clerk, was assigned to that
duty. and has since filled the office I
was not to be reduced for incompetency.
as stated, but was simply ASKED to
change salaries with DR.. Kirk, and l
refused