davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-09-12

Resignedly, the harassed official
handled the business himself.
That's how it has been every day
this month with hundreds OF irate
citizens jamming the corridors OF
the tax ofnce-and things will get
worse before the September 80 dead
line for payment of the personal
property and real estate taxes.
And all because, Mr.. Pearson said,
not 10 per cent of the Districts
tax-paying population has more
than vague notion OF their liablll-
ties under the IA major tax items
in force here.
Its just human nature" MIR.
Pearson said. Nobody pays any at
tention to new tax legislation until
they get their tax bills. Then the
stampede begins. We are being
swamped here with letters, phone
calls and people"
Pays with Hoarded Gold.
One colored woman, who is we'll
past 80 but doesn't really know how
old she is, shows up at the collec-
tors Office every year to pay her
taxes with boarded gold certificates.
Eyery year, Mr.. Pearson tells her
gently that gold certificates are not
supposed to be in circulation any
more.
"Oh my!" the woman croons,
must 1 60 back to the treasury
again?"
She does that every year.
An Italian woman steps up to
the cashier with her thoroughly
American daughter, age IA. An AMI.
mated conversation between girl
and cashier ensues, upon which the
girls face lights up.
"See, Ma? You have to :"
And so it goes.
People react swiftly and strange
" to a. large tax bill they cannot
understand, but the fault is not all
that of the people, Mr.. Pearson said
The District has a more complicated
tax structure than the Federal Gov
ernment or any of the States, ne
declared.
Major District Taxes.
The Districts major taxes In
clude:
Real estate, personal property,
individual and corporation income
taxes, estate taxes, public utility,
inheritance, insurance, motor We
hicle, beer, business privilege (no
longer in effect but there are left
over violators to handle), alcoholic
beverage and business franchise
taxes.
A Washington resident may be
subject to four or five or these
taxes or, in some cases, all Of them.
The chances are he understands
few, if any, of them.
The income tax is pretty gen
orally understood, Mr.. Pearson said,
| but the confusion on personal prop
erty tax bills, and the real estate
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Confusing District. Tax Setup
Causes Flood of Complaints

tax, based on the new increases,
has been terrific.
The tax collector5s "a clerks, who
this month are doing daily busi-
ness of nearly $1,0O0,000, spend half
their time explaining the two taxes
to the hordes who jam the cash.
ier's windows.
The assessors clerks are equally
busy handling the sometimes furl-
Gus, sometimes wondering queries
of property owners who think the
new assessments are too high. Many
have never even heard of the in
crease of from SITS to 81 per 500
of assessed valuation on real prop
erty. i
"Why is my tax increased when
my neighbor's isnt?"
"Why didn't I get bill?"
"3ut I haven't improved my
property"
The tax collectors and the asses
sor's Offices are a babel of questions
which have all been answered in
the daily. papers many times.
It is not at all uncommon fol-
Mr.. Pearson's Office to receive letters
and checks saying, in substance:
i've just received my tax bill. It's
too much. I'm sure you've made a
mistake, so I'm just inclosing a
check for the amount I paid last
year."
1t also is not unknown for in
dividuals to storm into the office
and dare the cashiers-or Mr.. Pear
son-to come out and fight.
"We can see some difficulties COM
ing" Mr.. Pearson said, "and we try
to prepare for them"
Bills Held Up Until Ready.
For instance, he said, District au-
thorities were well aware that a
storm of protest would greet them
when property owners began receiv-
ing bills based on the increased real
estate tax. Knowing that the first
recipients of the bills would jam
the office as fast as they got their
bills-thus impeding preparation OF
the remaining bills-of1cials held
I'D the bills until all were ready
Then they were sent out en- masse
within two or three days.
1.-THE first day we were open after
the bills were mailed was the Tues
day after Labor Day." Mr.. Pearson
chuckled. "You should have seen the
madhouse this place was that day.
Despite the fact that his duties
involve such turmoil, Mr.. Pearson Il
cheerful man. 1--WE operate on the
theory that people are acting ir
good faith he said. Il wish we
could educate them more thoroughly
on the tax setup but" He
wagged his head helplessly.
Thirty years in the service OF the
District government, Mr.. Pearson Is
not stumped by people who try te
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Parks Agency Offers Tour
OF Civil War Defenses

