Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-02-18
Chevy Chase Residents Divided On
Incorporation.

Whether or not Chevy Chase, this county
will be incorporated into town was moi
decided at meeting held in the Chevy
Chase Library last Saturday night, but the
legislative delegation of this county will
carry back to Annapolis a large roll Of
petitions bearing on at least three angles
OF the proposition. The delegation will
also carry the memories of several very
sharp speeches from gentlemen interested
in the various phases of the subject.
As the matter stood at the adjournment
there was proposition to incorporate the
more closely built-up sections of what is
commonly called Chevy Chase, PROPOSE
ton to make special levy law. by which
property would be assessed at uniform
rate for each sixty-foot front lot. and a
proposition to include Martins addition to
Chevy Chase in any scheme for incorpora-
ton.
Around these three general propositions
wordy war was fought. Toward the
close of the meeting there seemed to be a
chance for the incorporators and anti-in-
corporators to get together. although no
specific plan for this was approached def
nitely. But the Martins addition PROPOSE
ton received sparse encouragement from
the hackers of either of the two main ques-
TONS
Senator Blair Lee presided over the
meeting, sitting with the others of the
legislative delegation, who were A. J. Cum
mings, j. A. Henderson. James Duvall and
John A. Garrett. Delegate A j. Cummings
opened the meeting by presenting Senator
Lee, who suggested a time limit for the
speeches.
Incorporation was backed in the first
speech by John W. Yerkes He outlined
his idea that now is the time to incorpor-
ate so that the town of Chevy Chase could
make progress as it had in the past, and
based his argument, in part, on the state
ment that the Chevy Chase Land Com
pany. as he had been informed, was about
to drop its policy of spending money on
the upkeep Of the streets, water and other
public necessities of the section. In men
tionine the subject of taxation, he said
that the Chevy Chase Club had agreed that
it would pay, in case of incorporation, $500
a year for ten years. in lieu of any other
form of assessment.
He was answered first by C. C. Tucker, a
leader of the anti-incorporators He said
there was no need for incorporation be-
cause all the public improvements would
be cared for in the future as well as they
had in the past. He added that there was
no intimation that the land company would
relinquish its policy in regard to spending
money for public works
His definite proposition was to make
Chevy Chase a specially protected part of
Montgomery county, to arrange for spe-
cial tax levy to be used by the county for
the benefit of Chevy Chase, and pointed
out that the social conditions of Chevy
Chase made it quite possible to do without
any municipal form of government
Martins subdivision got into the discus
sion at this point, Harry Martin being the
advocate. Mr.. Martin said that as all of
Chevy Chase had been extremely dead I'M
ill Martins addition had moved in he be-
lieved that the Incorporation should include
that section. No mention had been made
of that feature of the proposition by the
previous speakers, but it was apparent
that the incorporation management clearly
takes no notice of Martins subdivision.
They want to exclude Martins subdi-
vision for reasons that are laughable,
continued Mr.. Martin, but want a four
ward Chevy Chase. propose an amend
ment to the Incorporation scheme that will
include Martins addition. 1t ought also to
take in the club grounds and certain of the
farm property around here for taxation
purposes.
A gentlemen living in Martins addition
arose thereupon and presented a petition
which he said was signed by thirty resi-
dents of that addition. and which protested
against Incorporating Martins addition,
This gentleman said that Martins addition
did not want to be incorporated under any
terms at all. Mr. Martin answered this
gentleman and precipitated discussion
very distant to the issues which the legis-
lative delegation had come to hear
Senator Lee cleared the atmosphere with
a few crisp words, and the meeting pro-
ceeded to the discussion of incorporation.
A motion to take vote was followed
by another motion to postpone a vote for
ten days, to include women taxpayers as
well as men. and the large representation
of ladies' cheered. Neither motion was
acted upon. A petition was thereupon
presented. purporting to be majority rep
resentatiOn of taxpayers and legal voters
of the proposed town. opposing the incor-
pOration. Another was presented purpOrt-
ing to represent list Of l05 voters and 81
taxpayers who are in favor of incOrpora-
ton.
The petitions. canvassed for under differ
ent conditions. and at different times dur
ing the last fortnight. we're not parallel in
every particular but Senator Lee suggested
that the delegation be allowed to take them
to Annapolis, together with the final prop
ositiOn Of all concerned
II is understood that the next word on
the subject will come from Annapolis.
Religious Notices.