Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-19
Voters
Questions
On Election Day
County Becoming City
Is Among Issues
In Referendum
By Wilton J. EIvin

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Arlington voters will decide
seven referendum questions on
4, among them a pro-
posal that the county become a
city.
These are the questions as they
will be listed on voting machines:
/. Shall the County Manager be
appointed for an indefinite term.
subject to removal at any time by
the County Board?
The Arlington Citizens Study
Commission on Local Government.
appointed by the County Board.
has recommended that voters ap-
prove this proposed change.
Under the present system, the
manager is appointed January
for one year. If he is to be fired.
he must be notified by Novem-
Der l.
Election Risks Cited.
The date of notification invari-
ably falls just before election of at
least one County Board member.
Some civic leaders contend that
no board would risk an election
day reaction to dismissing man
lager.
2. Shall the heads of the county
departments be appointed by the
County Manager?
This question was proposed after
it was found that the policy Of
manager appointment was illegal.
The General Assembly passed new
Legislation this year enabling vot-
ers to return this power to the
manager.
The study commission recon-
mended that voters also indorse
this proposal.
3. Shall Arlington County be
incorporated as a city of the
first class?
This question appears to be a
dead issue. The study commits
sion and other groups and politi-
cal leaders who have taken a
stand on Incorporation are against
it at this time.
4. Shall the members Of the
City School Board be elected by
the City Council or elected by
the people?
The study commission, although
opposed to Incorporation at pres
ent. has urged voters to favor
continued election of the School
Board by the people. Republican.
Democratic, non-partisan and In
dependent Movement candidates
for the County Board have taken
a similar stand.
| S. Shall the City Council con-
sist of five members or seven mem
bers?
Five Members on Board Now.
The present County Board has
five members. The study commits
sion favors a five-member coun-
Gil. if Arlington becomes a city.
The commission believes a smaller
council is more efficient and is
less likely to split into factions.
6. Shall section al of the Con-
Stitution of Virginia be amended
so as to permit the General As
sembly to appropriate funds to an
lagency. or to a school or institu-
ton of learning created by two or
more States, under an agreement
to which the State is a party, for
the purpose of providing educa-
ltional facilities for the citizens of
the several States joining in such
agreement?
The change would permit Vir-
GINA to participate fully in the
Southern Regional Education
Council. The plan is aimed espe-
cially at providing more educa-
tional opportunities for Negroes
without breaking down Segrega-
ton barriers and without the
States having to construct sepa-
rate educational facilities of their
own in every field.
7. Shall the county of Airing
ton have a department of real
estate assessments?
An assessment department sep
arate from the Office of the Com
missioner of Revenue was set up
last year. A successful legal at
tack by John Locke Green killed
the separate assessment Office.
The General Assembly this year
provided new legal authority for
its reinstatement. if the voters
approve.