Evening star., 1948-03-02
Acknowledging
On Alexandria,
Arlington Bills
Elections Revision
Program of Tuck
Back in Committee
BY Alex R. Preston
S.or Sfoff Correspondent

BY Alex R. Preston
S.ar Stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 2.-Revi-
sions to the Alexandria charter
which include a strengthening of
the powers of the city manager and
proposed nonpartisan method of
electing the Arlington County
School Board were among the legis-
lation before the General Assembly
today.
The charter changes are incor-
porated in two bills by Delegate
Armistead L. Boothe of Alexandria,
and the School Board election re-
vision is contained in a bill jointly
sponsored by Delegates George
Damn and j. Maynard Magruder,
both of Arlington.
They were introduced in a busy
session of the Assembly high lighted
by the recommital of Gov. Tuck's
anti-Truman elections revision pro-
gram. A public hearing will be held
by the Privileges and Elections Com
mittee at pm. Thursday.
The Alexandria charter revisions
carry out some, but not all, of the
recommendations recently made by
the Bureau of Public Administration
of the University of Virginia In
addition, one of the measures per-
mits the city to grant aid to the
Alexandria Bicentennial Commis-
sion.
Measures Outlined.
Features include the granting of
more power to the city manager to
make appointments and direct de-
partments, and the creation of the
title of major and superintendent of
police. This official would replace
the police captain if a department
of public safety-already authorized
in the Charters established. This
department would combine the
functions of the police and fire de-
partments.
Mr.. Boothe said he introduced the
legislation at the councils request
The bills do not, however, carry out
recommendations made by the Uni
versity of Virginia study group pro-
hibiting members of the council
from directing or requesting "the
appointment of any person to, or his
removal from, Office by the city
manager or by any Of his subordi-
mates"
Another recommendation which
the bills fail to include would pro-
hibit councilmen from giving or
ders to any subordinates of the city
manager. Some officials in the past
told newsmen they must withhold
or defer releasing information to the
public because of orders received
from one or more Council members.
Changes that are included would
give the city manager, instead of
the Council, the power to appoint
the heads of the departments of
finance, public works, police, fire,
health, welfare and recreation and
parks. On the other hand, the bill
gives the Council authority to limit
these appointments.
Another provision directs the
Council to require an annual inde-
pendent audit of the city's accounts
maintained by departments which
are not already audited by the
State. The officials appointed for
this duty would be qualified public
accountants"
Meanwhile, the House Courts of
Justice Committee passed by in
definitely" five bills which would
wipe out racial segregation on pub
lie carriers and in places of public
assembly. The controversial meas
ures offered by Delegate w. H. c.
Murray of Richmond went to their
death without recorded vote.
The House General Laws Com
mittee killed another bill by MIR.
Boothe, which would have per-
mitted certain qualified war vet
Grams, who because of their service
were prevented from taking exam
nations, to practice as a public
accountant" The measure was in
troduced by request.
Bo0the Bill Killed.
The same committee also killed
the Boothe bill to make it a misde-
meanor for persons to leave poisons
In places available to domestic ami
mails and pets.
The Magruder-Damm bill pro-
vides that If 200 Arlington voters
petition the Circuit Court this year,
referendum would be held in No.
vember on the following question:
Shall a nonpartisan election for
members of the County School
Board be held on the second Tues
day in May of the odd-numbered
years instead of at the general elec-
tlon in the odd-numbered years?"I
The nonpartisan feature of the
bill is included in this language
OF the proposed act:
The election shall be nonpartisan
Tor the offices hereunder and no bal
lot used in the election shall have
printed thereon any party or political
oeSlgnatlon or mark and there shall
not be appended to the name of any
candidate any such party or political
oeSlgnat1on or mark or anything
showing how he is nominated or
indicating his views or opinions"
A candidate would file by present.
ing petition of so qualified voters,
certified by one of the signers, to the
clerk of the Circuit Court.
The House Privileges and Elections
Committee yesterday killed bill by
six Republican sponsors to repeal
the absentee voters law
Arlington Group 10 Meet !