Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-18
KALBFUS DECLINES
OFFER TO RESIGN
Formal Proffer Extended Him
by Commissioners After
TW0-H0ur Conference.
ANTICIPATED ACTION
IN PREPARED ANSWER
District Heads Refuse to State What
Will Be Their Next Move in
Assistant Assessorship.

Samuel T. Kalbfus this afternoon
Commissioners to resign voluntarily as
member of the board Of assistant
assessors Of the District Of Columbia.
Following a two-hour conference, the
Commissioners at 1 o'clock sent to Mr..
Kalbfus a note informing him that he
would be given an opportunity to retire
from the board with thirty days leave of
absence, the resignation to take effect
thirty days from today
Anticipating this action by the District
heads. Mr.. Kalbfus already had pre-
pared an answer which informed them
that he would not resign. Less than five
minutes elapsed from the time the Com
missioner's note was sent to Mr. kalbfus
until they were acquainted with the de-
cision Of that official regarding their
proposal.
The Commissioners refused to state
what will be their next moveIor discuss
the mater in any Of it's phases.
Their action today followed the giving
OF an Informal notice to Mr.. kalbfus by
Assessor Richards Saturday that his res
ignation would be acceptable to the Com
miSSioners
- 40 Sdiu lildt tie aSSlStdHt dSSSsSOT al
that time Indicated that he would vol
unfairly withdraw from the service.
He is said to have packed up a num-
Der of books and papers and indicated
to friends In the office that his duties
as an assistant assessor were about to
end.
Through Attorney Frank J. Hogan.
Mr.. Kalbfus yesterday announced that
he would not resign and came to the
Office this morning prepared to fight
make to remove him from Office.
Will Contest Dismissal.
Mr.. Kalbfus referred all inouisitors to
Attorney Hogan. The latter replied that
Commissioners amounting to a dismissal
of Mr.. Kalbfus but that. II such steps
were taken they would be contested in
court He made it plain that he does not
think the Commissioners have the au-
thority to remove an assistant assessor
from 0nlce. q
] During the course OF their considera-
ton Of the Kalbfus case. the Commits
sioners this morning received Repre-
the House District committee. who is
taking an active interest in local assess
ment and taxation matters. Corporation
Counsel E. III. Thomas was called into
the conference.
At the conclusion of the meeting the
what action they had taken, this infor-
nation being given out later by Mr..
Kalbfus.
Text Of Correspondence.
The brief correspondence which passed
between the board and assistant assessor
was as follows:
m (~1t
Assistant Assessor, District of Co
lumbia:
"Sir-The board of Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia desire to af-
ford you an opportunity of your own
accord to retire from the service of
the District government. and will ac-
cept your resignation from that service.
effective thirty days from this date.
with leave of absence during that
period.
Board Of Commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
"oLIvER P. NEWMAN,
president"
Mr.. kalbfus' answer to this note was
the following:
ITO the Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia, Washington:
Sirs: Replying to your communlca-
ton Of this date, l have the honor to
inform you that will not reslgn my
position as a member of the permenent
board Of assistant assessors OF the DIS
trict of Columbia.
yours very respectfully,
SAMUEL I. kALBFLS.
Alleged Motive for Action.
Commissioners Newman and siddons
again went into conference. following the
receipt of Mr.. kalbfus' reply. but 1t is
not believed that they will take any
further action in the matter today.
Mr.. Kalbfus has been employed py the
District for about twenty-seven years,
the last seven or eight OF winch ne mas
been an assistant assessor.
The Commissioners action In onerine
him an opportunity to voluntarily With
draw from the local government service
Is said to be the result of Mr.. kalbfus
having admitted before the House COM
nsittee that he has participated In real
estate speculation.