Evening star., 1951-06-10
The Opposition BIosts
War With Fuirfox

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Not long ago. a New York bond
attorney observed during a court
case that Falls Church and Fair
fax County. seemed to be involved
in a small civil war.
He had in mind the recurring
legal battles between the two
Jurisdictions over such things as
schools. annexation. sewers. water
supplies and the like.
One group Of candidates seek
ing victory in Tuesdays election
thinks a lot of the feuding has
been unnecessary, and could be
ended benefcially to the city with
a different administration. In
fact, the anti-administration CAN
didates have made the city'S re-
cent legal history a major issue
Of the campaign
United on the anti-administra-
ton ticket are Lytton Gibson,
for city attorney. and James E.
Durant. Samuel E. McCrary
Charles E. Kellogg. Alvin Tasker
Mrs. Margaret C. King, w. Ray
mond Taylor and Francis A. Wag-
ner for City Council.
To Mr.. Gibson, the most i'm
portant thing that Tuesdays elec-
ton can accomplish is to get rid
of the present city attorney
La Rue Van Meter.
The city's recurring court bat
tles-many of them unsuccessful
have been blamed by Mr.. Glib.
son on his opponent. He has
likened Mr.. Van Meter to a die
tator, who molds policy thai
should be formed by the Council
Will Toke q Cut
Arguing that a city attorney
should act only as legal adviser
to the Council, Mr.. Gibson says
he will accept only $4,000 a yeal
for the job if elected and will
handle all the duties on part.
time basis. Mr.. Van Meter re-
ceiveS $500 annually.
Anti-administration forces re.
call that under Mr.. Van Meters
guidance, Falls Church became q
separate school district, expecting
to fall heir to all county-ow
schools within the city. Instead
the court held that Fairfax County
was entitled to retain the two
best schools In the city-Falls
Church High School and Oak
Street School-and awarded the
old Madison and Jefferson schools
to the city.
AS a result, Falls Church has
had to start construction Of q
new high school of its own, ano
a new elementary school. Ir
pointing to this costly blunder,
however, the anti-administratior
candidates want it made cleal
that they are not opposed to full
filling the present school con-
struction program.
Mr.. Gibson also has denied ac-
cusations that he favors reunit-
ing the county and city school,
systems.
Criticize Stroteey
The anti-administration group
has had a lot to say about the
city's unsuccessful try at annex.
ing 10.5 square miles from Fair.
fax County. Instead of jumping
into annexation-on such a large
scale-soon after becoming a sec.
ond-class city in 1948, they argue
the city should have polished VI
its own government, streets anc
other facilities before trying Il
add more land.
The annexation case now il
waiting to be heard on appeal
but Mr.. Gibson and his running
mates think an agreement coult
have been reached for smalle
area by this time and at a con
siderable saving under the $50,00I
that has been spent thus far.
II would not be a candidate,
said Mr.. Gibson, except for m!
conviction that the Office of cit.
attorney must be changed, both IL
personnel and administration, 81
the city may have dignif1ed prog
ress without unnecessary and EN-
barrassing law suits"
The administration candi
dates during their campaign hav
made wide use of a report by tn
late Roy S. Braden, who was cit;
manager of Falls Church brief
last year. His report called atten
ton to what he considered to-
much interference into matter
that should be handled by a cit
manager.
Because the anti administrator
forces have been concentrating o.
what they believe has been mis-
management and bungling by tn
present government, some voter
may have lost sight of how the
propose to improve things.
Briefly, they promise the voter
o "true city manager govern
ment" in which administrativ
matters are left in the city man
ayers hands and policy matter
handled by the Council. They prt
pose to eliminate "star chamber
Council sessions, and encourage tt
public to appear at Council NEE
ings, reduce operating expense
improve city streets and "retur
the government to the people ir
stead Of allowing it to remain
the hands Of a clique"