Sightseers will revisit the scene of
Washington's Civil War defenses
this week end in an historical tour
conducted by the National Capital
Parks.
The group will gather at Mac
Arthur boulevard and Chain Bridge
road at $50 am. Sunday. Special
buses will leave 1416 F street NV.
at 9 am.
An automobile caravan to Patux-
ent Research Refuge, Md, also ar
ranged by the park agency, will
meet near Bowie, Md, at 10 am.
Sunday.
Other week end tours include a
camera stroll through Mount
Vernon, bird walk in Dumbarton
Oaks Park and in OXon Run Park
way, fossil discussion tour in Fort
lotion Park and the usual mule
drawn barge excursion on the c. g.
o, Canal.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Alexandra City Hall
Repdjr Work Under WAY

Repair work on the city market at
Alexandria City Hall now is under
way, Acting City Manager Joseph
M. Pancoast said yesterday.
The work, being done under the
supervision of City Engineer C.
Luckett Watkins and Building In
spector A. R. Lash, is expected to
cost about $500. 1t involves re-
moving shed roofs on either side
of the main building and construct
ing a new roof on the center struc-
ture, Mr.. Watkins said.
A movement to tear down the So
year-old building was halted after
city residents and farmers using the
market protested to city council.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
.Wender Halls West Ruling
As Opening Fairgrounds

Harry S. Wender, chairman of the
District Recreation Board, regards
recent ruling by Corporation
Counsel Vernon F. West on the liza
bility of property owners as opening
the way for substantially more play
ground space than the city now has.
The corporation counsel has ruled
that owners of land lent to the Rec
reation Department for play use or
leased by the board are not liable
for injuries that may be received
when the land is used for play.
He also has ruled that the board
itself is not liable for injuries re-
ceived on Fairgrounds left open over
week ends without supervision.
This removes, Mr.. Wender ex-
planned today, one of the chief rea-
sons for weekend closing of play
space and the reluctance OF property
owners to turn unused land over for
playground use.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
No. | Precinct Station
Moves Monday 10 Center

No. l precinct police station will
move Monday from its present loca-
tion at New Jersey avenue near
street NV, to the Municipal Center
police officials said yesterday.
The downtown precinct will be
quartered in the east section of the
second floor of Municipal Center
facing Indiana avenue NV.
The communications system has
been set up in Municipal Center
The new cell-block, which was the
cause of a dispute with the Central
Labor Union, got its final coat OF
paint yesterday.
Evening star., 1947-09-12

A fat woman brandished her UNI
brella like sword at cashiers
window of the District Tax Office
and shrilled, Money! Money!
Money! That's all you want! I
won't pay It'll"
With that, she scattered pile OF
forms on the floor and waddled of
Indignantly, muttering under her
breath.
An Army colonel, unable to reason
why his real estate property tax was
up when his neighbor's was not, in
formed another District employe
that he would rather live in Austria
liza or Texas than in Washington.
where taxes are so inexplicable.
Where was the police protection
his neighborhood warranted for such
taxes, he wanted to know? Why,
a friend of his had gone out, and
while he was away, his house had
been looted and the friend had to
60 to work in his tuxedo.
Grief for Pearson.
+ Two spinsters with considerable
property in Georgetown, came to
the District Building and refused
to pay their taxes to cashier. Only
with Collector of Taxes Guy w
Pearson himself would they settle
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Probe by Grand Jury
Of C|egg Police Case
Enters Third Day

The grand jury investigation Of
charges by Julius w. Clegg, 26, that
police mistreated him will go into
its third afternoon session today.
Eight witnesses testified Yesterday,
including Roger Robb, Clegg's at
torney, who filed complaint with
Police Supt. Robert j. Barrett that
Clegg was held more than 80 hours
by police without charges being filed
ard that he was slapped by two
detectives.
Clegg was arrested August 2 in
the vicinity of Thirteenth and E
streets NV. for investigation"
and released the following day after
6 pm, according to the complaint.
Clegg, colored, is an employe of the
Washington Post.
Other witnesses before the grand
jury yesterday were Police Sergt.
John c. Daniels, precinct detective
at No. 10; Pvt. George Burkley of
the Police Missing Persons Bureau;
S1lo1lCO Il. odF1C d41SA xtO6C4O LA
kin, reporters for the Washington
Post, and E. A. Clayton, colored, of
the 400 block of I street NV, said
to have been a prisoner in nearby
cell at the time Clegg was being
detained.
Also testifying were a physician,
whom Clegg is said to have visited
after his realease, and an unidenti-
fed man.
The hearings are expected to end
with Monday afternoons session.
The two detectives accused by
Clegg have not been identified pub
licly. The District commissioners
have ordered the facts in the case
turned over to the corporation
ccunsel's Office to determine wheth-
er there is sufficient evidence to
bring the two detectives before the
Police Trial BOARD
Evening star., 1947-09-12
200 Washington Rotarians
Attend Outing in Maryland
specioI Dispatch 10 The stor

