Evening star., 1949-11-04
Charges Exchanged
harrington Campaign
As Election Nears

Charges in Arlington's cam
paigns for the County Board and
House of Delegates were ex-
changed in rallies held last night
| in preparation for Tuesdays
election.
Robert w. Cox. town meeting
candidate. took occasion at two
meetings to assail his Democratic
opponent, Basil De Lashmutt. who
seeks reelection to the County
Board. Mr.. Cox spoke at a rally
in Lyon Park and at the Bar
croft Citizens Association while
Mr.. De Lashmutt carried his drive
to Virginia Highlands at a rally
in the f1rehouse.
I. Lee Potter, Republican. as
sailed j. Maynard Magruder, one
of the two Democrats who are
seeking reelection to the House
of Delegates, at the Bancroft meet
ing. Mr.. Magruder, who was out
of town, made reply today.
The second Democratic House
candidate is George Damn.
Countering similar charges lev
eled against him by the Democrats
MIR. Cox asserted that Mr.. De
Lashmutt "is the high tax man in
this campaign" He said the tax
rate has increased from $2.70 to
s3.45 since 1910 with De Lash
mutt voting for every increase.
Linked to Land Spectators"
He placed his opponent in the
category of Land spectators" who
have kept taxes high on individual
homes and small businesses.
"If tax inequities had been ironed
out years ago." Mr.. Cox said, the
tax rate would not have to be as
high as it is today"
He referred to the Nevius tract
purchased by the Government for
a Veterans Administration hos
lpital on Lee boulevard.
1T was assessed for 1921 900 and
the owners claimed it was worth
$3,5Q0,000 when they wanted to
sell it," Mr.. Cox said. "A jury
awarded them 81, 100000"
The Town Meeting candidate
also assailed Mr.. De Lashmutt for
postponing a reassessment of land
for tax purposes in 1914.
Mr.. De Lashmutt, meanwhile
was telling the Virginia Highlands
audience that businessman is
needed on the board. Mr.. De
Lashmutt is a civil engineer.
Called a Theorist.
He called Mr.. Cox a candidate
of the Better Government League
who "is a theorist and lacking in
practical experience.
Today he replied to Mr.. Cox's
charges of last night. He said the
postponement of reassessments ir
1914 was approved by 4-to-1
vote because land values were
shifting rapidly during the war;
it was impossible to obtain ade.
quate personnel for a reassessment
study and thousands of GIs were
still away from home and had nj
opportunity to protest reassess.
ments."
He said Mr.. Cox went on record
for higher taxes before a meet
ing of the County Board on March
"a when he made q comparison
between Arlington and other
communities.
Mr.. Potter said he had beer
assailed by his House Of Dele.
gates opponents for his recorc
during the war. He was rejected
for physical reasons when he triee
to enlist in the Navy in December
1912, he said.
Radio Building Hit.
Singing out Mr.. Magruder II
his drive for one Of the two House
seats, Mr.. Potter referred to con.
struction of the Radio Building
during a time when veterans
housing needs were acute.
I "Mr. Magruder, as part-ownel
of the non-essential Radio Office
Building on Wilson boulevard
took advantage of the entire vet.
erans' housing program by get.
ting a small amount of concrete
dumped in the footing trenches
on the final day before controls