Evening star., 1947-10-16
Arlington Republicans
RejectBid forDebafes,
Cite Mud Singing

A proposal by Arlington Repub-
licans that three of their candidates
publicly debate issues of the No.
vember election was rejected to-
Gay by Democrats on the ground
that certain members of the oppo-
site had engaged in mud sling
ing
Edgar w Pumphrey, Republican
committee chairman, suggested a
debate the last week of this month
at Was:lin9ton-Lee High School be-
tween candidates for the State Sen
ate, Commemorative attorney and
commissioner of revenue
He made the proposal to c. Har-
rison Mann, Democratic committee
chairman, who replied that. his
partys candidates would continue
to discuss the issues at meetings
throughout the county.
Candidates Issue Statements.
Il regret" he wrote, ito have to
reject your proposal as the
past actions of certain Republican
candidates indicate that they are
not interested in engaging in any,
thing but Misrepresentation and
mud-slinging. can have no assur-
ance whatever that a debate would
! be conducted by them on any other
basis"
Meanwhile. candidates for the
County Board. which this year is
being run on non-political party
Endorsement basis for the first time
issued more statements.
T. Oscar Smith, one of the can
didates, criticized the board for
what he termed its failure" to ef-
feet reduction in gas rates for
Arlington's consumers
Mr.. Smith charged that the Ross
lyn Gas Co. has proflted by a reduc-
ton of more than 100000 in the
wholesale cost of gas resulting from
the changeover from manufactured
to natural fuel and none of this
saving has been passed on to the
consumers
Cites Run Around"
THE same run around is also evil
denced by the board in the case ot
the proposed increase in telephone
rates" he added. "A hearing in the
telephone rate case is set for No
vember but whether Arlington res
idents will be properly represented
at the hearing is in grave doubt.
Until we get members on the
board who do not regard Rosslyr
Gas and other utilities as sacred
COWS we will continue to get paper
resolutions, lots of lip service but ne
action
Mrs. Florence Cannon. another
board candidate, also critized in.
cumbents for their refusal" tt
authorize the Public Utilities Com.
mission to proceed in the prepar.
alton of an official protest agains
the proposed telephone rate increase
on which hearing is set fol
November S."
| Mrs. Lucy G.. Bussey. a. schoo
board candidate, said she favored
a sound fiscal policy with correct
balance between capital outlay ane
recurring expenditures.
Mrs. Bussey said she favors "ade.
quate" teacher salaries She is 9
member of the present board who
has been nominated by the Arling.
ton Education Association, an or.
ganization Of school teachers anc
principals.
/ Expenditures Compared.
:, Bernard Joy, a School Board can
didate of county wide nominating
convention. said that although Ar
iington had almost double the tax.
able property for each child, it spent
S2l less per pupil than did five othel
Virginia cities of 10000 population
or more-Richmond, Norfolk, Ports
mouth, Roanoke and Alexandria
They spent $l27.04 per child, he said
and Arlington spent $1O6.99. -
The School Beard contest is alse
without normal party Endorsement
j. Elwood Clements, Democratic
candidate for sheriff, today de.
clared he favored separate facilitie.
for detention and confinement oi
juveniles and youthful first Of.
tenders.