Evening star., 1950-06-07
Arlington Group
To Study School
Segregation
Federation Committee
Is Asked to Make
Report in September

A committee of the Arlington
Civic Federation will consider
whether the group should adyo.
cate the end of racial segregation
in Virginia schools.
The question was referred tt
the School Committee last night
after it was raised by Mrs. Miriam
Murtha, delegate from the Fair
lngton Civic Association.
The State constitution provides
that white and Negro children
shall be taught in separate build
ings. The matter was not dis.
cussed last night. The School
Committee was asked to bring ir
a report at the next federation
meeting in September.
Other Action Taken.
In other major actions last
night the federation:
/. Endorsed a proposal for a
referendum at the November gen.
eral election on the question of
floating a bond issue to finance
a two-year, chool-construction
program, estimated to cost from
$9,050,000 to $9,450,000.
2. Elected officers for 1901.
3. Presented The Evening Star
Trophy for civic achievement to
Malcolm D. Miller.
4. Asked county officials to as
sess all property at a fair market
value and just the tax rate in
proportion.
Action on the school bond is
sue was taken on motion of Mrs.
Virginia Thatcher, chairman of
the School Committee. who pre-
sented a f1ve-page committee re-
port on school reconstruction needs.
School Needs Stressed.
The report asserted that a high
school, junior high school and
lis elementary classrooms should
be built by the fall of 1852. =
Studies by educational anu
civic groups and by the School
Board point to the urgent need
for continued construction of
school facilities to meet mini
mum educational Standards" the
report stated.
While the resolution adopted by
the federation did not contain any
estimate of cost, the SO million
plus figure was carried in the re-
port.
With one exception the fedora
ton reelected all officers, after
Mrs. Ruth Cox, chairman of the
Nominating Committee pointed
out that they had served only
since January. Last nights elec-
ton was the first since the fed
Grafton voted to change the bal
loting from DECEMBER to June.
Smith Reelected. >y4
T. Oscar Smith, Justice Depart
ment attorney, was returned to
the presidency; Earl Weatherly to
the treasurer's post and the fol-
lowing to the Executive Commit
tee:
Ralph Arble, Allen Dean, Mrs.
Catherine Segar, Mrs. Ruby Simp-
son and William G. Watt.
Reed K. Pond, who was remoni-
mated on the Nominations Com
mittee slate, was defeated by Mr..
Miller. nominated from the floor,
for the vice presidency. The vote
was 40 to 36.
Selection of Mr.. Miller, chair
man Of the federation's Revenues
and Expenditures Committee, to
receive The Star cup was made at
the May meeting but the presen-
tation did not take place until
last night.
The trophies are given by The
Star to Washington area civic fed
erations to be awarded by them
each year to members for meritor-
ious work.
Assessment Resolution.
Proposed jointly by the Rev.
enues and Expenditures and the
Land Use and Zoning Commit
tees. the resolution regarding as
sessment called on the. County
Board, the county manager, the
Board of Assessors and the COM
missioner of revenue to provide
for the following:
/. Assessment Of all properties
at fair market value as required
by the State constitution, rather
than at 40 per cent or less.
2. Reduction of the tax rate in
proportion to the increase of as
sessed valuations and in relation
to the needs of the county for
tax revenues.
8. Statement of the methods OF
assessment, the standards fol-
lowed in the establishment of as
sessed valuations, and the pro-
cedures to be followed in review
of such assessments.
4. Preparation and issuance o1
a land value map by which tax
payers may readily ascertain
whether their assessments have