Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24
MIX IN THE DATES
Chevy Chase in a Quandary
Over Charter Proposal.
MAY NULLIFY ELECTION
Double Legislation Affecting Mary
land Suburb Apparently in Conflict.
VOTE TO BE TAKEN TOMORROW
But Will It Decide If Town Is to
Be Village or Taxed Dis
trict, or Bothp
7OTE TO BE TAKEN TOMORROW

Chevy Chase is in quandary. and the
question which looms largely over the
horizon lies simply In this
VIII Chevy Chase be village. or will
it be taxing district. or will 1t be both?
Ever since the agitation began to secure
an Incorporation Of the growing suburb,
which is located just beyond the District
line in Maryland, there has been another
active element IN the affected district
which commended strongly for the elm
fnation of the charter proposition and
the adoption Of tax levy plan. by which
the fiscal affairs OF the little town would
be administered through the commission
ers OF Montgomery county. Both factions
were successful in getting the necessary
legislation through the state legislature
but the two acts which were passed car
ried a common provision, namely, that
the final selection Of the future plan Of
government Of Chevy Chase should be
left to the citizens Of that community
the determination to be made by referen-
DUN.
And SO the matter stood until the bills
came to Gov. Crothers for signature and
the facts which then came to light have
just how been made public.
Dates Twisted in Bill.
1t seems that somebody. somehow.
somewhere. twisted the dates in the act
providing for the charter. The bill as
passed by the legislature specified that
the referendum should be held April 1S.
AS the act was en9rossed and presented
to Gov. Crothers for signature, either by
accident or design, 1t was made to read
that unless the charter should become
law prior to April IS, then the tax
levy scheme should obtain And the
date set for the referendum. which alone
could make the act a law, was set for
April 20. Consequently Chevy Chase
could not hold it's election prior to April
rs. and its citizens are wondering II
their votes for a charter, if cast April
70, Will not be too late to secure to them
the benefits the act itself provides.
But the election will be held anyhow,
and following the referendum, If the
charter wins majority. as its friends
freely predict, the village will vote for
its board of four trustees and a village
president, as the act also provides. and
take up its corporate existence Because
the referendum has not made the char
ter proviso law before April %, how
ever, the taxing levy scheme will also
be in operation, and under its terms the
county commissioners will be fully en-
powered to collect the revenues of Chevy
Chase. The taxing levy, or taxing dis
trict act. contemples the expenditure of
the moneys collected as taxes in Chevy
Chase solely upon the betterment Of that
town, disbursements to be made through
the Chevy Chase Citizens Association.
The Point at Issue.
Therefore, the question arises, if Chevy
Chase Is both a village and a special
taxing district-who will levy and collect
the taxes?
vhoc
unruffied surface, but it is certain that
much turmoil is sizzling beneath the
usual Sunday calm. For the investiga-
ton into the matter of the changing of
the dates in the act Of incorporation
brought to light nothing tangible. When
the mistake" was discovered at the
time the engrossed act was presented
for Gov Crothers' signature the friends
Of the prospective charter, sure of VIC
tory at the polls, scented trickery, and
they demanded that the taxing levy bill
be vetoed. State Senator Blair Lee was
brought into the conference, however.
| and he stood out firmly against the veto
| being invoked. demanding that the tax
levy and the charter stand or fall to-
gether.
Backers of the Incorporation PROPOSE
ton gathering not little consola-
ton from the fact that the taxing levy,
even If successful in the contest of bal
lots. cannot take effect until April IS.
| 1911. since the latter act specifically
provides that the levying of taxes must
occur prior to April Is. and there is not
| another April Is" until next year. AS
| a net result Of this proviso the voters
| for the charter, granted they win the
day. expect to ger a running start In
| conducting the government before tax
| leyying time rolls around.
! Many advantages for Incorporation are
/ claimed by those who are backing 1t. not
| the least of which lies in the fact that
all of the county tax which will be levied
under either act will. under the charter
be returned to Chevy Chase for use in
| its own street and public improvements.
Under the tax levy this money would not
| be available for the particular Jurisdiction
| from which 1t is secured. In addition
the charterites are authorised by their
| enabling act to make contracts with the
Chevy Chase Club and with the Chevy
Chase Land Company by the terms Of
| which the former will pay $1,000 per an
| mum for ten years in consideration Of the
use 1t makes OF the streets of the vii
lage'' and $1,000 for the fifteen years fol-
| lowing, or grand total of $4,000 special
| tax in twenty-five years The Chevy
] Chase Land Company is to pay 81, 600 per
annum for three years. by the end Of