Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-07
MURRAY TO WAKEFIELD
President of the B. and 0. Com
pany Sent Letter
WITH MASS OF DOCUMENTS
Bearing on the Controversy Between
State and Road
WASHINGTON BRANCH ISSUE
Resolutions introduced in the Mary
land Legislature Today - Mont
gomery County Matters.
WASHINGTON BRANCH ISSUE
Special plspatch to The Star.

ter. which was accompanied Dy mass
of documents, figures and other exhibits
III regard to the controversy between the
state of Maryland and his company over
the Washington branch.
Hon. Edwin Warfield governor of Mary
land and president of board of public
works:
In further response to yours of 31st ui-
timo, transmitting resolutions of the board
quiries in such resolutions, 1 hand you the
following:
"First-A statement of the receipts and
expenditures of the Washington branch
from June 80, 1885, to the close OF the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1905. This In
formation is given by years and under the
general classification of receipts and dis
bursements, together with a summary for
the ten years, showing the applications
made of the net earnings. Accompanying
this statement Is a communication from
the controller of the company covering
statement Of the methods of accounting.
and that you may more fully understand
the same a statement of the operations
for the years 1904 and 1906 In full detail
by sub-accounts
''Second-An inventory of the properties
of the Washington branch within the Dis
trict of Columbia that will not be required
for railroad purposes after the completion
of the new terminals.
Accompanying this inventory are blue
prints showing the location and extent of
the several properties referred to therein.
II also hand you a sketch map showing
the general plan of the new terminals, to-
gether with the existing lines.
Notwithstanding to the inquiry con-
tanned in the second resolution of the board:
The directors have taken no action with
reference to the application of the appro-
priation of S1,500,000 made by Congress
when same becomes payable. For your in
formation, communication is incloSed from
Mr.. Fl. L. Bond, jr., second vice president
and general attorney of the company, CIV
ing a statement of the reasons moving to
this appropriation and the conditions under
which payment IS to be made, from which
you will note, In his opinion, the time has
not arrived when the board can take def
mite action as to the distribution of this ap-
preparation when same is received.
Il call your attention to his suggestion
that an agreement between the stockholders
will be of assistance to the board In deter
mining this question. Speaking for the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
holder of Washington branch stock, / can
say that this company will be glad to
reach an agreement with the state and
other holders of Washington branch stock,
and to determine upon an equitable plan
for the distribution of the appropriation
when same Is received.
Yours very truly.
OSCAR g. MURRAY, President"
To Eliminate Politics in Inquiry.
Delegate Lehmayer introduced In the
house resolution demanding an ac-
counting from the B. and O. and speci-
flying sixteen different matters in which
accounts should be furnished, nearly all
of which are contained in President Muir
rays exhibits, and which will be sent by
ha RI of :, IL.
assembly, probably tomorrow. Ex-Con-
gresham Joshua w. Miles, one of the at
torneys for the B. and o., and other rep
resentatiyes of that corporation, appeared
in the state house this morning to look
out for the interest of their company.
Action on the German resolution about
the B. and o., which was referred back
in the Senate yesterday, will not be taken
until young Mr. German returns from
Washington, where he has gone in con-
nection with a contested election case be-
fore the House'of Representatives.
Two other resolutions were also intro
duced in the house regarding the B. and
o. railroad, which were referred to the
committee on ways and means.
The general impression is that all po-
lttical manipulation in regard to the B.
and O. Will be eliminated and that the
Germans will fail In their attempt to use
the affair to further their political for
tunes.
Some of Senator Germans closest friends
are opposed to the scheme to use the Bal
timore and Ohio controversy for political
effect. The determination among the best
members of both parties is to manage the
matter in the fairest possible way from n
purely business standpoint
TreasA rer for Montgomery County.
A bill has been introduced by Mr.. Lee of
Carroll of that county In the house provid-
q fpaa
county.
The bill makes the clerk to the county
commissioners ex-ofticio county treasurer
and fixes his salary at 5000, with assist
ant clerks at a total of 81, 800, and the Of
fees of five collectors, who have heretofore
collected the taxes In the various districts,
are abolished The measure takes effect the
LIST of July next, and upon a careful esti-
mate will save the county ON the collection
of taxes alone little over 50 600 annually.
In addition to this there is a provision In
the bill requiring the funds of the county
to be deposited in county banks which are
willing to pay at least per cent on such
deposits. and which would increase the
benefit to the county from $500 to s., 900
more annually.
One provision of the measure is the APP
pointment of special auditor by the cir
cult court to audit the accounts of the
county commissioners and treasurer every
three months, with power to inquire Into all
expenditures and statements upon which
the account Is based, compensation to be
$25 per quarter.
The bill also covers the appointment of
assessors in each election district for the
purp ose of assessing new and omitted prop
erty, who are to- receive the sanae fees as
heretofore provided for. This will not d.
minisll the economy to the county expected
under this measure Incidental improve
ments are made In the details of collecting
taxes and preserving the good features of
the present law.
Will Stop Commissions.
Heretofore about one-third of the taxes
of Montgomery county have been volun-
tariIy paid to the clerk of the county COM
missioner by the taxpayers, and the heavy
commission charged to the county by the
collectors under the old system was for
actually collecting only two-thirds of the
taxes.
The new measure provides that the treas
urer or his assistants shall visit once be-
fore the LIST OF September and twice more
before the list of January points to be des-
ignated within each election district, OF
which due notice is to be given, to faeil-
itate payment of taxes.
Though this measure Is expected to save
so large a sum to the taxpayers of the
county, it is also anticipated that il will
prove as convenient, If not more conver-
IN, he's, ~,