Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-05-24
Curb by Court
On Closing
Schools Seen
Civil Low Expert
Predicts Writ
Would Be Granted

A group OF Arlington par
ents was told last night BY an
expert on civil law that "there
Is little doubt" that q Federal
court would grant them an in
junction 70 prevent Gov. Al
mond from closing county
schools because they're inte-
grated.
They also were told that q
taxpayer suit probably would
succeed" In stopping the Gov
ernor from cutting OF State aid
10 the affected schools.
The suggested legal recourses
open 10 Arlington parents in
the event the schools are closed
In compliance with State law,
q possibility next September.
were offered by Harry B. Mori-
can. a retired District lawyer
who specialized in civil rights
statutes.
Mr.. Morican was one Of three
speakers at a meeting Of the
Citizens Committee for School
Improvement. The committees
aim is 10 keep schools open, In
tegrated or not.
Admissions Ordered
Arlington has been ordered
by a Federal Court TO admit
seven Negro children TO white
schools. The ruling. backed by
the Supreme Court. apparently
will become effective in Sep
ten1ber. A State law, however,
provides for the closing Of
schools which operate on an in
tegrated basis. State aid would
end automatically.
IF we can take at face value
the things Gov. Almond has
said in public statements"
Mr.. Merican told the commit
tee, tits a fairly safe bet that
the schools will be closed"
The only solution, he said,
would be the calling of q
special session Of the Legis-
lature to enact a local option
law. (which / do not think
will happen. If the assembly
met, he added. the result
might be enactment of even
stronger massive resistance
legislation.
"If local option law is not
enacted" Mr.. Merican de-
clared. Arlington parents
must be prepared to take the
matter to the Federal courts.
They would get a restraining
order to prevent Gov. Almond
from closing the schools, and
If necessary. carry it all the
way to the Supreme Court.
There is little doubt that an
injunction would be granted,
probably Immediately"
Asked what legal action
would be necessary to prevent
the cutting of of State aid.
Mr.. Merican said ''it's the tax
payers money and a taxpayers
suit probably would succeed
in preventing the State from
withholding the funds"
Quick Reopening Possible
The lawyer said a restraining
order may make possible the
opening of schools the day
after they are closed, but he
labeled the estimate "optimiS-
tic"
1.-The closing of public schools
anywhere for even a day." he
added, would do irreparable
damage, for the day is forever
lost to the students"
The other speakers were DR..
Barnard Joy, a member of the
Arlington School Board, and
Mrs. David H. Barnes. a former
educational consultant with
United States agencies in Ko-
rea and now a helping teacher
in Alexandria.
The committee, meeting at
the Unitarian Church, 4444 Ar
lington boulevard. elected off,
GERS for 1958-59. They are Mrs.
Howard w. Lehman, lit South
Aberdeen street. chairman;
George r. Walz. 5214 North
Twenty-fifth place, vice chair
man: Ernest w. Grove, 4210
South Twelfth road. treasurer;
Mrs. Carroll /. Tod, 1908 North
Quintana street, secretary. and