Evening star., 1951-09-20
Assessor Loses
Reinstatement
'ToFairfaxPost
Supervisors Vote, 81,
Against Resembling
Action on Resignation

ESAiSb VII sNSStS h0aiOb
Former Fairfax Assessor Graham
James narrowly missed winnings
reinstatement yesterday, after
telling the Board of Supervisors
his reasons for submitting a
resignation.
Supervisors C. B. Runyon and
Robert R. Dye voted to rescind
last weeks acceptance of Mr..
James resignation. They said
they were not aware when they
voted to accept the resignation
that it had been requested.
Move Is Defeated.
Their move was defeated, how
ever with Supervisors Wallace
Carper, Maurice Fox and Arthur
IShaffer uniting against them. The
sixth supervisor, E. c. Sheads, did
not vote because he wanted the
matter postponed. i,
Mr.. Fox denied that he and Mr..
Carper had requested the resig-
nation, as charged by Mr.. James.
He said they had told him the
people were dissatisfied about the
underestimate of real estate
assessment receipts that will re-
suit in a tax surplus of nearly
ISL million this year.
IF I am mistaken about my
resignation being demanded, then
feel it has never been submitted"
declared Mr. James.
Would Welcome Probe.
/ He said he would welcome an
investigation of the whole reassess-
Iment program and was confident
lit would show that a good job
had been done.
/ Mr.. James said that. when he
took over as permanent land as
SCISSOR in 1949, he decided re-
assessment was needed to equaliZe
valuations throughout the county.
He said the reassessment of 1946
reflected such low values it was
pitiful"
Most of the low assessments
made in 1916 he said. were in the
urban areas near Alexandria and
Falls Church.
1T was just impossible to fore
see the great increase in that 1946
stuff when I gave my estimate Of
$99 million" continued Mr.. James.
THAT is where we got lot of the
unexpected increases as we
brought those properties up to
where they should be-"
Equalization" Asserted.
i Mr.. James said a lot of people
might be dissatisfied because their
property assessments went up,
but at least you've got equaliza-
ton"
Attorney Jack Wood said he was
J among the early complainers to
Mr.. James, office about new as
sessments on his property, but
: I found he did the job without
fear or favor,
Others who spoke in behalf Of
, Mr.. James were Mrs. Anna Will
kins, Democratic nominee to the
Board of Supervisors; Delegate
Edwin Lynch, Martin T. Webb
and Edward F. Gibbons.
Problem Declared Not Solved. i.
! Mr.. Gibbons told the supervis-
ors that Mr.. James resignation
did not solve the surplus problem.
At his suggestion, the supervisors S
asked Commonwealth's Attorney
Hugh B. Marsh to see if assess
ment figures could be reduced
from 40 per cent valuations to 31
per cent before this years tax
bills are sent out. thereby holding
down the amount of revenue
This years tax rate was set
on Mr.. James estimated assess
Ement of 500 million, but the final
figure turned out to be $141 mil.
lion. Mr. Carper said he already
had ascertained that the tax rate
could not be altered at this time,
despite the anticipated surplus.
i Rezonings Granted.
Among rezonings granted by
the Supervisors yesterday was one
for 1873 acres at the intersection
of Route 236 and Shirley highway
for tourist court. The zone was
changed from suburban residence
!, to general business. 1t is the Sec
ond tourist court proposed along
Shirley highway. Permission was
!, granted earlier for one at Edsal
road and Shirley highway. In
both cases, the tourist courts are
to be at already established inter-
sections, and no new entrances
to Shirley highway are to be per-
United. 4s
/ A 39-acre tract, 1000 feet
south of Franconia road and one
mile east of Shirley highway. was
lrezoned from suburban residence
to industrial. Vernon Lynch, the
owner. said he plans to build
warehouse for Government use.
Rezoning of an 11-acre tract
between Quander and Beacon Hill
roads from suburban to urban
residential was denied. as more
than 100 residents in the area
appeared to protest it. Attorney
John Barton Phillips. for the
applicant. unsuccessfully sought
tn mithdraM the annlina tim