Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-20
CITIZENS DISCUSS
SCHOOL BOND ISSUE
Question Whether Town Shall
Participate in County
Vote Debated.


FALLS CHURCH, Va. March TO-
The Northwest Citizens Association al
its March meeting at the home of the
president, Maj. L. p. Daniel, consid-
cred the law recently passed by the
State Legislature authorizing Airing.
ton County to issue school bonds fol
rounding Short-term notes, particu-
larry with respect to the effect of such
action on the town of Falls Church.
AS result of the discussion It was
decided to ask the town council tc
give thought to this subject and In the
event the question of a bond issue is
referred to the taxpayers Of Arlington
County to decide whether, In its opin-
Ion, the residents of the corporation
should be asked to vote on the propo-
sition in the same manner in which
other county bond issues are settled.
The question at issue here Is the
same which arose several years ago In
Fairfax County, when residents of the
town of Falls Church participated in
a petition and bond issue election on
issuing Load bonds for Falls Church dis.
trtct. When bills for interest charges
residents Mai. L. P. Daniel, the present
president of the Northwest Citizens
Association and at that time a men,
Der OF the town council representing
the third ward, protested that Falls
Church was a separate road district and
should not be called on to pay taxes
for bonds issued to build roads outside
the corporation limits.
Lost in Court.
The case was carried to the circuit
court and later to the Supreme Court
Of Appeals Of Virginia, the latter court
sustaining the decision Of the late Cir
cult Judge Samuel Brent, that the citi-
zens of the town had voted on the bond
issue and must therefore help to pay
the bills. The size of the bond issue
also was influenced by the fact that
the property values Of the town OF
Falls Church were included.
The members of the Northwest Citi-
zens Association feel that an analogous
situation exists with respect to a bond
issue for schools In Arlington County.
They feel that the taxable resources of
the corporation should be available to
the town itself and should not be used
for county roads or schools. They point
out that If the citizens of the Arlington
County portion of the town are allowed
or required to participate in the refer
endum vote on Sucf. a bond issue for
schools their real estate Will De ponoeo
and they will be required to pay taxes,
and the towns potential power to bond
itself for its own particular road or
school building projects will be dimin-
ished They suggest, therefore, the ad-
visibility of the council asking the Cir
cult Court not to authorize opening the
Arlington County polls to the residents
of the town Of Falls Church.
Report on Post Office.
The committee on consolidation OF
the three post of1ices in the town made
a preliminary report on investigations
to date, but final action was delayed.
The association discussed the situa-
ton existing on Lincoln avenue, where
it was stated that the elm trees planted
by the council last year had been set
In the roadway instead or on the curb
line. 1t was stated that some Of the
trees were as much as 10 Rect inside
the line Members reported Ehat the
mistake had been reported to Council
man Westscott, who was planning tc
have the trees set back. In the hQean-
time, however. the builder Of \nev
house Just erected on Lincoln avenue
had inadvertently disobeyed the town