The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-10-26
co NJ NJ 7 7 EE
OPPOSED TO
CITY PLAN

ARLINGTON COURT HOUSE,
Va, Oct. ga special commit
tee Of the Arlington County Civic
Federation, which was appointed
to study the proposal to incor-
porate Arlington county into a
city, will unanimously recommend
that Arlington remain a county,
it was revealed here today.
DR.. Victor Meyers. chairman of
the committee, announced that
the committee had given careful
consideration to the proposal, with
the assistance Of Arlington coun-
tvs general assembly delegate,
William D. Medley. and had found
that it would not be wise move
at this time to incorporate the
county into a city.
Submission of the committees
report was originally scheduled to
be presented to the Federation at
it's November meeting, the first
Tuesday in that month, but since
this date falls on the national cleo
ton day, it is now considered
doubtful whether the Federation
will convene that vening.
May Postpone 1t
DR.. Meyers said that a special
meeting of the executive commit
tee of the Federation has been
called for Wednesday night of this
week and that it was likely that
the meeting date of the Federation
would be postponed by the eXecu-
tive committee.
Those on the Federation's in
corporation commit tee who
studied the proposal that the
county become a city included
R. E. Plymale, w. C. Hull, Monroe
Stockett, j. B. Lowell, j. B.
Brooks and the chairman, DR.. Vic
tor Meyers. |
Among the disadvantages OF
such a move brought out by the
committee at it's meetings were
the following facts:
That incorporation would offer
no advantage in obtaining addl-
tional sidewalks in the county,
since the county form of govern
ment is vested with the same
powers to construct and assess for
sidewalks as are cities.
No Cheaper Rate
That the plan would not result
in cheaper water rates, which are
now approximately three times
those charged in the District OF
Columbia, since the present high
rates in Arlington county are
chiefly charged to retirement OF
a $470 900 bond issue authorized
several years ago to install a new
water system throughout the
county. The county's water rate
has been reduced twice since the
installation of the system, and Is
scheduled to be reduced CORE
spondingly along with the reduc-
ton of the outstanding debt
against the county.
That the gas tax now received
by the county amounts to more
than $4,000 annually for the
maintenance of roads in the
county, and that should the coun-
ty become a city, this sum would
be reduced to $1,000 mile for
maintenance of State highways
in the county which total nearly
30 miles.
Not Until 1910
That should the people of the
county want to incorporate, it is
now believed that the earliest date
this could be accomplished would
be during the next session of the
general assembly, which convenes
in January of 1898, and that the
actual time required would run
some time beyond that date. 1t
was pointed out that after the
enabling act was passed charter
would have to be formed and that
it would probably be 1910 before
such action could possibly become
a reality.
That under the present code of
laws governing Arlington county
no parts of it can be annexed with
out a direct vote of the majority
of the qualified voters of Arlington
county.