Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-24
|CountyReforn
Chief Issuein
|Loudoun Vote
School Situation Cited
By Advocate of
Executive Setup
By james Birchfield
Ster SfaH Cerrespondenf

sCA1bCI C1CNtAOA4, 14AC tl1C1I
in adjoining Fairfax
County, will be concerned prim-
arily with county government re-
form.
The issue here, however, will be
complex, since Loudoun voters
will be asked to choose only be-
tween the present government
form and the executive secretary
plan. In Fairfax the voters will
have three choices-the present
executive secretary plan, the
county manager plan and the
county executive plan.
In setting a reform referendum
at the November general election.
Circuit Court Judge j. R. H. Alex
ander last week acted on a petit
ton bearing the signatures of 654
county residents. This marked the
third attempt Of reform advocates
to bring the question to vote.
The reform movement here, as
in Fairfax, has the backing Of the
League of Women Voters. It also
is backed by the Loudoun Citizens
for Home Rule, headed by Asa
Moore Janney Of Lincoln. Mr..
Janney, a Quaker, is a successful
merchant and dairy farmer.
Boards Unable to Agree.
Although Commemorative At
torney Sterling Harrison and Still
son Hall, member Of the House OF
Delegates. representing reform
opponents who were not named.
requested Judge Alexander to
throw out the petition, chief OPP
position to the reform movement
has centered so far with one
county newspaper. Mr.. Hall later
stated that his interest had been
to assure the validity of the petit
ton and the legality Of a subse-
quent election.
It is conceded by observers here
that the one important cause be-
hind the reform movement has
been the apparent inability in the
past Of the Board Of Supervisors
and the School Board to reach a
degree of cooperation on county
school plans.
Proponents of reform point out
that under the present Colonial"
system there is no county gov
head. The school board.
which is appointed by a school
trustee electoral board, which in
turn is appointed by the circuit
court judge, is not answerable
to the supervisors.
Efficiency Emphasized.
It Is the belief Of county ex-
ecutive plan advocates that no
real progress in the school sys-
tenn can be made under the pres
ent government system. While
Loudoun schools have not reached
the degree of crowding that ex-
lists in Fairfax, reform hackers
say steps are necessary now to
prevent the conditions now faced
in that county.
In emphasizing the efficiency OF
the county executive plan, which
provides a full-time administra-
tor and gives the board Of super
visors the authority to appoint
school board members, fix the
salaries of county officials and
to spend 90 per cent of the county
money, reform advocates point to
the county seat as an example.
Since 1887 Leesburg has oper-
ated under a government system
closely patterned after the county
executive form. When the first
auditor-treasurer, as the towns
administrator is called, was ap-
pointed Leesburg's financial con-
dition was not considered sound.
Old Debt Wiped Out.
At that time $4,000 remained
unpaid from a debt contracted
back in 1907. Little progress was
being made and council meetings
often dragged on for hours. 1t
was predicted that is cent tax
increase would be necessary to
put the town on a sound finan-
cial footing.
1t wasn't long, under the new
system, until the old debt was
wiped out. The town then paid
$4,000 for a municipal parking
lot and another $4,000 to i'm
prove it. A bond issue was voted
for other improvements and the
town has been able to pay these
off as they mature. Now council
meetings rarely last longer than
30 minutes, since the administra-
tive load is carried by the town
executive. .....
But best of all, town officials
tell you, the predicted tax increase
never materialized. It was I'M
necessary and the rate still stands
at 80 cents.
The first efforts at government
reform in Loudon County date
back five years when the court
was petitioned to call a referen-
dunn on the executive form. This
petition was denied, however, be-
cause of the number of voters
in the armed forces.
About a year ago the Board Of
requested a referen-
ium, but the resolution was held
Up because of a technicality and
he board later rescinded it's &C
ion.
There is some doubt, even
among strong supporters of re-
form, that the referendum this
November will carry. If reform
'ails to carry. the law provides
hat no new petition may be filed
with the court for three years,
md there are some who believe
he election this fall will be only
. dress rehearsal for a stronger
three years hence.
Mr.. Janney. however. believes
he executive plan will be accepted
~ substantial majority. To sup
BORT this prediction, he cites the
act that in many localities the
most conservative groups are