Evening star., 1922-07-06
SEVERE PENALTIES
URGED FOR CRIME
Arlington County Residents
Demand Punishment of
LaWbreakers.

Quickly disposing of the details OF
reorganization of the Arlington Coun-
ty Civic Federation members of vari-
Gus civic organizations who constitute
the personnel of the federation as
sembled last night at the courthouse
and made flying start on several big
questions affecting the social. civic
and commercial life of the county.
Declaring that there has been too
much leniency in cases of criminals
convicted in Arlington county, Frank
q. Campbell offered a resolution put
ting the federation on record as-'con-
demning the maudlin sentimentality
which has resulted in coddling crimi-
mails, opposing any communication of
sentence or the pardon of any person
convicted of burglary or highway
robbery and urging the citizens Of
the county serving on juries to i'm
pose the severest possible sentences
IN crimes of this character" 1t was
adopted.
Sentence COmmuted.
Before offering his resolution Mr..
Campbell, to impress his audience
with the iustifica ton for the proposed
action. cited the case of the Wash
ington taxi driver Werres. who was
peat to death on one of the county
highways by two soldierS--Newman
and Gamble-one of whom received
the death penalty and the other SEN
fenced to life imprisonment. Mr..
Campbell said that in spite of the fact
that this was one of the most afro
cious crimes ever committed within
the confines of the county and the
men were adjudged guilty by an i'm
partial jury of Arlington county citi-
zens. former governor of the state.
a oct Nf hn Il =,
attorney. commuted the death SEN
tence to life Imprisonment.
Discussion followed for and against
the resolution Several led by Col
James G. Pepper of Bancroft. contend
ed that mercy should not be entirely
overlooked in dealing out punishment
to criminals. They endeavored to have
the resolution tabled.
Sewerage Vital Issue.
At the suggestion of C. r. Taylor of
Clarendon 1t was decided that one of
the first big undertakings of the re-
created body will be to delve into the
question of sewerage for the county.
Mr. Taylor declared that as the ques-
ton OF sewerage was of paramount i'm
generally appreciated the fact, there
should be a standing sanitation and
sewerage committee of the federation.
whose purpose it should be to keep in
close touch with every move made in
the direction of the installation of any
systems. He pointed out that much
good can come out of sewering the
county If the proposition Is properly
handled, and, on the other hand, much
harm can result if those in charge of
its installation go about their work in
haphazard manner and overburden the
people with taxation. A committee
will be named at the next meeting, it
was announced.
President c. r. Ahalt suggested a
publicity campaign to educate the
Moneyed men of Washington, D. c.
IN the laws and conditions pertain
ing to real estate investment in Arline-
ton county. Mr.. Ahalt explained that
his object in proposing such a cam
paisn is to eliminate the feeling that
seems to exist among Washington in
vestors that this character of busi-
ress is undesirable because of the COM
p1ex operations of the law
This feeling should be aIlayed, Mr.
Ahalt argued, because the laws gov
erning such questions in Virginia are
just as plain and simple as are those
of the District of Columbia.
Attributed to Ignorance.
The reason that business men of
Washington scoff at sending their
money into Arlington County is due
entirely to ignorance of conditions"
Mr.. Ahalt said when they are made
to see that there is nothing to fear in
the homestead exemption law, that
deeds and deeds of trust. when revenue
stamps are properly attached, are re-
corded as pro aptly. if not more so, in
Arlington coun6 than they are in the
District of CcA.nbia. and that taxati
on first trust mortgages has been de-
creased in Virginia and increased in
Washington, they will become inter-
ested. 1t is up to this federation to
acquaint them with the true state of
affairs"
A committee to handle the cam
paign, it was announced. would be
named at the next meeting, and the
board of supervisors will be request
ed to give financial aid in the work.
1t was pointed out that if some Of
this money can be diverted Arlington
county's way it would prove great
construction boost for the county. and
the county treasury would be amply
repaid in very short time for any
money spent in advertising by the ad-
ditional taxation that would follow.
To Remove Signs.
Mr.. Campbell offered motion.
which was adopted, requesting the
board of supervisors to instruct the
county engineer to remove all adver-
tising sign boards on the county
highways erected in violation of law.
The reorganization of the fedora
tion was effected upon a motion which
provided that all officers Of the fed
tion with the Arlington County
Chamber of Commerce shall continue
to hold Office until the former annual
election date in October. The officers
are c. r. Ahalt, president; Frank G..
Campbell, secretary. and A. J. Porter,
treasurer.
A. committee consisting of Mr.
Campbell as chairman. Col. Pepper
and w. D. Mabry was named to look
over the old bylaws to see If any
changes are desirable and to submit
Although the present bylaws pro
vide for monthly meetings, it was de-
cided that for the present meetings