Evening star., 1929-12-04
ARLINGTON WINS
IN GAS TAX FIGHT
Association of Counties Votes
to Ask Retention of Pres
ent Distribution.
pisuatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, December AR.
lington County won decisive victory
yesterday, when the Association of Vir-
g:nia Counties. meeting here for the
purpose of deciding what acton wa'
to be taken by the association with
regard to the proposed changes in the
method of the gasoline tax distribu-
ton, passed a resolution urging that
the present method be retained. The
present method Is the only one now
in sight by which Arlington would
not lose.
This resolution will today be pre-
sented to the special legislative CON-
mittee that was appointed byI Gov
Harry F. Byrd to consider the different
proposed methods In order that the
matter be presented to the forthcom-
ing session Of the General Assembly.
Representing Arlington County al
yesterdays meeting were Edward Dun
can and B. M. Hedrick of the board Of
county supervisors. Charles T. Jesse
a former member Of the House of Dele
gates, also appeared in an unofdcial
capacity. Duncan and Hedrick, together
with State Senator Frank L. Ball ano
Delegate Hugh Reid, will represent the
county at today's public hearings.
Would Change Budgets.
In the resolution passed yesterday
which received a vote of 2S to 10 after
nearly four hours of heated diScuS-
sion, it is pointed out that practically
all of the. counties in the State have
included in: their budgets for 1929-l93U
the sums hitherto received by them
some of them even purchasing ma
chinery and other supplies for the con-
struction of roads with the money 50
derived
Under the present method, which is
based upon the revenues turned into
the State treasury from the counties In
IS yearly. Whereas this amount
would be- increased under any one OF
the three plans submitted by E. r.
Combs, State controller, the amount
would be cut down to $16,299.1 under
the plan of H. G. Shirley, chairman of
the State Highway Commission.
Combs plans are based upon the
local levies of 1927, under which Ar
lington would receive $92,524.01, local
levies Of 1927, less levies assessed on
public service corporations, bringing a
total of $98 ,so0o6 to Arlington, and
1927 local levies and State taxes coll
lected, which would provide Arlington
with $92, 2,877.33. While Arlington County
would benefit by either of these three
plans, the loss is so great under the
Shirley plan, which bases distribution
on population and public roads, that the
efforts Of the smallest county in the
State have been turned toward the de-
feat OF the latter. proposal.
Fairfax Quotas Given.
Fairfax County, which was represent
ed by Thomas B.. Glasscock at yester-
days meeting, receives $45, ,795 29 under
the present method, would receive $751;
Ill 80 under the first Combs plan, 462, :.
955.54 under the second Combs plan
64,067.62 under the third Combs plan
and 32,554.40 under the Shirley plan
Under the first Combs plan, 67 coun.
ties would receive more than they nov
get; under the second. so counties, one.
half OF the total number comprising
the State, wouftE receive an increase
and under the third, 65 counties woult
fare better than they do now.
The present officers of the associa.
ton were elected at yesterdays meet.
ing: Mr.. Reed, w. w. Beverley Of Rich.
mond, executive secretary, and M. A
Cogbill Of Chesterfield, treasurer. The
following members of the executive
committee were reelected: G. w
Towles, first congressional district; C
B. Goodwin, jr., second district; ]. M
Gin, third district; B. A. Lewis, fourth
district; James S. EaSley, NTH district
D. K. Lucas, sixth district; Lemuel r
Smith, seventh district; A. Stuart Rob.
ertson, eighth district; Martin williams
ninth district, and F. c. Davis, tenth
district. ,