MOUNT VICTORIA, Md, Sept.
11.-Nearly 200 members of the
Washington Rotary Club yesterday
left the city's humid heat for an all
day outing at West Hatton, near
here.
Mr.. and Mrs. Foster Reeder, own
ers of the 600-acre estate on the
Wicomico River, were the hosts.
The days program included hprss-
shoe pitching, archery, soaball,
badminton, billiards, croquet, fish,
ing and a clay pigeon shoot.
About 125 guests stayed for supper.
Members of a committee who
helped Mr.. Reeder plan the Ro-
tarians' fourth outing at West Hat
ton included Emory Hutchison,
Thomas L. Egan, George McCann,
Leo May, Roy Turke, Marvin Clark.
Dwight R. Cooke, Walter Cady and
Frederick Pace.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Rush Holt Joins Stuff
OF West Virginia Paper
snsciol pisnnieh to The Star

CHARLES TOWN, w. Va, Sept.
12.-Rush D. Holt, former United
States Senator from West Virginia
and at present member of the West
Virginia House of Delegates, has
been added to the staff of the JET
ferson Republican, weekly news
paper, as political columnist. R. j..
Funkhouser, publisher, announced.
The announcement said he would
put emphasis on the cost OF State
government"
Evening star., 1947-09-12
2Workers Hurt Slightly
In nConstruction Accident

Two workers were slightly injured
today in a cave-in at the Belle View
apartment construction project
New Alexandria, on the Mount Ver-
non Memorial Highway.
Released after treatment at Alex
andria Hospital were Tom Alfano
80, of Gibsons Tourist Cabin, Falls
Church, plumber, and his helper
Jack Parks, "a, colored, of Route No
l, Alexandria. Mr.. Alfano was
treated for a cut on the chin, q
wrenched shoulder and shock. Mr.
Parks right leg was bruised.
The cave-inn occurred at an ex.
cavation for an oil tank.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Plan Made to Move Materials
|OfKey House to New Location

location when demolition work be-
gins in a few days.
Spokesman for the park service
said their employees will remove the
original woodwork, including case
ment window and interior trim, for
storage pending the restoration on
lot fronting on M street on the
downriver side of the bridge.
Delos H. Smith, an architect spe-
cializing in Colonial homes, and a
member of the Columbia Historical
Society, volunteered his services as
a consultant to aid in the accurate
reproduction Of the home.
Evening star., 1947-09-12

Spectators at Senate hearings on
the steel shortage were intrigued
today by the presence at the COM
mittee table of young man hold
ing to his face mask resembling
an fashioned equine feed-bag.
Reporters found it was a new de-
vice for recording transcript Of
proceedings. Called Reporto-
graph, the device is connected by
wire with a machine on which an
ordinary record disk revolves.
Horace I. Webb, designer OF the
mask, explained that it contains a
microphone into which the operator
repeats the words of the witness
verbatim. 1t has a hole in the
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Post Holds Dance Tomorrow

Fort Stevens Post No. 80, American
Legion, will give Lucky 18th"
dance at 10 pm. tomorrow, the
proceeds to be applied toward a
building fund for a new quarters
for the post. The public is invited
to the dance in Stansbury Hall,
$3.50 Georgia avenue NV. Alfred
Mcintyre is chairman of the COM
mittee on arrangements for the
dance
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Gov. Lane Will Attend
Frederick County Fair
By the Associoted Press

FREDERICK, Md, Sept. l2'-The
Frederick County Fair will include
a governors Day" this year Tor
the first time in several years, Of
ficials of the County Agricultural
Society announced.
Gov. Lane has accepted the So
ciety's invitation to be present on
October /, second day Of the four
day exposition.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Harris Ewing Photo.

