Evening star., 1950-01-06
FaiirfaxCitizens
Ask Full Study
Of School Needs
Scrutiny by Experts
Sought Before Vote
On Bond Issue

Demands were made last night
for an exhaustive study of public
education needs in Fairfax County
before voters there decide about
issuing bonds for school construc-
ton.
Several citizens attending a pub
lie hearing in the county court
house asserted pending bond
proposals should be subjected to
further scrutiny-"by experts
so the voters can determine how
large a building program should
be approved.
Some advocates of immediate
school expansion want the county
to authorize issues totaling S10,-
100000.
"As far as I'm concerned" de-
clared Manning Gasch of Vienna,
that is an astronomical figure
which real estate taxation cannot
stand. We want a study by eX-
perts, by people competent to ad-
wise us on real and exact needs
of the Schools-not a study just
by laymen."
Architect Fees Cited.
Mr.. Gasch noted that the build
ing program proposed would entail
architects fees of $650.000.
1--WE would do far better" he
said, "to employ our own archi-
tects on the county payroll. just
as we retain other professional
men, like engineers. In that item
alone we could save much money"
Oscar Conner of Oakwood, who
was among those indorsing Mr..
Gasch's remarks, said real estate
owners would be holding the bag"
for residents who send children to
the schools but have no Fairfax
property. He advocated a State
sales tax from which all revenue
would be devoted to public edu-
cation.
Let every one share the COSTS.
and share alike he argued.
The Fairfax Emergency Com
mittee. which is pressing for a big
school program in the
fast-growing county, is circulating
petitions to force a bond issue ref
erendum.
Last nights hearing was called
by the County Democratic Com
mittee to give State legislators
benefit of public opinion on issues,
to come before the General AS
sembly convening next week. Much
Of the discussion, however, CEN
tered on subjects that must be
settled locally. Present for the
meeting were the county's two
assembly representatives, Senator
Andrew Clarke and Delegate-elect
Edwin Lynch.
Several Issues Considered.
The citizens considered such
questions as the improvement Of
secondary roads, annexation Of
Fairfax land proposed by Alexan- -
dria and Falls Church, and labor
legislation.
H. j. Gerken of Vienna and
r. c. O'F1aherty of Groveton led
the discussion on money for roads,
especially the secondary system.
They had other speakers indorsed
plan by Mr.. Lynch to obtain a
larger share for areas like Fairfax.
The delegate-elect intends to
offer a bill to the assembly to
require automobile license appli-
cants to state their place of resi-
dence. Efforts then would be
made to have the State Highway
Department consider total car
registrations as one of five fac
tors on which road ALLEGATIONS are
based. The department now uses
four factors population, traffic
miles. area and road mileage.
Robert Latham. member OF the
Episcopal High School faculty,
held out hope for Fairfax County
preventing the cities from annex
ing its land.
THE question in everybody's
mind" he said, sis how we can
keep from being annexed. It is
worth noting that Petersburg
failed in an attempt to annex
Colonial Village Perhaps we can
succeed similarly. The thing to
do is to find out how