Evening star., 1926-09-12

SILVER SPRING, Md. September
! 11.-One of the big sensations of the
already heated primary campaign II
Montgomery County was sprung Fri
day when Frank l.. Hewitt one Of
! the Republican candidates for the
nomination as State Senate bitterly
asailed the Democratic administration
| of affairs in the county the attack be
| ing directed chiefly at the Democratic
organization of which r.. Brooke Lee
| is the acknowledged head. And today
Lee went after Hewitt hammer ano
| tongs.
During the entire campaign it has
| been charged by rival candidates in
| both parties that Hewitt and Lee had
a private, understanding and were
! really working together. Rival Re
publican candidates for the Senate
have charged that if Republicans
voted for Hewitt they would be aid
ing the Democratic organization and
as a consequence the Republican
senatorial fight has been bitter
Hewitt and Lee are business associ
ates and longtime friends and both
residents of Silver Spring and the at
tack of Hewett and the counter at
tack of Lee has stirred the entire
county and undoubtedly will have far
TbdcIlllB eHeCl OlI AlIC ~
those who have based their campaign
on charges Of a Hewitt-Lee coalition.
Democrats Challenged.
Hewitt's attack was launched
through the medium of paid adver'
tising in the county papers. 1t was
challenge" directed against the ac-
curacy of the Democratic figures IN
accounting for the tax moneys OF the
county. Hewitt charges that the
county tax rate has not been reduced
as claimed. that the county ofhclais
did not know the amount OF county
indebtedness. that there has been tre-
mendouS increase in the county op-
Grating expense. that schools ana
roads have not been built out or dlrect
levy funds, but out of bona issues
and that there has been no competent
audit of county funds from time 10
time. Mr.. Hewitt also charges that
the Washington Suburban SANITARY
Commissions water and sewer bene-
fit rate is 26 cents a front foot. as
compared to the statement OF the
Democratic organization that this rate
is 13 cents. Furthermore, Hewitt
charges that the moneys received by
the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission have been spent in an
incompetent and waSteful way.
Lee turned his guns on Hewitt IN
an exhaustive way answering charges
against the conduct of county aftalrs'
Lee declares it never has been charg-
ed that the tax rate has been reduced
hut that it is the lowest in the state,
that instead of county officers not
knowing the amount of indebtedness,
Barry F.. Clark, clerk Of the commls-
sioners. had merely, asked more time
to finish an up-to-date list. for Mr.
Hewitt's benefit.
Reveals County Finances.
In delving into the finances OF the
county and its administration at .ie
present juncture, Mr.. Lee declared;
"Nr. Hewitt'S statement that the
taxable basis of Montgomery County
has Increased from $20.000.000 in 1916
to $50 .OOO, 900 in 1926. is approximately
correct. His statement. however, tnat
this Is an increase of over $50 per cent
is a mistake of SO per cent, as ms oSn
figures show an actual increase Oh
1872 per cent. The total county levy
for 1926 as compared with 1916. has
increased 126 per cent instead OF the
225 per cent stated by Mr.. Hewitt.
"Since the total county levy mas IN,
creased 80 per cent less than the total
assessable basis has increased IN the
past 10 years. it Is obvious that the
fax rate has decreased. Thus as
matter of record the county tax rate
was $1.2l on the 500 assessed value
in 1916 and Is now Sl.l5.
..In 1916 the total county levy was
$3.50 900; in 1926. S540,00O, or an IN
crease of 126 per cent. In 1916 the
total levy for public school mamie
nance was SS7,690: in 1926, S2S4 500
or an increase of 236 per cent. rms
is an increase in the levy for mamie
nance of public schools of ITO per cent
more than the percentage Oh increase
in the total levy.
This 236 per cent increase lol
school maintenance over lo-Eedl
neriod does not include the amounts
levied for interest and redemption OF
no,,ntv school bonds, which amounted
in 1916 to S., 500 paid on prlnclpal anu
* 337 30 on interest. Outstanding
Montgomery County school bonds IN
1915 we're $145.000. Outstanding
Nontgomerv County school bondS III
1925 are $4,000. with $30,5oo leVleu
to ba applied on principal and $32'-
s27 20 on interest, or total or 700.
os7 20 This represents an increase OF
6Sl per cent in the amount leVleo Ior
interest and redemption OF MONT
pomery school bonds in 1870 over
fe16. Does Mr.. Hewitt DOUBT tne
i',.dor, of such increases for public
schools? o,r+a,.
orca In 1916 was $51. .775; In 1926,
s11S42l, or an increase of S66,640, or
1oS ner cent per cent more than
the increase in the total levy
County Road Bonds.
an 1916 Montgomery County levied
for county road bonds and interest
s16 3se. SO: in 1926 Montgomery County
levied for the same purpose $79,-
0O6 .SS. or an increase of 3S2 per cent.