Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-09
AS 10 TAX EXEMPTIONS
OF QUESTION IN
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Special Correspondence of The Star.


ROCKVILLE, Md, August 8, 1906.
Considerable interest has been created In
Montgomery county within the past few
weeks by State Senator Blair Lees efforts,
following up his course in the last legisla-
ture. in regard to the tax exemptions of
the Montgomery County National Bank on
account of the Baltimore city stock held by
that institution. AS a matter of course,
the result of any action taken on account
of Senator Lees efforts will affect institu-
tions in Baltimore city and throughout the
state.
The recent agitation of this question has
led to a number of incidents. The history
Of the same Is, briefly, that just prior to
making the county levy in June, Senator
Lee appeared before the county commits
sioners and urged them to assess. for the
purposes of taxation, the capital stock Of
the Montgomery County National Bank, in
dependently Of the assessment made and
reported by the state tax commissioner.
The commissioners asked an opinion OF
their attorney, Mr.. Charles w. Prettyman,
which was to the effect that the commits
the state tax commissioners valuation. The
opinion, 1t Is stated, was based upon the
decision Of the court of appeals in the case
Of the James Clark Distilling Company
against the city of Cumberland. Upon the
reception of Mr.. Prettymans opinion Sena-
tor Lee raised the question as to Mr..
Prettyman being in position to give
competent opinion in the matter because
counsel for the bank. Mr.. Prettyman i'm
mediately placed his resignation in the
hands of the commissioners, and the latter
passed an order declining to comply with
Senator Lees petition, and also declining
to accept Mr.. Prettyman's resignation, and
instructing their attorney to consider and
report what course could be pursued to
prevent such exemptions in the future.
Several Courses Suggested.
The commissioners and their counsel held
consultation Tuesday of last week, at
which time Mr.. Prettyman suggested sew
eral courses which, in his opinion, would be
proper for the commissioners to follow in
the matter. One course was tentatively
agreed upon, and Mr.. Prettyman was in
Structed to prepare an order for the action
of the board the following Tuesday. The
proposition was in effect to arrange for a
conference of the attorneys to the boards
Of commissioners of other counties for the
purpose Of agreeing upon a course of ac-
tion, Mr.. Prettyman's idea being that the
different counties share the expense of any
given to the commissioners Tuesday. Sen
ator Lee, at Tuesdays meeting Of the
board. presented the following:
Ordered by the county commissioners
OF Montgomery county, Md, that the clerk
to the commissioners communicate with
Buchanan Schley, state tax commissioner,
and ascertain from him upon what statutes
and decisions he bases the exemption from
local taxes etc.. in the matter of the Balti-
more city stock, and, further, that Mr..
Blair Lee of the local bar is hereby author
lied and directed to make a preliminary
investigation and report to this board in
the matter of the exemption or exemptions
claimed or allowed in respect to the Balti-
more city stock. provided said attorney will
make said preliminary investigation and
report without charge, and the clerk to
this board shall, upon receipt Of an an
swer from the state tax commissioner to
the above inquiry directed, refer said an
swer to said attorney"
Senator Lees Order Adopted.
During the day the commissioners by
vote Of to 2, adopted the order offered by
Senator Lee. In the afternoon, upon hear
ing Of the action of the commissioners, Mr..
Prettyman addressed to the commission
ers the following communication:
"As the time seems to have arrived when
that absolute confidence that ought to ex-
list between attorney and client no longer
prevails between yourself and me, beg
leave to tender my resignation as the at
torney for the board. AS I said to you be-
fore 7 fo hor Of.