Evening star., 1951-09-30

Changes Urged
In Arlington
More Power Sought
For Board, Manager
AT Annual Institute

Arlington County's governmental
rules should be changed to bring
"those separate little islands of
power-the Offices of treasurer,
commissioner of revenue. sheriff
and county clerk-under the juris-
diction of your county manager
and your County Board" the third
annual Institute on Local Govern
ment was told yesterday.
The recommendation was made
by DR.. Richard S. Childs, chair
man of the executive committee
of the National Municipal League
and a pioneer in advocating the
manager form of government.
1T is a sheer myth" DR.. Childs
said, that the people hold these
officers responsible for carrying
out their duties. They are techni-
cal jobs, and should be done by
people responsible TO the man
ager." Under present law, the
offices are filled by election.
A non-partisan ballot was ad-
vocated for County Board elec-
tions by the speaker who also
urged that the relationship be-
tween the County Board and the
manager be clarified.
With these changes. he said.
Arlington will have a good form
of government.
40. Attend Institute.
The institute, called by the
Arlington League of Women Vot-
ers to consider next steps for
Arlington" was attended by ITO
people at Stratford Junior High
School.
Mrs. Harold Stone of the Arl-
ington League, a former national
vice-president of the women
voters, summed up at the close OF
the institute by saying there was
general agreement that the tenure
of the manager, who is now ap-
pointed annually, should be
changed to indefinite; the man.
ager, rather than the board, should
have the power to appoint depart
ment heads. and a legal counsel
separate from the Office of Com
monwealth's Attorney. to be
known as county attorney, should
be set up.
Urges Assembly Presentation.
These proposed changes should
be presented to the General AS
sembly when it meets early next
year, Mrs. Stone said.
DR.. George Spicer. professor o1
political science at the University
of Virginia. said he believes Arl-
ington should remain a county
for a while longer.
DR.. Spicer said that the pro-
visions of State law outlining the
authority of the County Board
and the manager are contradic.
tory, confusing and meaningless.
Incorporation Urged.
Frank Morgan. Arlington attor'
ney and a member Of the Citizens
Advisory Committee on Planning
urged incorporation of the county
as city so that annexation pro-
ceedings can be started before
we are surrounded by a group OF
small cities" He disputed the ar.
gument often put forth by oppon-
ents of incorporation that sub
stantial State and Federal high.
way revenues would be lost il
Arlington should become city.
Mr.. Morgan's statement was at
tackled, however. by State Senator
Charles r. Fenwick and County
Manager A. T. Lundberg. who sale
that figures presented by Mr.
Morgan in support of his argu-
ment failed to take account oil
some new highway construction
paid for by the State.
Usurping of Authority Charged
Attorney Edmund D. Campbell
a former chairman of the County
Board, charged that the present
board has assumed greater author
ity than was intended by the man
ager statute land more than. fol-
the sake of good government, it
can assume"
Abolition of annual elections for
the board to end the continuing
-lt.a.i.4;nal ..An 1nkrnxnaV ,r,nc i1rnacl