Evening star., 1927-11-18
CITY OF ARLINGTON
/ PLAN IS DEBATED
Opponents Say Incorporation
Will Cause Demand for
More Public Revenue.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

plete absence OF legal Ilaplllty on the
part Of the county for damages which
may be inflicted Through the neg
lgence OF servants of the county gov
ernment. 1t is claimed that il a coun-
ty truck. driven by an irresponsible
driver, should, through the driver s
carelessness, run down an automobile
and kill or injure one or all vf Its
messengers, no action for damage can
be brought against the county. but
suit can only be maintained against
the driver.
On the other hand, 1t is held. under
a city form of government, the city
could be held responsible. 1t Is
claimed that in such circumstances
much more care would be exercised
bv officials in the selection OF en-
ployes 1t is pointed out that city
governments protect themselves and
tho taxpayers against the careless
ness of their employees by taking out
indemnity insurance, as Is done py
private corporations.
Those who are trying 10 make out
a good case for city government IN
sist that citizens of Arlington County
are constantly in danger OF INJURY or
loss of life from the possible careless
ress OF numerous county trucks ana
they are without redress. They say
the same thing is true with reference
to every county official and employe.
They declare that if sheriff, through
false arrests, malciously made. should
infiict damage upon citizens, even TO
the extent Of wounding or killing,
there is no redress against the coun-
ty, but that there would be redress
in such cases against city.
Liability for Damage.
Again, they point out. il the road
- he
leaves a dangerous hole or constructs
a weak bridge. causing an accident
resulting in the injury or death OF
one or more persons. the county is
not liable, while a city would be.
All private persons, they explained,
and all corporations engaged in Ar
linyton County construction Work oL
operation Of automobiles, both OF
which are attended with wen known
hazard to all persons in the county
are liable TO damages inflicted by tneir
an,nloves or agents upon others. They.
saw the county, alone, is exempt. IN,
cornoration. it is pointed out, woula
transfer the hazard from the shoui'
ders of the individual and place II
unon the entire community. where III
the case of thickly settled comnuhi'
ties the law says 1t belongs.
Although persons on the other slue
nf the question IIllIlh lithb k7NNA.
tended discussion of this phase Oh !ne
question is out of proportion to us I'M
rortance. the city promoters declare
that a serious accident, ATTENDED ny
loss of life. such as the possible run
ming down by a county truck OF pus
load of school children. might De tne
only thing which would cause 1ne
average person to attach any import
ance to this particular reason ina. -
fnV
Over against these considerations,
onnonents of incorporation point 70
+he fart that the county gets pack
from the state big slice of the gaso-
line tax and that the State is Dullding
and maintaining State roads, wnich
the proposed city would have TO oo
itself. They say that Ariins'oi
County should not De eNpeG.eu T ~
hear all the expense. especlaiiy now
of building the great boulevards Wnlch
will carry for all time the dense trafnc
through Washington to and from the
South. ..
If a city form of government must
come-and some of those VINO are op.
posing it today are Wiling 10 auiiie
that it will come some day-let II pe
after the State has built the proposed
Tee Boulevard from the Arlington Me-
norial Bridge, they say, and after
other new roads have been built or
old ones rebuilt 1t will be time
enough. saw opponents of the enabling
act. to talk of a city when the popu'
lation nears the 100000 mark. Iners
persons fear that the county "ouiu
be swamped financially or the people
given more than they couid pear Al
the matter of taxes il State aid Tor
rna6S we're withdrawn-either that or
fhe roads would be a disgrace to the
county.
Would Need New Revenue.
It is not denied by advocates OF
CITY government that new sources OIL
revenue must be developed IL Arllns'
ton County is to take care OF It's own
DEVELOPMENT Already it has been
pointed out that the proposed new
citv would have to develop a rich m
dustrial area which would produce
more taxes to support schools, puiiu
and maintain roads and pay for other
civic improvements. 1t is realized Dy
many of the advocates or lncorpora'
ton that this need might bring the
nroposed new city into conflict with
the National Capital Park and Pan
ming Commissions ideal of a great
mark system along the Virginia side OF
the Potomac River.
While there is no suggestion that
the portion of the river shore from
Washington to Little Falls and beyond
would ever be used for factories, II
is believed by many persons that the
shore from the Highway Bridge to
Alexandria might we'll be developed
for that purpose.
II the Federal Government decides
to construct the proposed great roao
to Mount Vernon close to the river
this scheme for industrial develop
ment along deep water might have
TO be abandoned. But many AIRING
ton County folks believe that the pest
route for the Mount Vernon roao
would be along the heights little
back from the river. The scenery on
this high ground, they say, is more
beautiful, while the elevation affords
a finer view Of the river and the sur
rounding country.
Friends of the city scheme say tha'
there are special circumstances sur
rounding Arlington County which &c
not obtain in the case of any othei
like area in the United states. IL
adjacent to the National Capital Witf
most of Alexandria it comprises tha'
portion of Virginia which the state
ceded to the Federal Government
for the District of Columbia. 1t was
given back to the State in 1886 mere
~ because the men of that day hat
not the vision to foresee the wonder
full development OF the National Cap
1tal.
Steady Growth Predicted.
This region, it is pointed out, con
tains one Of the only remaining close
in, suburban areas adjacent to tn
Federal City, a city which all author
ities believe is sure to develop to al
extent that will cause the nation ant
che world to marvel. BY reason or tn
county's greater accessibility to IN