Evening star., 1951-01-14
Fairfax Survey
Causes Dissent
OF Advocates
Lawrence and Cruin
Disagree on Steps
Leading to Change

Disagreement over prellmlnar,
steps toward establishing a count!
executive administration in Fair
fax developed last night between
the chairman and vice chairman
of a former study committee tha
recommended the new govern
ment.
The county executive system i
due to become effective January
i, 1852. It was approved by
referendum last November.
At odds about setting up thu
new government are Walter c
Grain, who was chairman OF the
county's Government Study Com
mission which recommended the
executive form, and David Law.
renee, Washington columnist, wht
was vice chairman. Mr.. Lawrence
subsequently was designated by
the County Board of Supervisor
as chairman of research projec
to study requirements for the new
government.
Use of Government experts TO
assistance. a job classification ant
and merit system and provision
for planning. zoning. safety ane
public works are the principa
issues.
Lawrence Replies to Grain.
Their differences came to light
In a letter written by Mr.. Law.
renee to Mr.. Grain, answering
comments that the latter made II
a report to the supervisors or
December 2.
OF Mr.. Grains report, Mr.. Law.
renee states:
IT could not in conscience nov
accept the suggestions which yet
make in your letter, namely, te
begin some sort of study which
would lead to weakening of the
county executive form"
Mr.. Grains report indorsed "ill
principle" the idea of making g
preliminary survey preparatory te
to the change of government, but
cautioned that he might not fully
agree" with the scope of the sur
vey and who should make 1t.
Mr.. Grain specifically ques-
TONED the wisdom Of calling or
Government technicians for as
sistance, as had been suggested
earlier by Mr.. Lawrence.
Calls Red Tape Notorious.
Government planners in this
field are notorious for their tedi-
GUS red tape and overstafflng
This would not be in keeping with
a Fairfax County budget, - he told
the supervisors.
Mr.. Lawrence replied that all
assistance on the research project
is to be on a volunteer basis at
no expense to the county.
what gives me most concern,
however" Mr.. Lawrence said. "is
your broad indictment of persons
who work for the Federal Gov
ernment.
Mr.. Lawrence recalled that the
Government Study Commission,
of which Mr.. Grain was chairman,
had three members who were
Federal employees.
"They did not seem to me to
be champions of red tape or in
volved procedures, - said Mr.. Law
renee.
Praises Personnel Roster.
Mr.. Grain also had warned the
supervisors against giving toe
much emphasis to job classifica-
ton and a merit system.
"A good department head makes
all of this unnecessary. Besides
we have a good personnel roster
to draw FROM" Mr.. Grain told
the supervisors.
Mr.. Lawrence said the fore
going comment disturbed" him
since the law requires establish
ment of job classification and q
merit system under the county
executive government.
Mr.. Grain expressed particular
concern" about county depart
ments having to do with plan
ming, zoning. public safety ano
public works, and recommended
that they be kept free from
county executive control"
Lawrence DisagreeS.
"I must respectfully disagree
that any of these functions arr
placed in jeopardy under the
county executive FORM" replied
Mr.. Lawrence. He added thai
the supervisors have authority te
set up divisions covering these
functions within any of the sever
government departments author.
ized for county executive govern
ments.
Mr.. Lawrence's reply added
Needless to say, your sugges.
tions and the suggestions of any
one else in the county would be
welcomed by our Research Prof.
ect. But our job in the main
is to get the facts and not to
pass judgment on those facts. The
question of policy will have tc
be determined by the Committee
of Seven to be appointed either
by the present board or by the
new board elected in November
1851.
IT think that, with all respect
to those who do not like the
county executive form and woulo
like to nibble away at it anG
try to get special acts perhap:
to sabotage 1t, we owe it to the
voters of this county to fulfill
the obligation set forth in the
statute"
Reminder of New Voting.
Mr.. Lawrence told Mr.. Grain
that voters in the August primary
and the November election will
have an opportunity to select
from the candidates nominated
for supervisor who are sympathe-
tic with and are seriously anxious
to fulfill the obligations of the
~