Evening star., 1947-12-03
Measure 10 Aid
'City"5etup for
Arlington Asked
Federation Urges End
Of Bon on Rood Funds
For incorporated Units
By Robert G. RoIlinas

By Robert c. RoIIines
The Arlington County Civic Fed
Grafton last night went on record as
favoring legislation which would re-
move what most observers feel is the
biggest obstacle to the incorporation
of Arlington as city.
Adopting a recommendation of its
Legislative and Legal Action Com
mittee, the group voted to urge
amendment of the Virginia Code so
that Arlington would not lose State
highway funds if incorporation were
decided on.
Harrison Mann, chairman of the
committee, told the meeting the
county would lose an estimated $780,
900 to $500,000 of such funds under
the present law by Incorporating be-
cause State funds for highway con-
struction are not allocated to cities.
The estimated loss applies to funds
already allocated
Curb on Appointments Asked.
An act permitting Arlington to
hold a referendum on incorporation
was passed by the 1914 session of
the Virginia General Assembly. The
matter was discussed at meetings
throughout the county, but was
never brought to vote, largely be-
cause of the loss of State funds if
the referendum carried.
The federation also adopted sew
eral other recommendations Of Mr..
Mann's committee as part of pro-
gram of proposed legislation which
will be suggested to the Arlington
delegation, when the General As
sembly convenes in January. These
included the following:
l. Restricting the appointive power
of the circuit court judge by pro-
viding for appointment by the
county manager of the police chief
and members of the force, by pro-
viding for appointment OF the
Board of Zoning Appeals by the
County Board, and by providing for
the filling of all vacancies on the
School and County Boards by the
bodies. In the cases of
terms of more than one
year and As days, popular elections
would be held.
9. The calling of a constitutional
convention "in order to correct a
number of difficulties in our basic
law"
3. Giving the Electoral Board
power to appoint assistants to the
central registrar.
4. Requiring the county manager
to submit the budget to the County
Board by March / each year instead
OF April l and requiring publication
of the proposed budget showing
certain comparisons
In the annual elections Mrs. Ruby
G. Simpson was reelected president
ef the federation for second one
Year term: Mr. Mann was named
vice president and William Tickle
was again selected as treasurer. All
voting was unanimous.
r. Elected to the Executive Commit
fee were William G. Watt. Oscar r.
LIE Beau, Ralph Arble, Lyle Bryant
and T. Oscar Smith.
The federation acted favorably
on resolution presented by Mrs.
Robert C. Young on behalf of the
Welfare Committee, which asked
that the County School Board elect
make a serious study of the feas-
ibility of employing, at the earliest
possible date, one or more psychia-
trio social workers to carry on a
mental hygiene program in our
public schools"
The resolution also asked the
board to consider advisability of
providing a training course for
teachers in the field of mental
hygiene should the program be
adopted.
Mental Clinic Urged.
Another resolution of the We'll
fare Committee, which was pre-
sented by Mrs Beatrice Smythe.
chairman. and adopted by the fed
Grafton, asked the County Board
to make provision in the, 1948-9
UuuSCU 1Ol ulCllIdl 1ly lCllC SlAllASs
On motion of the Parks, Planning
and Zoning Committee under the
chairmanship of Mr.. Bryant, the
federation commended the recent
action of the County Board looking
toward establishment of a regional
planning commission comprised Of
representatives of Northern Vir-
ginia communities.
After hearing William c. Hull,
chairman of the Constitution and
Bylaws Committee. report that
membership by the federation in the
Arlington Health and Medical Care
Council was not constitutional, the
federation voted not to join. At the
November meeting the federation
voted to join the council and re-
ferred the matter to the COMMITTEES
for study and report.