Evening star., 1949-10-09
Boost in Bus Fares
Of Arnold Line Fought
By Arlington County

The Arlington County Board
yesterday voted to fight bus fare
increase sought by the Arnold line.
The board instructed Common
wealth's Attorney Denman. T.
Rucker to employ such expert as
sistance as necessary to oppose
the fall increases before the Vir-
ginia State Corporation Commis-
sion and the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
The Washington, Virginia &
Maryland Coach Co., known as the
Arnold line, has filed petitions for
a general increase of S cents per
zone, over it's entire system. 1t
transports passengers between
nearby Virginia points and down.
town Washington, and also has
some purely intra-state traffic.
Recommendation Accepted.
Iragreeing to fight the proposed
increase, the board accepted a rec
ommendation Of it's advisory body,
the Arlington Public Utilities Com
mission.
The Arlington Commission as
serted that records of various reg
ulatory bodies show Arnold's
earlier financial difficulties were
due in part to poor management.
It said the utility never has been
required to show that it's manage
ment practices have been i'm
proved.
A political feud between F. Free
land Chew. an organization DEM
ocrat, and Mrs. Florence M. Can
non, an anti-organization board
member. fared up again with more
bitterness than usual.
The row resulted from the ap-
pointment of an Arlington Emer-
gency Fuel Commission. State
authorities requested that three
member local commission be
named to help conserve fuel be-
cause of coal shortages resulting
from strikes. The appointment
was to be made by Basil M. De-
Lashmutt, board chairman.
The chairman got some un-
solicited advice from his associ-
ates. Mrs. Cannon and Mr.. Chew
became embroiled in a discussion
of persons suggested.
Mrs. Cannon wanted one men,
ber to be T. Oscar Smith, acting
president of the Arlington Civic
Federation.
Whether intentional or un-
intentional, such an appointment
would inject politics, and Mrs.
Cannon knows it," Mr.. Ch W
charged. oscar Smith is the cam
paign manager for a candidate in
the present political campaign
and everybody knows it,"
Directing Cox Campaign.
Mr.. Smith is directing the cam
paign of Robert w. Cox, who Is
running against Mr.. DeLashmutt,
the organizations candidate.
Mrs. Cannon denied being mott
vated by politics. She maintained
the citizens groups should be rep
resented.
Heated charges flew back and
forth. Board Member Daniel A.
Dugan said that while he didn't
care who was appointed to the
fuel commission, he considered
Mr.. Chew's accusations unfounded.
II move we adjourn this slap
stick comedy" said Mr.. Dugan.
His motion carried. but not
until Chairman DeLashmutt
named a committee consisting of
four members: County Manager
A. T. Lundbeyg, Sidney r. john
son, president of the Chamber of
Commerce; Lester r. Conley,
member of the Arlington Public
Utility Commission, and Mr..
Smith.
The board authorized employees
of elected county officials to par
ticipate in the employe retirement
system and it appropriated $500
for purchase of the Harrington
fire station from the Federal Gov
ernment. It agreed to meet with
school authorities at 8 pm. Fri
day to work out details of issuing
the remainder of $4.500,000 in
school construction bonds. It de-
cided to condemn about four acres
OF land in the Fort Scott area,
OF Arlington Ridge road, for play
ground purposes.