Evening star., 1947-11-23
Arlington Board.
Reverses Stand
On Neviius Tract
Building Of VA
Hospital Favored
In Resolution

SUI tNSSSsSesSsh
Use Of the Nevius tract at Airing.
ton Ridge road and Lee boulevard
as a site for a Veterans Admins.
tration Hospital was favored yes.
terday by the Arlington County
Board in a resolution which re.
versed the boards former stand.
The Veterans Administration wal
nearly ready last July to open con-
struction bids for $4,000, 900 hos.
pital when Representative Smith
Democrat. Of Virginia, blocked the
use Of the tract through a Con-
gressionaI maneuver. Representa-
tive Smiths action followed pro-
tests by the County Board that the
tract should be utilized by private
enterprise. Mr.. Smith objected to
use Of the tract by VA on the
grounds that the land was too
expensive.
After a conference early last week
board members said Representative
Smith had agreed to support in
Congress the resolution which the
board was to adopt. Smith said
yesterday he was not certain when
he would make the recommendation
but, that 1t would be made lin due
course
In the resolution, the board de-
clared that building a veterans hos
pital on the land would be the
best" use to which it could be
put now that the Government has
acquired it.
Former Stand Explained.
The board made 1t clear that il
previously had opposed the proposed
750-bed hospital because it was
against any further land acquisi-
ton in the county by the Federal
government. The boards position
regarding land acquisition Except
for future necessary highway devel.
opments" remains the same, the
resolution stated.
The VA has obtained possession
OF the land by condemnation pro.
ceedings and the final price will b<
decided at a court hearing next
month. The present owners, headed
by Avon M. Nevius, retired vice
president of the Riggs Nationa
Bank, have told VA they will moi
take back the property.
In another action yesterday, the
beard agreed to take up in a con.
ference the matter Of legislation tc
place the appointive' power fol
county policemen under the county
manager.
Agreement Reached.
The agreement was reached after
Daniel A. Dugan moved that the
board petition the Arlington dele
cation to Introduce legislation ir
the General Assembly to shift the
oppointive power from the judge ot
the Circhit Court to, the county
manager. Mr.. Dugan said he had
no o-fault- to md With Appointments
which, have. been made but felt
policemen should be. appointed by
the county manager as are all other
county employees. He said the move
would be a step toward placing
county employees under a merit sys-
TEN. Donald A. DeLashmutt asked
that the conference be held before
the board acted and Mr.. Dugan
agreed.
County Manager A. T. Lundberg
and County Planning Engineer c. l.
Kinnier were named by the board to
represent Arlington at meeting at
Alexandria December II of repre-
sentatives from Alexandria City and
Arlington. Fairfax and Prince Will
liam Counties regarding a regional
planning commission for Northern
Virginia
The board appropriated $500 for
the County Alcoholic Clinic for en-
ployment of part-tine psychiatrist
In requesting the appropriation, Mr.
Lundberg said the clinic, in opera
ton since July. sis proving to be a
most successful project" The pres
ent patient load is limited, he told
the board, by the number q single
doctor is able to treat. Employment
OF the part-time man Will allow the
treatment Of many more patients
he said.
Action on Vacancy Deferred.
Action on appointment Of men,
Der Of the Retirement Board to fill
the vacancy caused by the death OF
Leo Lloyd was deferred. The board
also deferred action on a request OF
the County Electoral Board that
three county employees, or three pri-
vate citizens, be named to conduct
q study of the county's voting
problems.
An appropriation of $3.50 was
voted to pay persons who worked
at the polls after midnight election
day at the rate of 81 per hour. The
board also authorized advertising
bids for construction of a sidewalk
along North Lexington street from
the 1900 block to Lee highway, at
an estimated cost of $54,350.