Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-07-27
A Sensihle Settlement.

Mr.. Editor :-Referring to the appearance
Of Messrs Lee and Prettyman before the
County Commissioners on June 30th, the Ad-
e0cdte 10 lite issue Of the 9Th instant, In an ar
ticle headed "Mr. Lee Loses His Temper
says; "Mr. Lee became very mach exasper-
ated at this point, and declared that Mr.
Prettyman was not in position to give a
competent opinion. So vigorous was the
Senator Mr.. Pfettyman rendered his resgna-
tion."
Mr.. Prettyman 10 his published letter says
"Mr. Lee said was not q proper person to
give any advice on the subject as | was con-
nected with the Bank. considered this an
unwarranted invasion OF my relations to my
clients, the Commissioners, and replied with
possibly more heat than the occasion called
for" &c.
II the fact was that Mr.. Lee and Mr.. Pretty
man, in the discussion Of purely business
matter before the Commissioners, got mad,
and the Advocate desired to truthfully report
the facts, why did 1t not head its article
''Messrs. Lee and Prettymau Lose their Tenn
per, and then give the whole truth2 The
answer to this question Is, that the course
suggested would not have suited the mani
fest purpose Of the advocate,
For the information OF the public will
add. that have been told by disinterested
person, who was present, that Mr.. Lee did not
lose his temper at all in the discussion re-
ferred to- unless a firm insistence upon what
he and great many other persons under the
circumstances believe was right, can be con-
strued into loss Of temper.
But what was there In Mr.. Lees position
to give offence to Mr.. Prettyman2 Was Mr..
Prettyman connected with the Bank and II
80 was he the proper person to advise the
Commissioners In matter depending be-
tween them and the Bank2 II Mr.. Prettyman
was one Of the standing attorneys for the
Bank, 1t seems to me it follows as sequence
ne was not proper person, TO advise the
commissioners in the matter then under con-
sideration, and II he was not proper person
to advise them, and Mr.. Lee merely asserted
the truth, would like to know what there
was in that for Mr.. Prettyman to take offence
at. So II seems TO me to come to this: Was
Mr.. Prettyman the counsel for the Bank 2
He and Mf. Talbot are partners in the prac-
tice Of the law. Mr.. Prettyman is counsel
for the Commissioners Talbot for the
Bank. When Mr.. Prettyman acts for the
Commissioners he consults and divides the
fees with Mr. Talbot, and when Mr.. Talbot
has business for the Bank he consults and d.
yides the fees with Mr.. Prettyman. IL this
be true, are not Messrs. Talbot and Pretty
man, as partners, attorneys for both the Com
missioners and the Bank 1t seems to me
they are.
However, the taxpayers Of Montgomery
county are not interested In whether Mr.. Lee
or Mr.. Prettyman or both got mad, or wheth-
er Mr.. Prettyman is In position to properly
advise the Commissioners or not, but what
they would like to know, and what think
they are entitled to know, Is, Did the Tax
Commissioner In appraising the stock Of the
Montgomery County National Bank for pur-
poses of taxation uRlawfully allow as q set
of against his valuation the Baltimore City
Stock held by the Bank, thus reducing the
assessable value of the Bank stock to about
So, 900, when II should at most conserva-
tive estimate been not less than 81 so, 900, and
IL 80 what is the proper method for the Com
missoners 70 pursue IN order to have the err
ror corrected. II is no answer to Mr.. Lees
contention that the remedy suggested by him
Ia not the proper one. The question is, lie
there wrong, and if so what is the remedy 2
In my Judgment there can be no question as
to what the Commissioners should do. They
should forthwith refer this matter to some
competent attorney for an opinion in writing
aud take whatever action he may advise.
In conclusion, desire to say have every
confidence in the ability Of Mr.. Prettyman as
lawyer, and In his integrity as a man, and
am satisfied that IL the Commissioners will
ask of him the opinion suggested and he will
give II, II will be both honest and able.
DEMOCRAT