Evening star., 1941-12-03
Arlington Civic
Group Elects
Mrs. Cannon
Federation Names
First Woman as
County President

Mrs. Florence Cannon, Well-knoWr1
civic worker, last night became the
first woman to be named president
of the Arlington County (VaD Civic
Federation.
Vice president of the federation
for the past four years, Mrs. Cannon
succeeds Alva D. Adams.
Albert A. Carretta, chairman Of
the Executive Committee, was elected
vice president and William K Mac
Mahon was named treasurer Mem
bers of the Executive Committee Sc
lected during the session in the Lyon
Park Community House, which lasted
until after midnight, are Mr.. Adams.
James Franklin, DR.. Victor Meyers,
William G. Watt and J. Byron
Brooks.
Mrs. Cannon, native Of DAN
vile, Pa, moved to Arlington in
1922. She is a former president Of
the Arlington Citizens Association
and was one of the first federation
delegates from that group, being the
only woman delegate to the fedora
ton for several years.
Interfederation Delegate.
The new president was a delegate
to the Interfederation Conference
for two years and has been a MEM
ber of the federation's Legislative
and Legal Action Committee. She
was chairman of the Committee on
Parks, Planning and Zoning during
the federation's successful campaign
to maintain residential zones on Lee
boulevard and during the efforts to
extend the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway.
A charter member Of the Organ
lied Voters of Arlington County,
which she now represents in the
federation, Mrs. Cannon has served
as parliamentarian of the women's
group for about 10 years.
She has married daughter and
three grandchildren. She is en-
ployed at the quartermaster gener-
ais Office in the War Department.
The group approved a resolution
of the Executive Committee Of
fered by Mr.. Carretta asking the
Virginia Legislature to create rent
control commissions in defense areas
of the State. They would have
authority to fix rent ceilings giving
consideration to costs of operation
and new construction.
Another measure by the Executive
Committee instructed the Hospital
Committee to investigate the proce-
dure under which Prince Georges
County, Md. was able to obtain
funds under the Lanham Act for a
hospital and to determine if it is
possible for the same procedure to
be followed in Arlington County.
The Wynwood Citizens Associa-
ton was admitted to membership.
Permanent Tags Asked.
On motion of Charles H. Birch,
the chairman of the Safety Com
mittee was instructed to attend each
monthly meeting of the Arlington
County Safety Council.
The federation adopted a resolu-
ton by Floyd Sitton, chairman of
the Legislation and Legal Action
Committee, urging the Legislature
to provide for permanent automobile
license tags as an economy measure.
Another resolution proposing aboli-
tion of the poll tax as a prerequisite
to voting was tabled.
A third measure by Mr.. Sitton,
which was tabled until next month.
sought legislation which would have
required the county manager to
publish detailed statement of
budget expenditures after the close
of each fiscal year.
Reporting on the feasibility of
establishing kindergartens in the
public schools, Mr.. Watt, chairman
of the Schools Committee. declared
the State does not now make finan-
Gil provision for such instruction,
therefore the cost of such a system
in Arlington County would have to
be borne by local taxpayers.
There were $40 first grade pupils
IN the schools in 1940-1, Mr.. Watt
said. Sixteen teachers would be
necessary at minimum salary of
$1,000 annually. There would be a
need for 16 additional classrooms,
he said, and the schools are already
overcrowded The rooms would cost
about sl28,000 plus $1,000 for equip
ment.
The initial cost to the county for
a public kindergarten system, his
committee estimated, would be
about Sl57,300 and the annual cost
thereafter would be about $4,000.
The committee does not feel the
county would now be justified in as