Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-24
Officials Fight Move
To Put Nearby Boards
Under District 0PA
Alexandra Chairman
Says He'll Resign if
Rotion Units Merge
By HELEN RAU.


Strong opposition to a proposal
Maryland and Virginia under the
District. Office of Price Administra-
ton has been voiced by officials of
the Alexandria, Arlington and Fair
fax boards.
One board chairman, Charles M.
Jones of Alexandria. said yesterday
he would resign if the Virginia
boards were put under the District
OPA.
Earlier, Maryland members of
Congress and ration board officials
had protested vigorously a reported
plan to merge nearby boards there
under the District OPA.
Representative Smith, Democrat,
of Virginia called a meeting of
officials of the three Virginia boards
in his Office Friday at the request
of the OPA, to get their opinions
on such move. After hearing their
views Mr.. Smith declared he would
abide by their wishes in any re-
commentators he was called on
to make.
Just Seeing Daylight.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
giilia was quoted as being willing
to take the same stand as Mr.. Smith
after the boards had been heard
from.
The meeting was attended by two
OPA officials in addition to board
members. j. Maynard Magruder,
chairman of the Arlington Board,
also represented Fairfax at the re-
quest of former State Senator John
w Rust, Fairfax Board chairman,
who was unable to attend.
Mr.. Jones, in declaring he would
resign if the plan went through,
said the Alexandria Board was 'just
beginning to see daylight after
having contended with inadequate
space, understaffed Offices, delayed
paw checks and lack of supplies.
He added that with adequate
headquarters in Odd Fellows Hall
and with additions to clerical stats
authorized, he felt that the board
was now able to function properly
and it was his wish to continue with
the policy developed by the State
Office in Richmond which, he said,
has always been most cooperative,
Favors Central Storeroom.
Mr.. Jones revealed that at one
time there were reports that the
regional office in Atlanta might
delegate its control of Virginia
boards to Richmond. He said he
favored this idea because he felt
it would eliminate great deal Of
the time lost in waiting for funds
and supplies to come from Atlanta.
With the District setup under the
regional Office in New York, Mr..
Jones said he could not see how
the change would simplify things
for Virginia boards, and he would
favor a central storeroom for sup
plies in Washington as the one con-
nection with the District that would
make things easier for nearby
boards.
Mr.. Magruder stated very def
nitely that he did not wish to see
the boards in nearby Virginia lose
their identity with the State.
Cites Hospital Case.
He said the Virginia boards served
the voters. and he did not favor
Joining with the "voteless District"
Mr.. Rust said yesterday that he
did not have enough information
about the plan to express himself.
Mrs. Mollie Cleveland, executive
secretary of the Fairfax Board, OPP
posed any merger.
Mr.. Smith cited the case of the
Alexandria Hospital as an excellent
reason why the Virginia boards
would be better off under the State
setup.
He said approval of an addition
to the hospital was given and checks
had been drawn when the project
was placed in the Districts Metro
politan Area program, with the con-
sequent refusal of the War Pro-
duction Board to approve it.