Evening star., 1954-10-31
AHost of Local Issues

Virginia and Maryland voters in the
Washington Metropolitan Area will vote on
numerous State and local issues this Tues
day. Unfortunately, many Of the electorate
have been so preoccupied with the cam
paigning of candidates that such impersonal
matters as bond issues, constitutional
amendments and other questions have not
received the attention they deserve. Since
important public facilities, services and pol
icies are involved in the so-called side issues
however, it behooves every citizen to know
precisely what he is voting for or against.
To aid the voters in both States to familiar
lie themselves with these issues, they are
summarized below:
Virginia.
The only question of Statewide signif-
canoe On the ballot in the nearby communi-
ties is whether to amend the State constitu-
ton to permit school boards to borrow from
the retirement fund without specific ap-
proval of the voters in each instance. There
Is little interest in this proposal across the
Potomac, as the bond method of borrowing
seems to be preferred. Rural counties may
dnd the plan attractive.
:. Speaking Of bond issues, Arlington will
vote on six, totaling $4,550,000, and Falls
Church on two totaling $1,376,000 OF the
six Arlington bond proposals only two have
run into substantial prediction opposition.
These are 100000 bond issue for swimming
pools, which was not Endorsed by the County
Board and 100000 bond issue for pur-
chase of land for county buildings, which
Is opposed by the County Civic Federation.
The four bond proposals with the widest
popular support are: SIT million to enlarge
and improve the water storage and distribu-
ton system; $980000 for an addition to the
county incinerator plant; $47O000 for build
ing and equipping fire stations, and 100000
for drainage control. Arlington also will de-
eide whether to abandon the system of
electing trial justices in favor of appoint
ments by the senior Judge of the Circuit
Court.
Falls Church will vote on bond issues of
$991 900 for schools and $685., 900 for the
water system. The school money would be
used to provide for increased enrolment
and to abolish substandard classrooms. A
similar bond issue for schools was approved
last March by narrow margin, but was
invalidated on a technicality.
Maryland
Nine State constitutional questions are
w bC NOGCO Oa1, D0e Cl41CC Va tAlC1ll 1IdVC
special interest for citizens in the area near
Washington. The three would create new
circuit judgeships in Montgomery, Prince
Georges, Anne Arundel ST. Marys, Balti-
more and Garrett Counties. The other pro-
posalS have to do with increasing the pay
of the Governor, home rule for municipali-
ties, absentee voting changes, etc. The
judgeship amendments are opposed by
the State Commission on Judicial Admins
tration, which has termed them "a-judge-
in-every-pot" scheme. The commissions
chief criticism was directed at the idea of
providing Judge for every county, whether
urgently needed or not. ST. Marys and Gar
rett Counties would gain their own judges
for the first time under the plan. Montgom-
cry would add q third Judge and Prince
Georges and Anne Arundel each would add
Q second The commission did nok question