Evening star., 1948-02-29
Alexandra SET
For Referendum,
Vote tuesday
Crowds Register for
Ballot on Council
Selection Plans
.

Alexandria residents crowded the
city registrars office yesterday
as the registration deadline for
voting in Tuesdays city council
referendum approached. Voters may
still register through tomorrow
S pm. to cast their ballots Tues
day.
Although the registration deadline
in elections normally falls 80 days
before the election, special provision
was made in the legislation author
izing the referendum for voters to
register up until the day before the
voting. Polls will be open Tuesday
from 6 am. to 6 pm.
The referendum Tuesday will de-
eide the question of how city coun.
cilmen are to be elected. The ballots
will contain two questions; for coun-
Gil at large, and for council by
wards.
Eligible Voters.
All persons who were eligible to
vote last November or who have
qualified by payment Of poll taxes
before December may vote Tues
day. Residents who have paid their
poll taxes, but who have not regis
tered, should bring their tax receipts
for the last three years when regis
terirg, City Registrar Fred Petit
said.
City Treasurer Roger Sullivan said
any resident who has misplaced his
tax receipts can obtain proof Of his
tax payments by coming to his Of
flee.
Proponents OF the two plans,
meanwhile, winding up their cleo.
ton campaigns. Ward supporters
will close their campaign with a ra-
dio program at pm. tomorrow over
Station WPIK. Both sides have an
nounced plans to furnish rides to
and from the polls for voters who
do not have transportation.
Brochures Sent TO Voters.
The at-large group disclosed 1t
had mailed brochures outlining the
advantages of their plan to a ma
jority of the city's voters. They
contend the at-large system, under
which seven councilmen would be
elected at large, is more democratic
because every councilman Is re-
sponsible to every voter. They claim
the present system, under which six
councilmen are elected from wards
and three at large, leads to log
rolling" because a voter only has the
chance to select four-a minority
of the councilmen who serve him.
Announce Candidates..
Several Alexandrians, including
Alhert Smoot, David Squires, Arthur.
Saampbell and Handsll Hicks, havs
announced they would run for tfsl
council If the at-large plan wins in
| Tuesdays referendum.
Ward-plan supporters claim that
system is the most democratic be@
cause each section Of the city has
its designated representative. They
say the at-large plan may lead to
domination of the city by residents
of one section. Three incumbent
members of the council have an
nounced their intention to seek re.
election.
Candidates Listed.
They are John Ewald, third ward;
Edward Downey. sixth ward. and
George Bender, fourth ward. Charles
Dawson, vice president of the North
Ridge Citizens Association. who
| lives in the second ward, has an
nounced his candidacy under the
ward plan.
A new candidate to announce yes
terday was Roy C. Bragg OF the
sixth ward, who said he favored the
ward plan but would run under any
circumstances.
Mr.. Bragg, a former Marine Corps
major, is native Of Virginia who
has lived In Alexandria As years. He
is a graduate of Southeastern Uni
versity Law School and is member
of the District bar. During the war
he participated in six landings and
was cited at Leyte for unloading
troops and cargo under combat con-
ditianc