Evening star., 1928-05-05
INJUNCTION ISSUED
IN SIDING DISPUTE
Restraining Takoma Park
Mayor From Making Arrests
CompIicates Controversy.

The strip Of land adjoining a siding
OF the Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad, at
North Takoma, Md. came into new
prominence today, due to the issuing
of a temporary injunction yesterday at
Rockville, Md. by Judge Robert Peter
against Mayor Ben @. Davis, restrain
ing him from causing the arrest Of any
person on the disputed land. under a
recent ordinance passed By the town
council. Added interest is given the
controversy-on the one side the Cham
br OF Commerce supporting the con-
tention Of the Baltimore g. Ohio Rail-
road that 1t has right to unload cars
at the siding. and on the other hand
Mayor Davis contending that the strip
OF land is TO be used as a public park.
and that Zoning prohibits the use OF
TINS land for commercial purposes.
Becomes Election Issue.
The North Takpna election will be
held on Monday and for the first time
in his % years in local politics Mayor
Davis finds himself opposed for Office.
He Is running for reelection as mayor
and his opponent is c. c. Waters. a
Treasury Department enploye, who re-
sides in the Maryland town just be-
yond the District line.
Mayor Davis said today that there
are 400 voters registered for the elec-
ton. he has been clerk and treasurer
Of the town for 26 years and mayor
for the past two years
One Of the leaders IN the fight against
unloading on the siding Is DR.. Llewellyn
Jordan. who resides near the siding in
question. Mrs. F. r. WaterhOlter OF
At Takoma avenue, who also resides
very near the siding and who is op-
posed to any unloading there, asserted
today that if the Chamber Of Com
merce is going to run the town what
need IS there Of mayor and coUncil?"
We have had mayor and council
running the town for 25 years and the
Chamber of Commerce has been organ
lied in the last six months" Mrs Wal
terholter asserted "One hundred and
eighty persons signed the petition
against the siding in April and IS per
cent Of the Chamber Of Commerce live
in the District"
Bring Test Case.
L. A. Cutshaw. chief police ofhcer OF
the town, made an arrest yesterday as
a test case, the mayor said when r. z.
Routenberg. assistant division engineer
OF the B. &. o.. prepared 10 unload a
car OF coal at the siding and was ar
rested. Following this incident Judge
Peter few hours later issued an in
junction which has been served on the
mayor.
J. Bond Smith. town attorney, will
fight any attempt 10 interfere with the
right Of the town. the mayor said.
Today he issued the following state
ment regarding the injunction:
Declared Impudent Attempt.
This bold and impudent attempt on
the part of the B. g. o. Railroad 70
take possession Of one of the public
parks Of the town Of Takoma PARK.
Md, will undoubtedly result IN solidi-
flying public sentiment in the munich
pality Solidly back of Mayor Davis. who
is seeking TO protect the property Of
the town. II IS so contrary 20 the re-
peatedly announced policy Of Daniel
Willard, the president Of the railroad.
not to antagoniZe municipalities or
large groups OF citizens and patrons OF
his railroad that am quite convinced
that the railroad is being used rs tool
by local politicians seeking 70 defeat
Mayor Davis for purely partisan poiit-
icaI reasons. 1t Is IN no sense q bona
noe cuOIt u h4S UUS t@1S S~AC ~ NA4S
parkway in question. the status ot
which is identical with several other
parks in the North Takoma section. al
Of which have been dedicated for many
years to the town as parks
Chamber of Commerce Stand.
H. L. Thornton, real estate man and
president Of the town Chamber OF Com
merce. issued a statement asserting that
the freight shipments to Takorna PARK
are of such volume as 70 MAKE ths
North Takonla siding Indispensable
Mr.. Thornton declared that the Ia
konla Park Chamber OF Commerce
knows no politics and has not brought
politics into the siding controversy. and
resents the attempt Of those opposed 70
the siding 70 inject politics into the sit
uation.