The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-03-14
Strange Case
OF Tin Mills
Tax Dodging
What Has exemption
Pete" Got to Offer AS
An Excuse?

OF LABOR has pointedly asked
why the delinquent taxes OF tho
N. g. G. Taylor Tin Mill, owned
and operated By the Republic Steel
Corporation have gone uncollected
by City officials.
We have none too delicately
suggested that the fact Of the City
Solicitor. Charles z. Heskett. being
also the local legal advisor OF the
tin mill management might be OF
some concern. In fact we have
forthrightly said that a man cam
not serve two masters. just as an
honest attorney cannot represent
both disputants in lawsuit.
on February %. 1888. more than
two years ago. Mr.. Heskett took
notice OF the situation and issued
a statement which appeared in
the Cumberland Evening Times of
that date. This Is how the report
read:
The n. g. G. Taylor Co. has
complied with the order grant
ing tax exemption and is en-
titled TO such exemption. Charles
2. Heskett. city attorney. told
the Mayor and City Council this
morning.
The order provided tax exemp-
ton for a ten-year period. start
ing April 1896. II the plant was
operated six months in each
fiscal year. Mr.. Heskett said
that the plant had complete
operation during the months Of
April. May. August. October.
November and December OF 1887.
He said the average monthly
production during this period
was 33.987 base boxes as COM
pared to an average OF 34.70l
for the same months the pre-
vious year.
THE City Solicitor. who is also
attorney for the Taylor con-
Germ. said in July. 1914 boxes
we're produced. In September
1902 boxes and in January Of
1888 there were 886 boxes turn
ed out.
Before giving his views on the
Taylor matter. Heskett said he
wanted to put the thing at rest
as he had been accused OF being
interested in the Taylor Co."
Remember. that statement was
made more than two years ago
The Taylor tin mill has been as
quiet as a grave yard ever since
II is true. OF course. that the Mayor
tried to kid the public that 1t was
going to reopen on December LIST
1899. but the fact is that the tin
mill has not done anything at all
for the past two fiscal years.
The tax exemption was granted
in the words OF the order. Upon
condition - and only upon con-
dition - that during each year OF
said ten-year period Of exemption
said Corporation shall actively OPP
crate its said plant for at least
six calendar months in each fiscal
year: and provided further that
in the event said corporation fails
to operate its said plant during
any city fiscal year during said
period six calendar months. then
in that event. for that particular
year or years. said corporation Will
be assessed and charged with taxes
in the same manner as II this
exemption had not be granted"
Now then. what we wish to ash;
at this time is whether City Solicit
tor Heskett will give the public a
statement OF the production" for
the years 1888 and 1899. because
he is still accused Of being the
attorney for the owners.
It becomes increasingly plain
that man cannot serve two mas
tiers! It becomes plain that the
master who is NOT being served
is the city taxpayers and the pub
lie who pays his salary from tax
funds. City Tax Collector Con-
way Is a very busy man these days
managing Mayor Irvine's cam
paign for reelection. but there is
little hope that he will do any
thing even when he is not so busy.
Conway says that he is not going
to even bill the Republic Steel
Company until the tin mill at
torney instructs him to!
What is Exemption Pete's ex-
cuse for 1898 and 1939????
point mt that owing to Ienten