Evening star., 1922-02-21
TAK0MA CHARTER
TO Be UNCHANGED
Corner Lot Assessment Plan
Arouses Citizens to Make
Vigorous Protests.

The mayor and town council of
Takoma Park, Md, held Corner
lot" meeting. as Mayor James L.
Wilmeth termed it, last night in the
Takoma Presbyterian Church, with
a capacity attendance of property
owners, protesting against any
change at this time in the town
charter.
A number of petitions. bearing the
names Of several hundred property
owners, were read by Town Clerk
Ben G. Davis at the opening of the
meeting protesting against the
change as recently recommended by
an advisory commitee appointed by
the mayor relating to assessments
against corner lots. when street inn
provements are made.
Text of Recommendation.
That part of the recommendation
which was to be repealed in a bill
to be presented at the present ses-
sion of the Maryland legislature
provided:
"That in all cases where the prop
erty to be assessed for improve
ments is located at the intersection
Of two streets, and what is known
as a corner lot, the mayor and coun-
Gil shall have the power only to
make an assessment for the number
of feet in the frontage of such lot,
and, in case the improvements are
extended along the side of the prop
erty, they shall only have the power
to make assessment for such i'm
proVements In excess of 100 feet in
addition to the assessment made for
such improvements along the streets
frn In, oil
such cases in which the question
shall arise as to the street upon
which the property may front. the
decision of the council in this re-
gard shall be final and conclusive"
Property Owners Protest.
]. Bond Smith. corporation counsel,
at the request of Mayor Wilmeth out
lined the work of the advisory COM
mittee, which was composed of Town
Clerk Ben G. Davis, Councilmen H. F.
Taft and H. E. Rogers. Corporation
Counsel ]. Bond Smith. DR.. Guy Clin-
ton and Morris Bien. He also told of
the other features of a bill It was
PRODUCTION at the present session of
the Maryland legislature.
The speaker was followed by num-
Der of the property owners present
who filed their protests against any
change in the charter, and in each in
scind it's action. After recording the
various votes the council took a vote
on the question and unanimously re-
scinded it's previous action and as a
result no change will be made in the
town charter.
Bond Issue Also Opposed.
Another lengthy petition which re-
ceived the attention of the meeting
was one signed by 230 residents and
taxpayers of the town protesting
against bond issue Of $4,000 for the
erection of a town hall.
Mayor Wilmeth informed the meet
ing that he knew nothing of such
project and ruled the petition out
Of order and no further action was
taken.
Ben G. Davis, for the month of jan
uary was presented and approved.
The meeting was attended by Mayor
James l. Wilmeth. Councilmen
H. F. Taft. H. E. Rogers, Prof. L. D.
Bliss. Dr.. H. w. Miller. J: w. shadle
and John r. Adams. Town Clerk
Ben c. Davis and Superintendent
Of Public Works E. E. Blodgett.
The council approved the re3Dm:
mendation Of the civic Improvement
committee for a base ball field in
North Takoma and appropriated
funds to assist in the construction
of a playground.