Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-01
fbeof Six0ffer
Resignationson
Arlington PUG
DecIore Interests
OF Public Not Being
Met on Utilities
By Robert c. RoIIines

I'VE VI tllCs OLA uACu1bClS VI CllC
Arlington Public Utilities Com
mission resigned yesterday.
The letter of resignation to the
County Board. Arlington's gov
erning body, cited three reasons
and declared the public's interests
in public utilities operations are
not being adequately met.
The letter was signed by all but
Member Clifton Stoneburner, who
also is county highway engineer.
There is one vacancy on the COM
mission. The signers were Chair
man Neil Foss, William G. Watt,
Gustave Moe, Laurence Knappen
and Albert A. Carretta. Members
Of the commission serve without
pay :
Reasons Given.
Resons cited were:
1.sFailure of the County Board
to supply the PUG with any policy
statement covering it's RESPONSE
bility and authority.
2. Failure to support the PUG
effort to install even a part-time
investigator of utilities operating
in the county.
8. Reduction of the amount ap-
propriated for 1949-50 from the
requested $1,000 to "only 5000"
I'VE consider that our useful
ness to the community on utility
matters has been seriously i'm
paired by the actions of the county
board" the letter stated.
Further, we are also unwilling
by any of our acts to cause the
inhabitants of Arlinfton County to
think their interests in the public
utilities operations are being ade-
quatelS met, when such is not the
case and cannot be the case =
I'VE do not think the county
board should hide behind the Ar
lington PUG"
Justified Says Dugan
County Board Member Daniel
A. Dugan said today the resigna-
tons are justified" He said he
would move at Saturdays meeting
that Commemorative Attorney
Denn1an Fuckers power of ap-
pointment be rescinded: that the
board meet with the PUG in an
attempt to determine exactly what
the members want. and to hold up
the acceptance Of the designations
until the wants can be determined
and filled.
The designations came on the
heels of a letter complaining of
the "unpredictable fluctuations in
the treatment accorded the Ar
lington PUG by the county boafd
during the past several months
= 80
The letter. dipatched to the
board after a PUG meeting We'd
nesday night, said the treatment
was "the source of growing con-
fusion and embarrassment to some
or all the members Of the PUC."
The letter said the discomfort"
had been further aggravated" by
the appointment of Lester Conley
to assist Mr.. Rucker in opposing
the proposed fare increases of the
Washington, Virginia e. Maryland
Coach Co. (Arnold Lines. The
PUG complained the appointment
of Mr.. Conley, soon after his re-
signation as a PUG member, had
been made by Mr.. Rucker with
out conference or consultation"
with the PUG.
Mr.. Conley's resignation was an
nounced by County Board Chair
man Basil M. DeLashmutt, who is
running for reelection as the
Democratic nominee. on October
II. Mr.. DeLashmutt's opponent.
Robert w. Cox. non partisan
Town Meeting candidate, said MIR.
Conleys appointment in the bus
fare case was a "payoff" for his
support of Mr.. DeLashmutt.
Mr.. Cox said today the resig-
nations should open our eyes to
the situation on the County
Board