bottom through which the operator
gets air while debating. Although
seated only few feet from the
witness and committee, he is able
to talk into the machine without
disturbing the proceedings.
Mr.. Webb said one advantage Of
the device is that the operator is
through with his work when the
hearings adjourn, instead of having
to transcribe after returning to his
Office.
Although the machine is being
used experimentally at the steel
hearings, Mr.. Webb said it has been
used officially before the Federal
Communications Commission.
Evening star., 1947-09-12

Details we're worked out today
for removing original materials in
the old Francis Scott Key home to
new site across the Washington
END Of Key Bridge, where the his
toric town house will be restored.
A. A. Alexander of Alexander &
Repass, the Iowa contractors for
construction of the K street ele-
waited highway. told a meeting IN
the office of Highway Director II.
C. Whitehurst his company would
save the original brick and founda-
ton stone and remove 1t to the new
Evening star., 1947-09-12
Board toStudy
JudgeRaedy's
Driving Status
Traffic Case Closed
With Forfeiture of
$500 in Collateral

The question of revocation Of
Municipal Judge Ellen K. Raedy's
automobile drivers permit prob
ably will be considered by tbs
District Board of Revelations
and Restorations early next
week.
Judge Raedy yesterday forfeited
5000 cash collateral in a case in
which she was charged with leaving
after colliding. A police report Of
the case, along with the record Of
the court action, will be forwarded
to the board within two or three
days, police said today
Under normal procedure, the
board then will review the case and
determine whether the permit
should be revoked. Revocation is
automatic only in cases involving
personal injury.
The case, which grew out of hit
and-run accident with parked car
August 10 near the intersection Of
First and K streets NV, came to
a sudden close before a crowded
courtroom.
Associate Judge Brice Clagett of
the Municipal Court Of Appeals, es-
pecially appointed to hear the case,
accepted Judge Raedy's collateral.
Then Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Clark King said that, lin con-
science" he could not demand her
appearance in court.
Mr.. King pointed out that no
estimate of the damage to the other
car, which belonged to Mrs. Eliza
beth Wimbish, 910 First street NV,
had exceeded $27.5O.
Judge Raedy to Pay Bill.
Having in mind past experience
in traffic cases and in view of the
damage, I cannot in conscience ask
for an attachment" (court appear
ance), Mr.. King told the court.
Judge Clagett, saying that he
could not act as prosecutor and
judge" closed the proceedings with
the statement that Il am not in
clined on my own motion to order
attachment"
Mr.. Ford later told The Star that
repair of Mrs. Wimbish's car would
cost SO and that Judge Raedy would
pay the bill. He and his client will
have no further statements to make,
he added.
The collateral was paid, after Mr..
Fords request for it, under the new
schedule of collaterals agreed to
by the Municipal Court judges in
July and placed into effect by the
District Commissions August Is.
Under the schedule a defendant
may mot elect" to forfeit. The pre-
siding judge, however, may accept
forfeiture, and that is what Judge
Claggett did in Judge Raedy's case
when she did not appear in court.
Judge Raedy did not appear at her
arraignment on August 20 when Mr..
Ford, under a Municipal Court rule,
presented a written authorization
to represent her. The authorization.
however, did not say anything about
the actual trial, and Mr.. Ford did
not renew the authorization yester-
day.
Denied Driving Car.
After her automobile struck Mrs.
Wimbish's parked car, the judge
denied she was the driver. She said
she had not left her apartment all
evening and a companion corrobo-
rated her story.
The assistant corporation coun-
sells only witness to the accident,
however, said she was driving.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
the shifts have expressed

involved in the shifts have expressed
approval of the move.
The fifth and sixth grade children
involved in the Sandy Spring shift
took the transfer as challenge,
according to Miss A. c. Hutton, prin-
cipal. She said they Joined whole
heartedly" in planning to redecxsss
their new room.
Evening star., 1947-09-12
P-47 to Be Exhibited
On 18th Street S.W. in
Air Guard Proqrom

A PAT fighter plane will leave
National Airport at 2 am. to-
morrow headed for Thirteenth
street and jefferson drive S.W.
but not by air.
The aircraft will be towed
by truck and placed on ex-
hibition there in connection
with an Air National Guard
recruiting program which
opens tomorrow.
It will be on exhibition
through September 20. A re-
cruiting booth will be nearby.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-15
Miss Scott,
Mr.. Efird
Betrothed

