Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12
ALEXANDRIA MAY
VOTE ON NEW RULE
Faction Claims Signatures to
Force Referendum on
Government Change.
BY HOWARD M. BAGGETT
stan Correspondent Of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, va, April 11.-ProS-
poets that this city may face a referen-
dunn on a change in the form Of city
government have increased considerably
within the past few days, with those
behind the movement claiming already
to have more than enough signatures
to petitions to force the matter to a
vote. The last Of several public queS-
tons discussed in connection with the
proposed referendum is the sale of the
gas company to the Seaboard Invest
ment Trust, later acquired by the Peirce
interests Of Illinois.
Those close to the prime movers be-
hind the proposal for q return to the
old mayor and council form Of city
government, in vogue here up to 1922.
report that six or more petitions are in
existence. containing approximately l.
900 signatures. The statute requires
that the signatures of one-fifth OF the
registered voters Of the last general
election are necessary to force such
action, and under this provision the
u dDOub AtOON AN8ASNNASA
voters would be required.
To Present Matter TO Court.
While those behind the movement
are known, they have moved quietly
for the past few months and are under
stood to be about ready to present the
matter for the court action OF calling
the election. The petitions are expected
to be presented to Judge Walter I.
AFnfSo rffv NJ the Circuit Court.
The proponents Of the change In the
form Of government base their plea
on several points. They site the recent
wrangle over schools, complain that
taxes are too high, censure the city
government for spending $4,000 10
have the city scientifically assessed by
an outside firm, assert that the city
manager is inefficient object to the
remaining members Of city council be-
ing able to appoint councilman to I'LL
vacancies, have some grievances against
the mayor, are not entirely IN sympathy
with the present plans to zone the city, |
and contend that council acted I'M
wisely in selling the city gas works.
If the matter was put to vote next
week it would require much work TO |
defeat it, city politicians say, but 1t
would nevertheless fail. If it IS put OF |
and nothing further develops, the poll |
ticians state. 1t may never come 70 a |
vote, or If it does. victory would be
more easily assured.
Hold People Are SATISFIED.
Those behind the political scenes |
hold that the more substantial people |
of the city are satisfied with the city
mauaRer-city council form OF govern |
ment, have absolute faith in those who |
govern the city and would uphold the |
nresent form
The proposition to change the form |
of city government Is not new one. |
It cropped up about two years ago, |
shortly before the present city manager
was appointed. 1t came up again some |
months ago and for weeks rumor mas
had it that the petitions were being
circulated.
At least one member Of City Council
has been approached and asked to sup
port the proposal to change the form
Of government, but he declined to do so.
Another thing which has upset the
minds Of the people Is the recent I'M
settlement as to the makeup OF City
Council. Mayor Carroll Pierce sent in
his resignation about two weeks ago, |
his health being such that doctors had
ordered him to take complete rest. |
On top Of this Councilman Thomas j.
Faunon, q member of the council for
almost nine years, resigned.
Recalls Resignation.
Mayor Pierce then temporarily re- |
called his resignation, just as he was
about to step aboard train for Flor |
ida. He Is expected to return TO the |
city in about one week, but 1t is be- |
neved he win again turn in his resig-
nation as soon as the council elects a
man to succeed Councilman Fannon.
II Is felt that Mayor Pierce post |
poned his resignation so that there |
would be four members OF the council |
to elect a fifth man and that he Will |
again present 1t as soon as the council
is again completed Vice Mayor z. F.
TIGER has been slated for the position |
of mayor II Mayor Pierce resigns, but |
some other move along this line may |
take place due to certain other govern
ment changes which may be forced on
the council.
On the subject Of the sale Of the gas |
plant last Fall, members Of the council
hold that they received fair price Tor
bidder and that they could not nave
been expected to do otherwise.
The plant had deteriorated to such
an extent that the expenditure OF
considerable sum Of money was neceS-
sary to put it in proper shape, and the
city was not earning anything like
fair return on its investment.
n VI lllVB1SS db I&AC kAoAAb
had been made for several years prior
TO its sale, but the sums offered were
not sufficient in councils opinion and
nothing materialized. The Seaboard
Investment Trust, owners Of the Wash
ington Gas Light Co., then got into
the picture and offered $3.50, 600 cash
for the plant, with a proposal TO re-
duce gas rates 80 cents on each 1000
cubic feet of consumption.
UaeY1 this offer Uag received MEM
bers Of council asked for bids and found
that the Seaboard people were higher
than other firms interested. The mat
ter was then put through the proper
legal channels and the plant sold.
No intimation that $l.000.000 had
been authorized for the purchase OF the
plant was made to them, councilmen
staBe, and they add that the plant did
actually cost the company almost ST.
100000 when the pipe line from Ross
lyn was completed and mains repaired
and extended in various sections Of the
city.
Old Employees Complain.
There are reported complaints that
gas bills since the rate was cut are as
high as before, but the chief complain
ants seem to be employees Of the old gas
company who have been laid of with
the exception Of one man. and this
mans salary has been reduced.
Concerning the actions Of City At
torney Carl Brudewesky, who has come
in for some criticism due TO reports that
since the sale has been completed he
has represented the gas company in the
settlement Of claim, members of City
Council say that they do not feel that
he has acted improperly. He served
the city during the sale Of the plant,
prepared the legal papers needed in the
matter and before he took the claim,
asked councils permission to do 80 IL