Evening star., 1953-06-24
Sales Tax Dies
With Approval.
OF Low Budget
Alexandra Council
Votes $6.8 Million
Plan Amid Cheers
By Mary Lou Werner

By Mary Lou Werner
The proposed Alexandria sales
tax was defeated last night, as
the city council adopted $6.8
million budget for the fiscal year
beginning July /.
The vote was 4 to 8 for the So
called minority budget. which re-
quires no new taxes. Councilman
John j. Ewald, who previously
had been on record in favor of
a higher budget, made a dramatic
announcement at the end of a
three-hour hearing that he had
changed his mind and would
vote for the lower budget.
Mayor Marshall ]. Beverley,
Vice Mayor Leroy s. Bendheim
and Councilman James M. Dun
can. jr.. cast the other three de-
Gliding votes for the lower budget,
which they sponsored in opposi-
ton to the budget Of $7.3 million
proposed by City Manager Ira
Willard.
Applaud Attacks on Tax.
Both Mr.. Willard's budget, re-
quiring a sales tax, and the lower
budget had been advertised fG
the public hearing last night.
More than 800 Spectators
swarmed into the George Wash
ington High School auditorium,
where the session was held to
accommodate the large crowd.
The loud applause that followed
each attack on the sales tax left
no doubt that most of their
sentiments were with the lower
budget.
OF the 81 persons who spoke,
all but two expressed bitter op-
position to the sales tax pro-
posal. A majority of the
speakers were merchants who
protested that a 2 per cent sales
tax in Alexandria would drive
business into nearby Arlington
and Fairfax Counties. A few
private citizens joined the
merchants protests.
When all had been heard,
Councilman Ewald rose and
stated:
This is not a prepared state
ment. Yesterday and today have
been the busiest days in my years
on city council. Yesterday on
the telephone I was threatened
and called every name in the
dictionary. Tonight there were
so many telephone calls I
couldn't eat dinner. All the calls
were from people against the
sales tax. I ran for the council
to serve the wishes Of the people,
and I am now willing to go along
with the reduced budget that re-
quires no sales tax"
Audience Cheers.
His announcement was met
with cheers from the audience.
Mr.. Bendheim brought the issue
to a vote with a motion to pass
the $6.8 million budget, with
few minor notifications
Councilmen David S Haddock,
Frank Mann and Daniel Fairfax
O'Flaherty maintained their op-
position to the $6.8 million
budget and voted no. All previ-
ously had been on record in
favor of Mr.. Wizards budget
with the sales tax.
Mr.. Mann said the lower
budget would not give the city
the extra police and firemen it
needs.
Mr.. Bendheim said the lower
budget would allow the city to
employ 20 new policemen and 10
new firemen, but not as rapidly
as Mr.. Willafd's budget. He said,
experience has shown, however,
that it is not possible to hire q
full contingent Of new police and
f1remen at one time. His budget
will allow employment of the new
police and f1remen during the
second six months Of the 1953-54
fiscal year.
Sees Raises Provided.
Mr.. Bendheim said the lower
budget also would not interfere
with proposed salary increases
for teachers and other munich
pal employees, and would leave
$685.. .000 in the budget for capi-
tai improvements.
To bring Mr.. Wizards budget
recommendation down to $6.8
million, anticipated revenue was
increased by 1927, 900, and the
following reductions were made:
$4,000 in health and welfare ex-
penSes; $105,000 from schools;
$46,750 in the fire department,
traffic control and traffic preven-
ton; $4,000 in the police de-
partment; $15.352 in court ex-
penses; $13,36O from the rescue
squad; $4,000 from street and
sidewalk maintenance and sani-
tation.
Also, SIS, 5,805 in the city garage
and recreation: $4,000 from pub
lie works, and $48,450 by elimi-
mating certain proposed new en-
ployes.
Mr.. Bendheim read letter
from Schools Supt. T. c. Will
liamS, saying that he believed
the school cut could be absorbed
without difficulty. Mr.. Williams
also stated In the letter that an
additional $50. 900 In Federal aid
has been promised Alexandria
since the budget request was pre-
pared.