Evening star., 1938-03-29
TAX BOOST THREAT.
SEEN AS OBSTACLE.
TO PARKWAY DEAL
Arlington County Board May
Decide Fate at Session
Tomorrow.
CHAIRMAN SAYS DOOR
NOT YET CLOSED ON JOB
Mrs. Elizabeth Magruder, While
Admitting Need, Sees Cost of
Project as Prohibitive.


The prospect Of Arlington County,
Va, securing the benefits Of Unit
No. 2 of the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway project at a small
fraction Of the total cost, depends
tomorrow on a decision of the county
board.
Mrs. Elizabeth Magruder, chairman,
and other leading county officials said
the question for determination is
whether the board believes public de-
sire for the proposed park, in view Of
the omission OF other essential needs
from the budget, is sufficient to justify
an increase in the tax rate.
Citizens Reverse Position.
Definite indication Of strong public
sentiment in favor of the parkway was
evidenced last night when the Cherry
dale Citizens Association reversed. its
previous stand and Endorsed the
project. The County Civic Fedora
tion. the Arlington Planning Commits
sion and other groups already have
gone on record in favor of 1t.
The Cherrydale citizens acted on
motion Of Julian Simpson, former
president, who expressed the opinion
that If the project were explained
properly to the taxpayers none would
be against it.
Citizens are merely told that the
county cannot afford to spend s50000
for a park" Mr.. Simpson said They
are not told that the county is losing
almost 100000 in Federal aid by
failing to make the $5o,00o appropria-
tion.'
He cited articles in The Star in ask
ing the citizens association to rescind
its opposition to the parkway, recorded
in February. BY unanimous vote the
group last night instructed its secre-
tary to advise the County Board i'm
mediately it now wants the park fund
authorized.
There will be preliminary meeting
Of the board members today to dis
cuss budget matters informally and
this session may have deciding in
fluence on tomorrow's expected action
Mrs. Magruder and other members of
the board have repeatedly expressed
themselves as in favor of the parkway.
but believe it Is impossible to provide
even the small sum required to bond
the parkway deal without a slight in
crease in the $2.70 tax rate. A ma
jority of the members, it was said.
are opposed to an increase at this
time.
Door Not Yet Closed.
mo one in Arlington County wants
this park improvement more than I
do" Mrs Magruder said today. Il
have had my heart in it from the be-
ginning and have told Gov. Price SO.
I would not say the door Is closed
to it even now. I am still hoping that
we may be able to find some money
to take care of the situation, but as
greatly as I desire the parkway, I
cannot bring myself to vote to in
crease taxes, II that is the only way
out"
The county is faced with the oppor-
tunity Of appropriating $4,000 to-
ward the purchase of rights of way for
the parkway above Rosslyn, along
the Potomac River and up Spout Run
Valley. This sum, if voted, will be
matched by a $4,000 contingency
fund already set aside by the Vir-
ginia General Assembly for this pur-
pose. To the total of 100000 would
be added another 100000 already
available from the Federal Govern
ment to purchase the lands and an
obligation on the part OF the Federal
Government to expend approximately
$500, 900 more on improvements.
1t is not necessary for the county to
appropriate its entire share this year:
it may divide its payments into two
appropriations of $25,000 each.
1t is sure-fire bargain which Mrs.
Magruder admits the County Board
would like to snap up if it saw its
way clear.
Parkway Out of Budget.
County Manager Frank c. Hanra-
han. in submitting his budget to the
County Board, made no provision for
the parkway appropriation nor for
many other long desired items, fol-
that matter. Public hearings on the
budget were held last week, and at
tomorrow's meeting the question Of
approving Mr.. Hanrahan's estimates
is expected to come to a vote.
Should the budget be adopted with
out provision for the parkway, the
county, in order to secure it, would
have to appropriate the full $50,000
the following year, with no oppor-
tunity of making two smaller pay
ments Of $4,000 each.