Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-12-03
BYRD ACT SUCCESS
SHOWN IN SURVEY
Proponents of System in Ar
lington Cite Replies by So
County Treasurers.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
staff CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

ARLINGTON COURT HOUSE, Va.
December I'm what was believed to
be the most serious attack against
opposition to Arlington County re-
entering the secondary system of high
ways created under the Byrd road act
statement was issued today showing
that So of IS treasurers of other coun-
ties who have been heard from believe
that their roads are in better condition
now than when they were under the
counties
These figures were obtained through
missionaries which were sent to the
treasurers Of all of the counties oper-
ating under the Byrd plan. Answers
were received from &c Of those treas
urers to whom the questionnaires were
sent
Among the questions asked and an
swered are whether the treasurers were
in favor of their counties remaining
in the system at the time they were
given a chance to vote out, whether
the roads are now better or worse than
when they were under the counties,
whether the roads being built by the
State are OF a more permanent con-
struction than those built by the county
and whether savings in taxes have been
effected through the plan
Nine Switch Stand.
In answer TO whether they favored
yes and Is no. However of the Is who
were against it in the beginning, nine
now say that the roads are better than
under the old plan, and that they are
now in favor of retaining the system.
OF the remainder six say that the roads
are about the same and two that they
are not as good.
that the roads are of more permanent
construction under the State is 81.
Seven stated that the construction was
about the same and four answered that
it was not as good.
To the question as to whether saw
ings in taxes had been effected, SO
answered yes, two stated that the taxes
were the same, one that they are more
and two failed to answer the question.
Most of those answering the question
naires were emphatic in their declara-
lions that roads were better, and in
most instances the actual reductions in
taxes were shown. These in many in
stances were shown to have been cut
almost in half.
No Reduction in One Case.
One of the treasurers who said that
there had been no reduction in the tax
rate stated the reason was that there
had been no road levy previously, the
only road work done in the county
being with the portion of gasoline tax
returned by the State.
Further arguments in favor Of the
plan which we're brought out today were
that while Arlington County showed an
increase in the amount of delinquent
taxes over the previous year, collections
in Fairfax County which Is operating
under the Byrd plan, show decided
percentage increase; that the State
rights of-way are always kept in better
condition, and that while Virginia was
only the second State to take over the
secondary system of highways, similar
action has since been taken in number
of other States.
County Board Member B. M. Smith
one of the advocates of the plan, said
today that some changes in the plans
for an election on the question OF re-
entering the system are being worked
out and that it Is hoped date for the
election can be decided upon some time
next week.