Evening star., 1947-05-07
Civic Federation
Backs Arlington
Bond Issue
5000, 900 Financing
Of improvements ii,
Schools lndorsed

1OuT-pO1lN PROGRAM Oh SCIlOOi uIl-
provemcnts was voted last night by
the Arlington Civic Federation.
at the same time the group con-
dernned the County School Board
Tor ignoring" the public will In pro-
posing the 5000, 900 issue rather
than o So ,250, 900 to $4,00o, 900 issue
indorsed by many organizations.
Reporting for the Committee on
Revenues and Expenditures Of the
county government, Mrs. Florence
Cannon said the federation previ-
ously had emphasized its desire to
assist In providing for the financing
Of an integrated four point school
Improvement program Of kindergar-
tens, full-day sessions for first and
second grades, reduced pupil load
per teacher and moderate expan-
sion of secondary and vocational
1 school facilities"
The support Of the proposed $6,-
900 900 bond issue now appears to
be the only means Of securing such
an integrated program" Mrs. Cam
non continued, because each of the
four units intoewhich it has been
proposed the bond isue be divided
contains part Of the four-point
program.
Cites improvement Items.
"At athe time the federation rec
commended bond issue of So ,250, 900,
1t was estimated that the reassess-
rnent OF real property would provide
an additional 81 .000. 900 of tax rev.
enue during the four-year construc-
tion period, which, together with the
proceeds from the bond issue. would
have provided approximately $4,-
250,000 for the school Improvement
program. Also the items in the pro-
posed school improvement program,
published in connection with the
proposal for a $4,000, 900 bond issue,
include more than 81 500, 900 worth
Of additional improvements, which,
while possibly not Immediately es-
sential, will eventually add to the
value Of the school facilities.
"For example," she said, "one ad-
ditional school site, $209 900; site
improvements. 100000; the Wash
ington-Lee High School gymnasium,
s$4O0 900; the Thomas Jefferson
Junior High School shop, cafeteria
and rest rooms, 1000; a storage
building, $4,000, and the Hoffman
Boston auditorium, additional class
rooms. clinic and rest rooms.
t210. 900"
Other Bond Issues Backed.
The federation, also on recon-
niendation of Mrs. Cannon's COM
mittee, voted support Of the pro-
posed $5,150,000 bond issue to
finance general county improve
r1ents; voted to advise the County
Board chairman Of the federation s
appreciation for inclusion in the
1918 budget Of items requested by
the federation and voted to request
the County Board to have pub
lished in a county newspaper a
synopsis of the budget as finally
adopted.
The letter of appreciation also
will express regret that the $1,000
item for two public health nurses
and a laboratory technician, elimi-
mated by the county manager from
the Health Department budget, was
not restored" The communication
will urge that through q transfer
OF funds from contingent all vance,
provision be made for this much
needed personnel"
In the public utilities field, the
federation voted to protest to the
Interstate Corporation Commission
the proposed rate increase of the
Washington, Virginia & Maryland
Coach Co. (Arnold Lines) and to
ask that an investigation be made
and hearing held before the fare
raise be allowed to go into effect.
Action on Gas Rates Asked.
Also, the group passed resolu-
ton urging the County Board and
the County Public Utilities Com
mission not to delay prompt action
toward reduction in the gas rates
"either by negotiation with the
Rosslyn Gas Co. or by action lead
ing toward a proceeding before the
State Corporation Commission. -
Two recommendations of the
Parks, Planning and Zoning Com
mittee, offered by Chairman Lyle
Bryant, were adopted by the fed
Grafton. They were that the County
Board be urged to create housing
authority to take over two low
rental projects for Negroes from
the Federal Government and that
the board be asked not to consider
changes in the zoning ordinance
until three months after a planning
consultant is on the job.
Chairman Harrison Mann of the
Legislative and Legal Action Com
mittee moved successfully that the
Good Government Committee be
discharged from circulating petit
tions for referendum on the stag
ger system Of electing County Board
members and that the matter be
returned to his committee for fur
ther consideration.
d. C. Daylight Time Endorsed.
The Federation went on record
fsvoring the establishment of day
light saving time In the District and
directed that q copy of the resolu-
ton be delivered to the District
Commissioners during the public
hearing on the question.
The group voted to sponsor fouf
Barter Theater. plays, provided ar
rangements can be made. The fed
Grafton sponsored two plays last
season.
Ten copies of the salary scale
which the School Board expects tc
use in connection with the expendi-
tures for teachers salaries next
year will be requested by the fedora
tlon under q motion which was
adopted at the request of School
COMMITTEES Chairman Lemuel Banks
DR.. Ivan Booker. Of the National
Education Association, urged fed
Grafton members to vote for .
change in. the present method Of
selecting School Board members a,
. referendum May a..
The federation indorsed Mrs. Ed,
mund D. Campbell and T. Osca