Evening star., 1930-10-26
CHANGE IN COUNTY
PLAN IS OPPOSED
Opponents of Proposed New
Arlington Form Launch
Campaign.
BY LESTER N. INsKEEP,

stan Correspondent of The Star.
CLARENDON, Va. October 2S.-Cer-
tain opposition to the proposal to change
the present form of county government
by a vote at the polls on November 3,
which heretofore has been devoted to
large extent to whispering campaign,
today reached the light and is expected
to henceforth assume the proportions OF
q campaign Of opposition.
Most Of the opposition recorded TO
date has been with respect to the aboli-
ton uf the magisterial districts many OF
the residents OF outlying sections fearing
that the election of the members OF the
county governing body at large" would
result in the selection of all of the men,
bers of the board from the thickly set
tied sections to the neglect OF the for
meT.
Against Manager Plan.
Robert H. Forman, executive secretary
of the recently organized Voters Service
Club, today announced that he could
not 60 on record as favoring the county
manager plan, which Is being advocated
by the Civic Federation. Chamber OF
Commerce and Bar Association.
Financially, the plan advocated Is
likely to prove more expensive than the
present, Forman believes. In support
Of this he points out that the cost Of
the present form is $500 yearly, con-
sisting of the salaries Of the three su-
pervisors of 81, 200 yearly each and that
Of the county engineer at $4,000.
"Under the county manager plan" he
says, "the proposed salary for each COM
missioner Is $500. which makes total
for the fiye commissioners Of $4,000:
But, few years ago, the salary OF a
supervisor was $500 and it would be
a very logical thing for the State Legis-
lature, which increased the salaries of
the supervisors TO 81 200, to vote SIM
liar increase in the salary of each com
missioner. Thus instead Of $4,000 ex-
pended for commissioners salaries we
would have $4,000. Add to this the
engineers salary at $4,000 and the
conservatively estimated at $4,000, and
we have q total of $4,000 under the
proposed plan, an increase of $40. 400
annually IN the cost of government"
Time Not Appropriate.
In view Of the general economic con-
ditions, he thinks, this Is not an appro-
pirate time to experiment with some
thing that Is likely to prove more ex-
pensive than the present form and that
"is sponsored by a number OF individ-
government"
Abolition of magisterial districts is, in
the minds of Capt. Crandall Mackey,
Clarence r. Ahalt and other prominent
members Of the local bar, q direct de-
parture from representative government
and should not be tolerated.
1t would be just as logical, they point
out. to abolish the counties of the State
and elect the members of the House of
AtA "a oto NJ
then to 60 on and abolish the State ana
elect every member of our National Gov
ernment at large.
The State, Capt. Mackey says, has
already given the Boards of County
Supervisors the full power of a city
council and under this law and other
local legislation, Arlington County has
so advanced that since 1925 1t has stood
at the head of all of the hundred coun-
ties in the State in the amount of rev.
enue paid into the State treasury.
Conditions Declared Different.
Coming to the support of the proposed
change, John A. Petty, president OF the
Livingstone Heights Civic League, de-
clares that Arlington County, due TO the
fact that 1t Is adjoining the National
Capital and is a part of the environs
thereof, occupies a peculiar position,
calling for somewhat different develop
ment and administration than COM
monty is required Of counties in general.
The outstanding advantages of the
proposed change are listed by him as
follows:
/. Wiping out the magisterial dis
tricts, thus making Arlington County
3. Creating the office Of county man
ager, thus putting in the hands OF one
person devoting his entire time To county
affairs the opportunity TO coordinate all
administrative activities and definitely
FIX responsibility therefor.
g. Increasing the county board from
three to five provides wider view
point and q larger measure OF repre-
sentatation in the executive direction
of county affairs.
4. Election at large OF the county
board gives every voter the right to cast
his ballot for or against each OF the
members of the county board.
5. Specific provision for a county
budget with a definite basis for It's de-
velopment and use will afford the cltt-
zens of Arlington County individually
and through their various community
organizations an opportunity Of study.
ing IN detail county expenditures ana
presenting their views and extending
their cooperation TO the officials OF the
county In ths interest Of economic and
| efficient administration.
There is nothing In the law which
| permits the change to either specify
| that the county manager must be resi-
dent OF Arlington County or not res
| ident he says, and he feels no doubt
but that q competent man could be
| found In Arlington County. In fact"
he says. 'one might be obtained from
among the present oficials Of Arlington
County"