The following invitations have
been issued In Wilmington:
Mr.. and Mrs. John Alexander
Scott
request the honor OF your presence
at the marriage Of their
daughter
Suzanne Elizabeth
Mr.. Joseph Bivens Efird, junior
on Saturday, the sixth Of
September
at half after five o'clock
Sixth United Presbyterian Church
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mr.. Efird is the son Of J. B. Efird
Of Charlotte, president OF the
Efird organization.
Dial 2-331l For NeWspaper Service
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-15
We the Women
BY RUTH

There's always a new way OF
doing things. Farmers and own
ers of country estates, who have
often complained that city visitors
trespass on their property to hunt,
fish or picnic, etc, may owe a
debt to a Colorado rancher.
While he was away from home
two couples from a nearby town,
whom he later identified, drove
out to his ranch to do a little
fishing.
They drove their automobile
across a strip of meadow plant
ed to timothy and clover, leav-
ing deep ruts in the soft ground.
A few days later n of the cou-
pies was amazed to e a man,
who appeared to be a tramp,
sauntering up to their lawn and
laying a fire of wood chips. When
they protested, he said he just
wanted to cook a few wieners.
The couple telephoned the She
riff. Not until the sheriff called off
the wiener roast did the visitor
reveal his identity. Yes, he was
the rancher on whose property the
couple had trespassed.
1t is to be hoped this story will
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-15
Yard
Entertained
With Shower

The Sorosis club was the scene
Of a delightful supper and linen
saower Wednesday evening when
Mrs. A. NJ. Aldermand and Mrs.
Ernest o. Huffman entertained for
Miss Dicie Ward, whose marriage
to Herbert Davis will be solem-
nized August % at the First Bap-
fist church.
Upon arrival Miss Ward was
presented a corsage of white
shasta daisies tied with matching
ribbon.
Guests were invited for 7:3O
o'clock and were received BY the
hostesses and honoree. The main
table which seated Miss Ward,
her mother, and her attendants,
was laid with a lace cloth and
conferred with an arrangement CT
bronze marigolds, dahlias, ard
deep yellow daisies. Tall golden
tapers burned on either side of
the centerpiece.
The club was decorated with
smaller arrangements Of flowers
in the golden color scheme and
accented by white tapers. The
mantel was centered with a bowl
Of white summer flowers sur
rounded by greenery.
Following a delicious supper
and ice course, Miss Ward was
given a ball Of multi-colored
steamers and, following the
course Of the streamers, came
upon a basket of shower gifts.
Those enjoying the evenings
festivities Miss Ward, hon
Gree, Mrs. l.. E. Ward, Miss Mi
RAM Hayden, Mrs. H. c. Davis,
Miss LaVerne Rogers, Miss Ruth
Middleton, Miss Ida 10 Graham,
Mrs j. F. Applewhite, Jr., Mrs.
c. F. B :, Miss Margaret Spill
man, Miss Harriet Walsh, Mrs.
Algernon Meigs, Miss Margaret
Getty, Miss Ann Hurst, Miss Jane
McAdams, Mrs. Jimmy Davis,
Miss Margorie Davis, Miss Louise
Davis, Mrs. Henry E. Boyd, Jr..
Miss Peggy Broadduss of Rich
mond, Miss Lucille Belts, Miss
Rosannah Bishop, Mrs. Henry W.
Garren, Miss Mary Emma Humph-
reg, Mrs. F. H. Thomas, and Miss
Cynthia johnson.
Also remembered with gifts
were Miss Ida 10 Graham and
Miss Ruth Middleton, brides Of
the fall.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-15
Miss Wheat|ey,
Bride Elect
mt d

Miss Pe-melia Wheatley, whose
marriage to A. B. Blake, Jr., will
take place on Wednesday after
noon at St. Paul's Episcopal
church, was entertained yesterday
in the late afternoon at a lovely
tea given by Mrs. Jake Davis and
Mrs. Ben Durham at the Durham
home on Orange street
Guests were invitd from 5 un-
til $50 o'clock. The house was pro-
fusely decorated with summer
flowers and greenery. The table
was laid with a lace cloth and
conferred with a punch bowl SUI
rounded by white crocus and green
shrubs. Tiny tea sandwiches of var
ious colors we're placed in silver
dishes around the bowl, and the
entire scene was accented by tall
white tapers burning at either end
of the table.
Upon arrival Miss Wheatley was
presented with a corsage Of white
%tuberoses centered with shasta
daiss. Receiving were Miss Wheat
ley, Mrs. Sidney Wheatley, and
Mrs. A. B. Blake.