Evening star., 1946-07-17
Council Votes
Tax Inspection
For Alexandria
Delinquency Check
Likened to Gestopo
Methods by Opponent

The Alexandria City Council last
night passed an ordinance creating
the Office of license and personal
property tax inspector for the city,
overruling objections of Commits
sioner of Revenue Charles Aubrey
Callahan.
Mr.. Callahan charged the city with
Gestapo methods for seek
ing out tax delinquents, and ques-
toned the authority of the Council
to pass the ordinance. He was told
by City Manager Budwesky and City
Attorney Joseph M. Pancoast that
the city has both the right and duty
to assist his office by listing the
names of delinquents.
On a motion by Councilman
Everett A. Hellmuth, an amendment
to the ordinance was passed guar
anteeing individual rights as follows:
Nothing in this chapter shall be
construed as attempting to authorize
the tax inspector or his deputy to
make searches contrary to the laws
of this Commonwealth, or to author
lze such inspectors to enter any
home or dwelling house or the cur
tilage thereof without warrant"
Action Had Been Deferred.
The city managers recommended
ton for appointment of an inspec-
tor had been deferred from the
previous meeting on the objection
of Councilman John w. Tulloch,
who insisted that Mr.. Callahan be
told Of the proposal and given a
chance to explain why the city Is
not receiving revenue from all per-
sons subject to personal property
tax
Mr.. Callahan told the counsel
about 80 per cent of the population
fail TO pay their city and State
taxes, and the problem of collec-.
tions is made more difficult because
OF exceptions under the Soldiers
and Sailors Relief Act, excusing
service personnel from local taxes.
The so-called "Charleston Plan"
ordinance was passed on first read
ing by the Council after two months
OF deliberation in which a 'histori-
cal zone is established in which
construction and alterations must
conform to the Colonial character
OF the architecture. The area is
bounded from east to west by the
Potomac River and West street and
by Montgomery street and Hunting
Creek on the north and south.
A seven-member board of archi-
tectural review is to be appointed
under the ordinance to pass on all
new construction and alterations.
issuing certificates of appropriate
ness as to exterior architectural
conformity on all proposed building
and changes in structures. This
board is to include City Building
Inspector Anthony Lash, member
/ Of the Alexandria Planning Commits
sion, two registered architects, two
residents with extensive knowledge
OF architecture and one real estate
broker, to serve three-year terms.
Could Halt Demolitions.
The board would have authority
to refuse permits for demolition of
property within the historic zone as
against the public interest
At the request of the city man.
ager, the Council authorized him to
seek assistance of Senator Byrd and
Representative Smith, Democrat, OF
Virginia, in gaining the co-opera-
ton of the National Capital Parks
and Planning Commission on MAIN
tenance of the Mount Vernon Me-
mortal boulevard which extends
through Alexandria on Washington
street.
Mr.. BudWesky said the commits
sion owns property bordering the
boulevard at Bashford Lane and re-
fuses to grant the city permits tc
build concrete bus stop platform
and erect traffic light at the in
tersection.
| Mr.. BudWesky was authorized to
determine the cost of employing
traffic engineering firm to survey
the downtown traffic problem in Or
der to solve the difficulties of con-
gestion on King street, the main
shopping thoroughfare. Action was
deferred on a proposal by Council
men Hellmuth and Ewald for max
ing traffic on King street one way
eastward to the Potomac River.
A. B. g. w. to Share Cost.
Robert T. Mitchell, vice president
and traffic manager of the Alexan-
oria. Barefoot d Washington Tran
sit Co.. which operates buses in the
city, said the A. B. & w. would bear
part of the expense of an engineer
ing survey and lend the services Of
any member of its staff.
Acting on request of the Alexan-
dria Animal Welfare League, the
Council authorized City Manager
Budwesky to negotiate with Mai.
Herbert R. Haar and the Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad
for the purchase of two acres of
ground for new dog pound. The
triangular site is bounded by Powha-
tan street, Bernard street and the
R. F. & P. Railroad yards.
The city manager said he has
ordered the Municipal Stadium a.
River road and Monroe avenue
closed for a week to allow the city
building inspector to determine
whether or not it is safe for use as
the wooden structure is old and is q
subject of concern to the city gov
ernment.
He proposed that the unsightly,
unpainted fence be replaced ten--
porarily by cyclone fence eight
feet high to be covered by canvass
for private events. In the meantime
shrubbery would be planted along
the fence line which would provide
an adequate screen in three years
time, he said.
The Council authorized the ex-
penditure of $1,000 for six lots in
the Westover section of the city to
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