Evening star., 1952-09-12
New Arlington
Board Members
Await Meetinq
Interim Appointees
Picked to Replace
; Ousted by Court

A call was expected to 60 out
soon for the first meeting of the
newly constituted Arlington County
Board.
Three interim appointees were
to be named by Circuit Court
Judge Walter T. Mccarthy to re-
place three members ousted by a
State Supreme Court decision
Wednesday. The court upheld a
decision by Judge Mccarthy
banning Federal employees from
holding State and local Office.
The new members will serve
until few days after their sue
cessors are named in a special
election November 4.
Judge Mccarthy, a Democrat,
picked two Democrats and an in
dependent who usually votes
Democratic to fill the three seats
being vacated by n-partisanS.
Three Members Chosen.
They are: M. Rex Byrne, At, OF
202 North Highland street, a NOV
ing and storage company operator
Howard r. Massey, 43. of 43OC
North Twenty-third street. assis-
tant cashier and assistant man.
ager of the Dupont Circle branch
of the Riggs National Bank, and
John A. Tillema, IS, Of 1903 North
Harvard street, professor emeritus
of government at George Wash
ington University.
The new members replace Rob-
ert w. Cox, Daniel A. Dugan and
Alan L. Dean. Mr.. Cox and Mr.
Dean are Federal employees and
Mr.. Dugan was a Government
worker at the time of his election,
All three of the ousted mem
bers were elected as non-parti-
sans.
Mr.. Byrne and Mr.. Massey are
Democrats. Mr.. Tillema is an in
dependent but has generally voted
Democratic.
Alfred E. Frisbie. a Democrat
and Robert A. Peck, Republican
remain on the board. Mr.. Peck
took office the first Of this year
but Mr.. Frisbie, who will not seek
reelection. will complete a four
Year term at the end of this year
AS the senior member in point
OF service, Mr.. Frisbie was seen
as probably the new chairman
inasmuch as the Democrats will
have gained from the non-parti-
sans control of the board. at least
until after the election.
Comments on Appointments.
A non-partisan leader, T. Oscar
Smith, Department of Justice at
torney, had this comment on the
new appointments:
Il know nothing about any OF
the men appointed. They all may
be very fine. honorable, upstand-
ing citizens. But of course I ex-
pected the judge to follow the
Democratic machine pattern"
Commonwealth's Attorney Will
liam j. Hassan said he expects
that Arlington officials will be
notified Monday of the Supreme
Court decision. An immediate
meeting of the board will be
called. Mr.. Hassan predicted.
Bennie L. Fletcher, jr., 29-year-
old attorney and member of the
Arlington Republican Committee,
said he would seek election to one
OF the board vacancies. A native
Of Arlington, Mr.. Fletcher lives at
519 South Courthouse road with
Mrs. Fletcher and their three chill
dren. He is a former member of
the County Public Utilities Com
mission.
Dugan and Hughes to Run.
Mr.. Dugan, who now operates
Ia cleaning business, and Hal
Hughes. an Arlington real estate
broker. had announced earlier
that they would seek election this
fall.
In another development, Har-
rison Mann, member of the 10th
District Democratic Committee
today urged the members of the
Legislature from Arlington, Alex
|andria and Fairfax to request Gov
Battle to place remedial legislation
permitting Government employees
to hold Office on his agenda for q
special session to reapportion the
State.
1t will not be an easy task to OBJ
tain the legislation, Mr.. Mann pre-
|dicted. since few of the other
counties have the problem or are
interested to the same extent as
Arlington and Fairfax.