Evening star., 1953-12-27
Opinions Clash
Over Arlington
Sales 1axPIaIl
z County Delegates
Cool to Proposal;
Referendum Sought

Referendum Sought
The Arlington County Boards
sales tax proposal for nearby
Virginia areas has raised complex
problems that are certain to di-
vide public opinion and may
draw opposition from some Of
the county,s representatives in
the General Assembly.
The board. at its meeting yes
terday, asked for introduction in
the Legislature next month of q
bill authorizing referendum on
an Arlington sales tax not ex-
ceeding 2 per cent. The board
asked that "co-ordination be
sought with FaNfax County.
Falls Church and Alexandria"
None Of the: legislators is on
record In favor of q sales tax.
However, previous county dele
cations have on occasion favored
requests to introduce bills sup
ported by county groups. pro-
vided the question was to be sub
mitted to the voters. The legis-
lators have adopted this policy
even If they were against the
changes that would take effect If
the voters approved.
Delegate J. Maynard Magru-
der, who was reelected in No
vember, said yesterday he is mot
averse to letting the people de-
eide the sales tax question"
Its not a question of whether
we favor the sales tax or not, I"
Mr.. Magruder said. He said he
is opposed to a sales tax except
as a last resort but it may be
a question Of whether Arlington
can continue present services
and pay of its debts without
such a levy.
New Delegates Cool to Plan. .
The county's two new dele
gates, Mrs. Kathryn Stone and
Harrison Mann. are cool toward
the boards revenue plan. They
have reserved final decision on
whether they will offer or sup
port a sales tax bill.
Mrs. Stone said she has never
liked a sales tax and believes
that Virginia has been very
fortunate to AVOID it.
Mr.. Mann said he is not con-
vinced that a sales tax is neces-
sary. The measure should be
adopted only as a last resort
and only after careful study
he said
Adoption Of a sales tax should
result in elimination of some
other levy. such as the personal
property tax on household eff
fects, Mr.. Mann said.
Mrs. Sine said that she dis
likes the personal property tax
because it is difficult to admin
ster equitably. but she says she
does not believe it should be
replaced with a sales tax.
Referendum Need Cited.
State Senator Charles R. Fem
wick, who heard the County
Board request at a conference
about two weeks ago, said the
bill would have to carry a refer
endum provision, giving the
voters an opportunity to reject
the plan.
One of the objections raised
by some merchants would be met
If the boards plan to coordinate
its revenue plan with adjoining
areas works out. Some business
men, particularly those along
county boundaries who draw
trade from surrounding areas,
have expressed concern.
If Arlington had a sales tax
while adjoining areas did not,
merchants might lose business to
establishments in Alexandria,
Fairfax County and Falls Church.
However, If the boards CO.
ordination plan is successful, all
four jurisdictions would adopt
the tax.
One factor to be considered
by the legislators and perhaps
later by the voters is an an
nouncement by Delegate Jack w.
Witten of Tazewell County. He
said he will offer a bill at the
next session calling for a 3 per
cnpt State So1aS fov fo ho on