Evening star., 1908-01-18
CHANGE IN ORGANIC LAW.
Citizens Of Hyattsvilles Struggle
With the Problem.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
HYATTSV1LLE. Md, January II, 1908.
A meeting of the citizens of Hyatts-
vile was held In Masonic Hall last night
to consider several proposed amendments
to the organic law of the town. noted In
The Star. upon which the mayor and
town council were directed to secure the
necessary legislative action. It was re-
ported about town that the authorities
were authorized. under the proposed
amendment, to levy S1.O5 instead of IS
cents, the latter rate not including the
special sewer tax of 20 cents on the 800
which the legislature directed should be
levied to pay the holders of the towns
sewer bonds. The members of the fire
department claimed that they had been
unfairly treated in the matter of the pro-
posed levy. as no provision had been made
for the maintenance of the organization.
At the meeting held last evening. the
only thing desired, 1t was stated. was to
so amend the proposed amendment as to
make it obligatory upon the town authori-
ties to levy cents for the maintenance
of the fire department. Mr.. M. D. Baker
moved that the tax levy section be so
framed that 1.-The wishes of the meeting
might be intelligently expressed" This
was done, and the section will now provide
that the tax limit be fixed at S5 cents on
sewer tax of 20 cents, and also setting
aside 5 of the S. cents for the support
and maintenance of the fire department.
This means an Increase of 25 cents over
the present rate for general purposes.
After this matter had been adjusted Mr..
William P. Magruder. member of the
town council, presented petition signed
by thirty residents and taxpayers of that
section of East Hyattsville which a pre-
vtous meeting had decided should be made
a. mart of the tfOu nf
Mr.. William Giusta made point of order
that the meeting was called for the spe-
cific purpose of amending the tax levy
section and that no other matters could
be considered.
The chair sustained Mr.. Giusta, and DR..
Joseph A. Mudd then suggested that after
adjournment another meeting could be
called by those present for the considera-
tion of the point raised by Mr.. Magruder
This met with approval, and the tax meet
ing adjourned.
Another meeting was then held. and DR..
Mudd was chosen to preside. with Mr..
Kelly secretary. motion was made that
section of the amended charter be fur
ther amended so as to leave the boundary
lines of the town as they exist at present
Councilman c. w. ingalls, raised the point
that the citizens of East Hyattsvlle were
not entitled to vote In meeting of the
people of Hyattsville. Mr.. William Giusta
agreed with Mr.. ingalls,, and the chair
ruled that the point was well taken. Mr..
Magruder declared that. II the meeting
failed to comply with the wishes of the
people of East Hyattsville, the matter
would be taken to the legislature.
Mayor Joseph r. Owens said the matter
of including East Hyattsville within the
corporate limits had been considered from
time to time by the common council, and
1t had been decided that there was moth
ing to be gained by 1t. as 1t would be nee
essary to extend the sewerage and light
ing systems to that section. The matter
was again taken up by the citizens COM
mittee of nine and it was decided to rec
ommend to the citizens the incorporation
Of East Hyattsville, provided the tax
limit in that community be fixed at 10
cents on the 500 for the first three years.
At the citizens meeting held Thursday
Of last week .he 1O-cent clause was
stricken out, and the amendment to in
clude the territory as part Of Hyattsville
without any modification of the tax rate
carried It was declared last night to be a
matter Of justice to the citizens of Hyatts-
willie that this territory should come into
the town; that the people of East Hyatts-
vile secured all the benefits of being con-
tiguous to the corporation without bear
ing any of the burdens Of taxation.
After an animated discussion the chair
finally put the question on the motion to
strike out the amendment Incorporating
East Hyattsville, and it was adopted by
an overwhelming majority.