Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-16
CLOTH AND HEDR|CK.
FIGHT PREVENTED.
Arlington Prosecutor ReSents
Criticism of Delinquent
Tax Collections.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star,


ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, September 16.-.An argu-
ment over the method OF collecting de-
linquent taxes that is being employed
by Commemorative Attorney William
G. Cloth resulted in what for a time
promised to be a flStic encounter be-
tween that official and Supervisor B
M. Hedrick during yesterdays regular
meeting Of the board of county super
visors.
The already strained relations be-
tween the two came to a head when
Hedrick found fault with Cloth for
filing suits for the collection of delin-
quent taxes without first notifying the
taxpayers of his intentions. Cloth re-
piled that he was only carrying out the
instructions given him by the board,
and Hedrick said that these instructions
did not include the filing of suits with
out notice.
Difficulties Cited.
AT this juncture Chairman Edward
Duncan arose and said that Cloth had
been instructed to proceed in the best
possible manner, agreeing that Cloth
could not serve notice on many of the
owners because of the many changes in
ownership and also because a large
number of the owners were not resi-
dents of the county. Fifty per cent of
owners of property are non-residentS
according to County Treasurer E. Wade
Ball
Duncan said that Hedrick had sug-
gested to the former that Edgar w
Humphrey be selected to collect the de-
linquent taxes and Hedrick replied that
he wanted a gentleman" to do the
work.
To this remark Cloth arose and asked
HndTiPly urh he he
did not propose to be insulted He'd
rick also arose and both indicated their
willingness to settle the matter then
and there. Sheriff Howard B. Fields
was present and grabbed Cloth Dun
can taking the same precautions with
respect to Hedrick despite the fact that
wide table separated the would-be
combatants.
Apology Is Accepted.
Both then decided to continue with
the meeting and settle their personal
grievances later, but after a short time
Hedrick apologized, explaining that he
had not meant to infer that Cloth was
not gentleman. Cloth accepted the
apology and the matter was apparently
settled. Cloth, it will be recalled, is
prosecuting the impeachment charges
against Hedrick and was accused by the
latter on the stand with having been
responsible for the failure of the in
vestment corporation, of which Hedrick
is supervising director, to make settle
ment for the water and sewerage in
stallations in Waycroft Subdivision.
Hedrick made a motion to the effect
that notices of suit be mailed to those
taxpayers whose addresses are known
30 days before the actual suit Is filed.
Duncan objected to this and both
Cloth and Hedrick we're advised to try
to work up some feasible plan before
the special meeting of the board that
will be held next Monday for the con-
sideration of many water extensions
sought by prospective users.
Yesterdays meeting of the board
which was one of the longest of the
Summer, started with request by the
Alexandria Park Association that they
be permitted to extend Columbia Gar
dens Cemetery to take in a 550-by-75-
foot piece of property already owned
by the association. 1t was explained
by J. Hammond Brewer. jr., represent
ing the Lee Boulevard Association, that
the cemetery owners had promised to
give the highway association approx
mately seven acres of land for a right
-of-way on condition that they be per-
mitted to make the cemetery extension.
Action Is Postponed.
Some nearby property owners who
protested the extension were represent
ed by Emory N. HoSner, who COM
planned that the 750-foot measure
ments between protesting property own
ers and the proposed extension were
made from the residences themselves
and not from the lot lines of the resi-
dents. In view of the complicated sit
uation arising from the application