Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-11
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER II, 1915.

Public Hearings Due
On Incorporation
Questions Next Week
The move to incorporate Arling-
ton as city Of the first class TODAY
had the support of the Arlington
County Civic Federation Executive
Committee, the Board of Trade and
the Fort Myer Heights Citizens As
ISOLATION.
The three organizations indorsed
the plan at meetings last night fol-
lowing an announcement earlier
yesterday by Lawrence w. Douglas.
Charter Commission chairman, that
two public hearings on proposed
charter are scheduled next TUESDAY
and December 81, at 7::30 pm. in the
Circuit Court room OF the court
house.
Following the hearings, Mr.. Dou.
glas said, tentative draft Of the
charter will be completed and pub
lished. after which third public
hearing will be scheduled. The COM
missioned emphasized that it was
created to recommend a charter and
not to determine If Arlington should
be incorporated. The commission
expressed hope that hearings will
be devoted to the main purpose and
not consumed by debate on the pros
and cons of incorporation.
Council Manager Endorsed.
The commission tentatively rec.
commended council-manager form
OF government. Studies show, 1t was
said, that leading national authori-
ties on municipal government agree
this plan is more progressive, efIici-
ent and responsive to the public
than either the commission or
mayor-council forms.
Stating it has no desire to limit
the scope Of the public hearings,
the commission listed 10 questions
on which it said it particularly
would like to hear public expression.
The questions and answers con-
tanned in recommendations of the
Board of Trade and the Fort Myer
Heights Citizens Association follow:
/. What shall be the length Of
council members terms? Board Of
Trade, 2 years; Fort Myer Heights,
four years.
2. How many members should be
on the council? Board of Trade,
seven, with two selected at large
with the remainder from five equal
population city districts; Fort Myer
Heights, seven, all elected at large.
3. Should the council be elected
on a stagger system or should all
members be elected at the same time
and for the same term? Board Of
Trade and Fort Myer Heights, at the
same time and for the same term.
4. What, if any. restrictions
should be imposed on the council
In relation to the creation of a
public debt short of the limitation
imposed by the Virginia Constitu-
ton that the debt should not exceed
18 per cent of the assessed value Of
real estate in the city? Board Of
a2deF-should be limited only by
the statutory Is per cent; Fort Mey-
Ter Heights, 100000, with any issu-
ance above this amount to require
approval by popular referendum.
This organization said, however,
that the information by which it
arrived at this figure was inadequate
and that it may be necessary to
revise this figure.
Would Elect Police Justice.
S. How should the Office of civil
and police justice Corresponding to
the present Office of County Court
judge be filled? Board of Trade,
no recommendation; Fort Meyer
Heights, by popular election for .
four-year term.
6. Should the manager be ap-
pointed for term, or to serve at the
will Of the council? Board of Trade,
at the will of the council; Fort
Meyer Heights, one-year term.
7. If the manager is appointed for
a fixed term, should the appoints
ment be renewed automatically un-
less 60-day notice is given to the
contrary, as under the present
county manager act? Board OF
Trade-No; Fort Myer Heights
Yes
g. Should the council be author.
lied to impose occupational and Ii
cense taxes to afford additional
sources Of public revenue, as is now
generally the case in respect to Viz
GINA cities? Board of Trade and
Fort Myer Heights-Yes.
9. BY what method should School
Board members be selected? (Note:
under State law, and in the absence
OF a contrary charter provision,
School Board members would be
elected by the City Council. Board
Of Trade Elected for four-year
terms; Fort Myer Heights-Submit
to popular referendum.
%. Should the election to fill city
Offices be held at the same time as
or at different time from, elections
to fill State and National ofnces and
those offices provided by the 'vir-
ginia constitution? Board of Trade
AT different time; Fort Myer
Heights-No recommendation.