Evening star., 1947-03-30
Arlington 70 Ask
Delay by FPHA
On I Projects
Wants Legislature
To Act on County
Housing Authority
By Robert C.. RoiIinos

py Nopert -. koilin0S
Arlington will request the Federal
Public Housing Authority to defer
disposal of two low-rental housing
projects in the county until the
next session of the Virginia Legis-
lature in January. the County Board
decided yesterday.
The decision to ask the Federal
agency to continue operation of the
George Washington Carver and Paul
Lawrence Dunbar Homes was made
at the suggestion of Board Chairman
Basil M. DeLashmutt.
Earlier a motion by Daniel A.
Dugan to establish a local Public
Housing Authority to take over the
projects failed for lack of second.
F. Freeland Chew was the only other
member Of the board present.
The board acted after a two-hour
hearing during which several Arling-
ton organizations asked that the
local housing authority be established
and only one, the Northern Vir-
ginia Builders Association, opposed
it. Under present law, the two
projects can be taken over by the
county only through an authority.
The FPHA has announced that it
wants to dispose of the projects,
totaling 130 housing units for Ne
eroes, and has given the county first
choice.
Mr.. DeLashmutt, who objected to
the scope of public housing authori-
ties under present laws, suggested
that the board and the FPEA write
legislation which would permit the
county to take over the Develop
ments through restricted housing
authority which would operate only
the two projects,
Cites Debt to Displaced Group.
Mr.. DeLashmutt said he thinks
the county owes some consideration
to citizens displaced when the
Pentagon was built, many of whom
are living in a trailer camp, and
that's the extent to which I think
this Government is obligated to go
into the housing field"
Charles Moos. member of the
Arlington Veterans Housing Com
mittee, told the board that 'if you
fail to create a housing authority in
the face of the need for 1t, the
people of Arlington may we'll find
it hard to believe that you have been
acting in their interests"
Edward C. Carr, president of the
National Association of Home
Builders, termed a housing au-
thority "socialistic"
The board voted County Man.
! ager Frank c. Hanrahan a three
months leave because of i'll, health
and appointed A. T. Lundberg, di-
rector of public services, as acting
county manager and clerk to the
board. Mr.. Hanrahan, county
manager for II years, announced
recently that he would retire on
July /.
| A request that the board estab-
lish a clinic for the treatment Of
alcoholism and appropriate $2,500
for the balance of this year and
$4,000 for the next fiscal year for
its operation, was referred to the
county manager and the common
wealth's attorney. A report will be
made at the next board meeting.
The request was. made by County
Court Judge Hugh Reid, William
P. Ames, a former county board
member and former County Court
Judge Ben Hedrick.
Declares Many Need Treatment.
Judge Reid declared that more
persons are in need of treatment for
| alcoholism than for any other dis
ease. He said that such clinics are
now established in many communi-
ties and that the county health off,
Ger had agreed one Is needed In
Arlington.
Judge Hedrick explained the funds
are for clerks, records and nursing
help but that most of the work is
done voluntarily by members OF
Alcoholics Anonymous.
The board named Carroll Wright,
Arlington real estate man, and Max
Werhily of the Urban Land Insti-
tute, former advisor to the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, to posts on the recently
expanded Arlington Planning Com
mission.
Lester r. Conley, Arlington attor-
ney, formerly with the Interstate
Commerce Commission, was ap-
pointed to a vacancy on the
County Public Utilities Commission.
The board also appropriated $500
for the use of the PUG in making
court test of the recent rate in
creases allowed the Chesapeake g.
Potomac Telephone Co. by the State
Corporation Commission.
Mr. Lundberg to the board that
arrangements had been made for
county employees, with the excep-
ton of police and firemen, to go
on five-day week staring Tuesday.
He said county government Offices
will be open from 8 am. to pm.
daily; Monday through Friday. The
Offices have been open a half day
Saturday. State Offices. however.
such as those of commissioner of
revenue, the treasurer and the clerk
of the court, will continue to OBJ
serve Saturday morning Office hours.
Name Sought for HOSPITAL.
Mr.. Dugan and Mr.. Chew were
appointed a committee to determine
sentiment in the county regarding
a name for Veterans Administra-
ton Hospital to be built on the
Nevius tract at Lee boulevard and
Arlington Ridge road. Mr.. Dugan
told the board that 1t is the practice
of the VA to let localities name
hospitals.&
Mrs. Paul Twyne of the Arlington
Animal Rescue League asked the
board to appropriate 500 a month
during the next fiscal year for the
league. She explained the league
answers calls when the county
pound is closed. The board told
the county manager to bring up
the matter for consideration in
connection, uyith the 1Qd7.k2 tiidref