Evening star., 1952-10-13
Plan 10 Make
Arlington aCity
Lacks Support
Board Candidates
Are Mostly Cool to
Incorporation Idea

sSSS
A proposal to make Arlington
, city in q referendum November
( is still without public support
from any political group or candi-
date.
Candidates for the County
Board, in their replies to q League
Of Women Voters QUESTIONABLE,
expressed themselves this way on
Incorporation:
Three are opposed at present;
three are awaiting a report to be
made by the University of Vir-
ginia Bureau of Public Admins
tration and three others believe
Incorporation may be a good idea
but not now.
A 10th candidate, Jacob C..
Bechtl, independent, did not an
swer the QUESTIONABLE.
independents Position.
The three Independent Move
ment candidates, who are running
for the board with support from
some Democrats and Republicans,
said they want an opportunity to
review reports on the advantages
and disadvantages of incorpora-
ton. The Independent Movement
candidates are DR.. Robert H. Det-
wiler, Mrs. Leone B. Buchholz and
Alvin F. Kimel.
The Non-Partisan nominees are
Mrs. Ruth Cox. who said she be-
lieves that ultimately Arlington
should be incorporated; Mrs. Mar
tina Cannon, who believes the
county should become a city at
a later date. "after a fairer dis
tribution Of representation for
urban areas is made in the Vir-
ginia General Assembly," and
William j. DeMik, who says that
1t would appear unwise to incor-
porate at this time.
Cooper Is Opposed.
Wesley w. Cooper. Democrat.
said he is opposed to incorporation
at present but believes it may be
desirable later. The Republican
opposing him for the four-year
term. George M. Rowzee, jr., is op-
posed to incorporation now be-
cause "The benefits do not offset
the disadvantages to Arlington
taxpayers"
Another candidate for the four
year terms Ivan A. Booker, Nom
Partisan. says he favors incor-
poration when feasible" but he
said that the question of whether
Arlington is to become a city is
Tor the people to decide, not the
County Board"
The move to place the 5incor-
poration question on the ballot
November 4 gained momentum
after a court ruling was handed
down banning Federal employees
from local Office. The city char.
ter, If adopted. would permit Gov.
ernment Clerks" to serve on the
City Council.
Loss of Funds Cited.
State Senator Charles r. Fem
wick. although he has not yet
taken a stand for or against in
corporation. has said that Arling-
ton would lose several hundred
thousand dollars a year now re-
ceived from the State in highway
funds.
A committee of the Arlington
Civic Federation caused further
hesitation on the question last
week when it reported that the
City Council might have a strong
er hand in School Board budget
procedure than the present Coun-
ty Board.
Voters will ballot on the ques-
tion OF incorporation itself and
will also decide whether the city
school board, under incorporation,
would be elected by the council or
by the people.
Appointment Setup Feared.
Arlington has had a School
Board elected by the people for
the past five years. Some sup.
porters of popular election are re.
luctant to indorse incorporation
because they fear the present
system might be replaced by coun-
Gil appointment.
All Of the County Board can
didates who answered the women
voters questionnaire said they
favor election of the School Board
by the people.
In another view of incorpora-
ton. Mr.. Rowzee predicted that
if Arlington should become a city.
the present six-year program of
capital improvements would be
adversely affected.