Evening star., 1951-02-07
Study
Of Managers 5
Tenure Begun
Charges Of Politics
LeveIed at Meeting
Of Civic Federation

LSVStSO VI NtSStlHS
Of Civic Federation
Amid charges of politics." the
Arlington Civic Federation last
night launched a study Of the
tenure and powers of the county
manager.
And in the same vein, the group
designated a committee to meet
with the State Compensation
Board in Richmond Friday to dis
cuss budgets of so-called CON
stitutional officers" whose ex-
penses are paid partly by the
State. These officers are sheriff,
treasurer, clerk and commits
sioner of revenue.
Harley M. Williams, chairman
of the Better Government league,
led the movement for a study OF
the managers job as well as for
the scrutiny Of the budgets Of
constitutional officers who are
members of the two major politi-
cal parties. Mr.. Williams league
is the chief exponent of the mon
partisan" move in the county.
Tired Of Party Arguments.
Elias Fox of the Cherrydale
Citizens Association said fedec-
alton meetings consist Of lone
political party arguing against
another and I'm getting tired of
it,"
Lester Conley, referring to ear
lier remarks. said. "The inferences
OF Mr.. Williams report are purely
political and unfair to public Of
f1cials." He said the federation
"is being used as a tool"
In the course of the meeting
last night in the Lyon Park Com
munity House, President T. Oscar
Smith frequently found it neces-
sary to call for order and a num-
Der Of votes were sharply divided.
The federation asked it's men,
ber organizations to study the
county manager plan approved
by the General Assembly in 1880
as the first in the Nation.
The legislation makes it "al-
most a political impossibility to
fire an unsatisfactory manager,
Mr.. Williams declared as chair
man of the federation's Local
Government Committee.
The managers term expires at
the end of each year and If his
services are not required he must
be given go days notice.
Timed During Election.
The November / date, said Mr..
Williams. falls right at election
time. and since Arlington has an
nual elections for board members
i. /. no board majority dares risk
what would probably become an
explosive political issue, which
could not be properly explained III
the last few days before an elec-
ton"
During most of its experience,
Mr.. Williams said, Arlington has
not had a professional manager,
but a political manager who has
been interested in determining
policies as well as carrying them
out.
Mr.. Williams statement will be
forwarded to the member organi-
cations along with suggestions on
topics for the proposed study.
Refers to January Action.
Mr.. Williams referred to the
boards action January q, abol-
ishing the power of the manager
to appoint department heads.
Undoubtedly" he said, "the
Arlington manager should be
given legal authority to appoint
department heads, just as soon as
the manager himself is made fully
responsible to the board, with re-
moval possible at any time by a
majority vote"
Appointed to attend the State
Compensation Board hearing were
Howard Cannon. Robert Ca
briel. Mr.. Conley. Mrs. Beulah
Goss and o. K. Normann.
The federation adopted another
recommendation of the Local Gov
ernment Committee that the
County Board adopt a merit sys-
tenn ordinance and appoint a civil
service commission.
School Practices Sought.
The federation also:
Asked the secretary to write
Federal officials urging that school
construction "in congested areas
be given priorities in ALLEGATION of
materials.
Set for February 20 an or
ganization meeting of the fedora
tion's Civil Defense Committee
in the Old Dominion Bank Build
ing, 1926 Columbia pike.
Voted to ask the County Board
to return the health and santa
ton inspection service to the
health department., resembling its
action of last June, when it placed
that service under the department
Of inspections.
Requested the county manager
to insert In the next water bills q
statement on procedure for trash
and garbage collection.
Asked the director of inspec-
tions to investigate and proceed
to eliminate obnoxious odors in
Rosslyn affecting Colonial Village,
North Highland and Rosslyn."
Indorsed a proposal that new
crippled children's center be con-
structed adjacent to the present
health department building.
Urged preparation of estimates