Evening star., 1949-10-12
Charged
By BrookeLe
On Tax Sales
Says CountyPut
Signs on His Lots,
Not on Others
By J. B. Zotmon

-
By J. B. Zotmon
E. Brooke Lee, county Demo
cratic leader, says the Montgom-
cry County Council is discrimi-
mating against him in selling for
back taxes SIS pieces of property
owned by three corporations OF
which Mr.. Lee is president.
The charge was made by Mr.
Lee. who also is vice chairman of
the Maryland-N National Capital
Park and Plar1ing Commission
In his first public appearance be-
fore the council yesterday. He
was accompanied by Attorney
Vivian v. Simpson.
Brandishing mo Trespassing''
sign posted by the county on land
Mr.. Lee contends he owns. the
Democratic leader said lots owned
by his corporations constitute
more than half the 100 to be sold
at auction at 10 am. Friday in
the Rockville Courthouse.
Sees Discrimination.
He accused county officials of
placing such signs only on his
lots and not on others in the Sill
yer Spring area which are to be
sold.
"We can only assume" he told
the council. that in placing these
signs at this late date and after
the auction sale was advertised,
Nur attorneys have planned to
, assert on your behalf your first
single act of possession and to
attempt to acquire a good title
in several days, when State and
local laws require many years of
open possession to convert
a tax deed into a defendable
title"
He added he has removed the
signs in order to protect the
rights of his corporations, which
he listed as Silver Spring Com
mercial Properties, Inc; Silver
Spring Properties, Inc, and Geor-
gia Avenue Properties, Inc.
Mr.. Lee obtained a temporary
injunction in Circuit Court last
June prohibiting the council from
selling for back taxes a lot he
owns on Piney Branch road near
Ritchie avenue, Silver Spring
He obtained another injunction
today to prohibit the council
from auctioning four lots on
Colesville road near Laurel street,
Silver Spring.
Offer to Pay Refused.
He told the council yesterday
he has offered on several occa-
sions to pay all delinquent taxes
on his property>but has been re-
fused. , -
He warned, however, that "if it
Is your purpose to attempt to
appropriate these lots for the
profit or use of Montgomery
County or for any purpose other
than to collect the full amount
due on account of your tax liens,
we now give formal notice we will
employ every legal means to pre-
vent what we believe would be
the taking of our property with
out due process of law"
County Attorney David Mac
donald denied there had been any
discrimination against Mr.. Lee,
adding Mr.. Lees lots were included
in the first 100 to be sold only
because property descriptions were
more complete than in the cases
OF 500 other tax delinquent tracts.
He contended the signs had
been placed on lots other than
those owned by Mr.. Lee and ex-
planned the county could not &C
cept private" offers for the pur-
chase of land to which the county
holds tax titles and which are to
be sold at auction.
Named Tree Chief.
In other business, the council
approved the appointment of
Graydon Swift Tolson, Route 4,
Rockville, as chief of the Tree
Division of the Public Works De-
partment. He will receive SO, TAO a
year, effective Friday.
Mr.. Tolson has lived In Mont
gomery County since 1922 and has
operated his own business in tree
surgery and general landscaping
since 1916.
Capt. Charles Barnes, in charge
Of the Rockville police station, in
reporting on the work of his men,
urged that justices Of the peace be
q part of the police system.
He differed with Capts. Ernest
Thompson of the Bethesda sub
station and Joseph B. Nolte of the
Silver Spring substation. who had
recommended the separation of
the justices of the peace from the
police setup. At present certain
uniformed desk clerks in the three
stations also act as justices of the
peace and committing magis-
trates.
Capt. Barnes, in suggesting more
police control of the justices OF
the peace, pointed out that while
police may recommend the amount
of collateral to be posted in q
particular case, the justices can
set whatever amount he desires,
within the limits set by law. ..
Curb Work Approved.
The council approved a petition
for construction of curbs and
cutters and resurfacing work on
Dayton street, Cascade road, Am
herst avenue and Bucknell drive,
Silver Spring, at an estimated
cost Of $10,260.
Also approved was a petition
for a similar project on Biltmore
and East Indian Spring drives