Evening star., 1942-03-03
Plan 10 Incorporate
Arlington as City
Called Costly Move
Green und Cloth List
Possible Revenue
Losses Involved

John Locke Green, Arlington
County treasurer, and William c.
Cloth, former county trial justice
and commonwealth attorney, to-
day attacked a proposal to incor-
porate the county into a city. con-
tending it would mean higher
taxes, more public officials and loss
OF much revenue now derived from
the State government.
A bill calling for a referendum
on the proposed incorporation has
been introduced in the General
Assembly at Richmond by State
Senator William D. Medley and
Delegate Charles r. Fenwick. 2
The argument of proponents of
incorporation that the Federal
Government has taken some of our
best taxable property, does not
stand up Mr. Green said. "The
fact is that after tax revenues from
this property is taken off, we still
have a net increase of IL per cent
over 194l.
Plenty of Vacant Land.
"As a matter of fact, Federal
Government bureaus have been re-
sponsible for the great real estate
boom in Arlington County.
The statement that Arlington
county needs more land is a fallacy.
Ihere are hundreds of acres on the
outlying borders of Arlington County
contiguous to the boundary of Fair
lax County where sewer and water
facilities have not yet been put in.
Ihls vacant property alone is enough
to accommodate 10000 additional
population.
THE argument that incorporation
as city would prevent annexation
oy Alexandria also does not stand
up. Section 2773 CD of the law
PROVIDES that where any county has
ADOPTED the county manager form of
government, as we have done. no
part of the county can be incorpo-
rated by city unless the whole
county Is annexed, and then the peo-
pie OF the county would have to cast
a majority vote for it." Mr.. Green
pointed out
Power to Borrow Money,
Another bad feature of incorpora-
tlon would be vesting a five-man city
council with power to borrow money
without submitting the proposal to
the people, as is now the case with
our county manager form of govern
ment. II we do incorporate. it would
De necessary to raise additional
taxes. Those who favor incorpora-
tlon would do this by taxing mer-
chants in addition to the State
Incense taxes they already are paw
ing, and also putting a city license
tax on automobiles.
no iar as losses OF incorporation
are concerned, we would lose the
gasoline tax contribution of the
State, as well as some State aid to
the schools, and we would have to
bear some of the expense of main
tanning the "a or 35 miles of state
highways that run through the
county.
1 nave seen many people and dis
cussed this issue with them" Mr..
Green said. Il know they are over
whelmingly opposed to it. If the
Dill is passed, the proponents of in
corporation will have to secure the
signatures of 1000 voters to a pc
tltlon to call a referendum. I don't
believe they could do it,
Mr.. Cloth said incorporation
would mean tax increases, more Of
hcers and that "as city Arlington
could be sued for torts, whereas it
cannot now be sued as a county. I
admit that we do need another
judge, but this can be accomplished
by having the General Assembly
pass bill to establish court of law
and chancery for Arlington County"