Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-20
By Mary Lou Werner

clSSeG IN q SeT1eS OF LnTee ar
ticles starting today.
By Mary Lou Werner
Provisions of the proposed new
Alexandria charter raise the ques-
ton of whether the people would
benefit by losing direct control
of two municipal Offices.
Already most of the controversy
of the charter centers on the
recommended appointment of the
city attorney and city collector.
Both Offices now are filled by
elections. It is an issue that dates
back to 1888, when the voters
in a referendum threw out an
appointment plan in favor OF
elected officers.
The charter commission be-
lieves the city attorney should be
appointed by the council so as
to have a confidential and pro-
fessional relation" with council
men.
j Experience Cited.
1.-THE experience of many cities
shows that such a relation is most
likely to be satisfactory if the
city attorney is not elected in
dependently." the commission re-
ported. 1.-The council will be most
certainly able to get the best
available lawyer for this position il
he does not have to run for office"
Further, the Charter Commits
sion states, the city attorney as
the legal adviser of the council,
should be amenable to its di-
rection and responsible to it, and
not independent of the council as
is the case when such officer is
elected"
Requirements set forth in the
charter for selection of a city at
torney are that he must be a
licensed attorney who has prac-
ticed law in the State for at least
five years preceding his appoint
ment.
The first appointive city at
torney would take Office after the
expiration of the term of the pres
ent incumbent, v. Floyd Williams.
The elective Office of city coll
lector would be abolished by the
proposed charter, and his duties
assumed by an appointed employe
in the proposed new Department
of Finance.
Reason Set Forth.
The charter commission set
forth the following reasons for
abolishing an elective city col
lector:
1. The collection Of taxes and
revenue is an integral and es-
sential function of the financial
administration of the city, and no
efficient and properly co-ordi-
mated department of finance may
be set up without including such
function.
2. In order to carry out the
proper administration of the A.
nancial affairs of the city the COL
lection of revenue should be under
the control and direction of the
director. of finance and the city
manager. which is not possible
if this function is assigned to an
elected officer.
3. There is an ever present
danger that for reasons of Offend
ing the taxpayers. the collection Of
taxes by an elected officer might
not be rigidly enforced.
Reflect Criticism.
These arguments reflect re-
cent criticism that everyone in
Alexandria is not equally taxed.
The charter commission said its
recommendation was not to be
taken as a criticism of the present
city collector, c. Page Waller.
From all reports, his Office has
been most efficiently admins
tered" said the commission.
But these arguments for ap-
pointing a city attorney and city
collector are unlikely to impress
voters who defeated that sys-
tenn in 1898.
Main objections to the appoint
i've officers was that they ignored
the public's wishes. Taxpayers
complained of favoritism in the
city collectors Office and many
said they could not even get an
answer If they questioned some
policy of that Office.
The city attorney, they argued,
should not be appointed by the
city council because he should be
in a position to criticize council
actions and inform the public
of any possible wrong -doings.
No Fear of Reprisal.
AS one observer argued, the
city attorneys opinions should be
for the benefit of the city with
out any fear of reprisal from his
employers.
Opponents of an appointed
city attorney deride the sugges-
ton better lawyer could be OBJ
tanned for the job on an ap-
pointive basis.
Some who have no strong feel
ing for or against the charter
proposals are expected to get in
the controversy because they be-
lieve the two Offices should not
revert to an appointive status
without another referendum. They
argue this question could have
been included on the November
non partisan referendum ballot.