Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-25
NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT
PLANS FOR A CHANGE IN ALEX
ANDRIA COUNTY, VA.
Movement in Which Fort MyeI
Heights, Cherrydale, Rosslyn and
Other Places Are Interested.

| The Alexandria county legislation COM
mittee, appointed at a mass meeting held
at Fort Myer Heights C. H. November
A. met Saturday night, with Maj. E. w.
| r. Ewing of Ballston presiding, and dis
| cussed plans for improving the form of
county government. Those present were:
E. Wiley Stearns, president of the Ar
| lington National Bank, Rosslyn. who was
chosen chairman; the secretary, c. H.
Greenhouse, Fort Myer Heights; Capt
Crandal Mackey, Cherrydale; J. D. Ash
ford, st. Elmo-Del Ray; Charles 1. Simms,
Glencarlyn; Maj. E. w. R. Ewing. Ball
ston; W. w. Febrey of the board Of su-
pervisors; r. c. L. Moncure, who took
| the place of County Clerk George H.
Rucker to represent Clarendon, and Wal
| ton Moore of Fairfax, who came spe-
cial invitation and brought with him Mr..
| John S. Barbour. State Senator Ewell
Thornton sent letter of regret, saying
| he hoped to be present at future meet
| ings.
Mr.. Moore was the oracle of the occa-
| sion, with Capt. Mackey and Mr.. Mon
cure as the principal interlocutors. The
| first business was study of the new
| Virginia constitution, so as to avoid con-
| f1ict with it in the legislation to be pro-
| posed.
The part of the constitution which for
|
item to see what added powers the legis-
| lature could give the board of super
visors. 1t was found that the prohibitions
against legislation on taxation would
block any measure intended to empower
| the supervisors to levy special tax for
| any community.
Mr. Ashford, for st. Elmo, said the spe-
cial tax was exactly what was required
there in order to make all property owners
bear an equal share in special improve
ments, such as lights walks. etc. II this
could not be done that community would
incorporate separately. Maj. Ewing added
that the same conditions prevailed at
Ballston, and separate incorporation would
| be the only remedy.
| Unequal Taxation Clause.
| The provision of the constitution that
no taxing power should lay tax une-
quail within the limits of its jurisdiction
was the principal obstacle In the way of
a law enabling the supervisors to provide
special tax. Mr.. Greathouse said to
meet this Fort Myer Heights would pro-
pose the establishment of taxing dis
trict upon vote or petition of citizens
within defined limits, with authority to
levy, collect and expend special taxes as
| provided for by vote of the district c1ti-
zens. The collection and expenditure were
| to be done by the district, and relations
and obligations to the county were not
|
thought this would meet the prohibition
| of unequal taxation, but that separate
collection and expenditure clashed with
other constitutional provisions.
| Mr.. Moncure, who came in late, and
| who was not at the mass meeting. at this
point raised the question whether county
| Incorporation is not what is neeoed. lie
was Informed that that proposition had
been discussed and rejected at the mass
meeting. but he insisted that 1t was the
only plan to prevent absorption of st.
Elmo and other nearby places by Alex
andria city. Mr.. Ashford said II that
should happen. St. Asaph race course
| would at once be re-estaollsheo and sa-
looms would be opened.
| Mr.. Moore objected to county tncorpora-
ton, saying 1t would no more meet the
wish to levy special taxes Tor certain
communities than does the supervisors
government, and that expenses under 1t
would be greatly increased. He favored
| a commission government such as had
proved successful at Galveston, and was
being discussed at Lynchburg.
Capt Mackey pointed out the danger of
| heavy damage suits under county incor-
| poration. Such suits had driven other
| towns to surrender their charters. The
Virginia court of appeals had decided they
could not be maintained against county
board Of supervisors.
| Mr.. Moncure replied to a question that
absorption Of the whole county by Alex
andra city was possible under county in
corporation or any other proposed form.
Provisions Of Measure.
Maj Ewing then presented the fol-
lowing essentials of bill enlarging the
powers of the board of county super
visors in Virginia:
81. That the boards Of supervisors of
the respective counties of this state be
and are hereby authorized and empowered
to prescribe plans. rules and regulations
according to which subdivisions or town
sites shall be laid off and maintained, and
for the regulation of building material
to be used In buildings to be erected
thereon either by the original or subse-
quent owners
Violations of such rules shall be pun
iShable by fine of not less than $40, nor
more than $1,000, and shall be prosecuted
by the commemorative attorney as are
misdemeanors
'2. That where a majority of the quail
fled voters in definite boundaries, con-
tanning a population of not fewer than
200 per mile square, desire local sanitary
and road government within said definite
boundaries and shall so indicate to the
circuit court. by petition. signed by such