Evening star., 1950-01-05
Vote in Fairfax
On School Board
Selection Asked
Supervisors Request
Referendum on Four
Proposed Methods

proposed METHODS
The Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors yesterday asked for
a referendum to determine how
residents want the School Board
selected.
A request for the referendum
was among legislative proposals
the supervisors forwarded to the
county's representatives in the
General Assembly which convenes
next week.
The supervisors suggested that
the referendum pose four possible
methods of selecting School Board
members: l. Direct election, as
in Arlington. 2. Appointment by
the County Board of Supervisors.
3. Have county supervisors serve
as the School Board, as has been
proposed by State Senator Harry
F.. Byrd, jr. 4. Appointment Of
members by a School Trustee
Electoral Board, which is in turn
appointed by the Circuit Court
judge. The latter method now
is used.
Notes Growing Agitation"
Supervisor Maurice Fox, who in
trdouced resolution requesting
the referendum. said his action
was prompted by growing agita-
ton" on the school question. He
said some people feel the present
method is too far removed from
public control and believed the
voters should decide the issue.
Notified of the supervisors ac-
tlon, Delegate Edwin Lynch said
he would introduce legislation for
referendum on the School Board
question. Mr.. Lynch recalled that
he introduced legislation for a
referendum on the School Board
question in 1916, but the proposal
failed to pass the Senate.
The supervisors also asked that
legislation be introduced to per-
NIT borrowing from the State lit
erary loan fund or the teachers
retirement fund for construction
of an addition to the county court
house.
May Ask Bond Referendum.
Supervisor Robert Dye declared
the court had authority to force
construction of a courthouse adj
dition. He said this would mean
the county would have to pay for
the addition out of one years
budget. 7
If the Legislature refuses to all
low loans for courthouse construc-
tion. the supervisors indicated
they may ask referendum for a
bond issue. Plans for a $400 900
addition already have been pre-
pared.
Rents totaling $4,000 paid an
nually for county Office space out
side the courthouse would be
enough to pay interest on bonds
issued to build an addition, the
| supervisors estimated.
Other legislative proposals in
cluded: Authority to levy maxi
mum annual dance hall license
tax Of 5000; appointment of po-
licemen and the land assessor by
county supervisors, instead of by
the Circuit Court judge; authority
to impose a $75 annual tax on
trailers, and amendment to an
nexation laws so that residents of
an affected area would have the
right to vote on whether they
chose to be annexed. The last
item was adopted month ago.
Night Jailer Authorized.
Employment of a deputy jailer
for night hours at an annual SAL
ary of $4,000 was authorized, on
request of Sheriff John Taylor.
The proposal now has to be ap-
proved by the State Compensa-
ton Board.
Sheriff Taylor's requested was
prompted by the recent escape of
four prisoners from the Fairfax
Jail, who sawed their way out dur
ing night hours. Sheriff Taylor
last year had asked for a night
jailer, but it was cut from his
budget. The resident jailer, Will
liam Lowe. lives at the jail but
there is no one employed to be on
guard during night hours. The adj
ditional jailer will be on duty from
midnight until Sam.
The supervisors examined map
Of the area that Alexandria pro-
poses to annex from the county.
G. Wallace Carper, chairman, said
that the county would put up q
"stiff fight" against annexation.
All supervisors agreed the 7h-
square-mile area was smaller than
they had anticipated Alexandria
would seek.
Mr.. Carper said the supervisors
would meet with Alexandria An
nexation Committee, but felt
nothing could be accomplished
because he said the whole matter
would have to be settled in court.
Alexandria plans to begin annexa-
tion proceedings within a month.
Supervisor Arthur Shaffer said
most residents of the area would
not want to be annexed and the
supervisors would be letting them
down if they failed to put up q
fight to keep the territory.
Neiqhborhood Concert