Evening star., 1927-11-17

I
petition, in which Arlington and Fair.
fax Counties VIII join as defendants.
State Senator Frank l.. Ball, who
lives in Arlington County and repre-
sents the senatorial district in which
all of the parties to the annexation
! suit are located, piloted through the
| State Senate last Spring bill known
! as the enabling act. which would have
! provided for a vote in Arlington Coun'
| " on the city question. Since his re-
election A few days ago, he has an
nounced that his attitude on this issue
! is the same as il was at the last Ses.
sion; namely. that he is opposed to in
| corporation of the county ut this time,
| but will favor the enabling act, be-
| cause he believes the people should
| have an opportunity to decide the ls-
/ sue for themselves.
/ Hugh Reid. delegate elect from Ar
/ rngton County to the House of Dele
| gates, is willing to introduce the en-
| abling act this Winter in the Legis.
| lature.
! My position in this matter is the
same as that OF Senator Ball. said
! Mr.. Reid today. Il think incorpora-
|
! ineXpedient at this time. but / believe
| in the principle of the enabling act. be-
cause it gives the people a chance TO
vote on the question. 1t is too early
! for me to say what form the bill will
| take. The organizations in the county
| which have been sponsoring 1t may
| suggest changes. especially with refer
! ence to Alexandria s annexation suit.
will consult them before the bill is
! introduced.
! when the bill comes before the
| Senate ] will support it. as l did at
! the last session" said Senator Ball.
/ The population of Arlington County
has been taking some tremendous
! leaps. il is estimated today at about
/ 81 900 and is rapidly moving toward
the 40 900 mark This means an In
crease Of nearly 100 per cent since
! 1920 and almost 500 per cent since
! 1900 Most uf the new residents have
/ come from Washington and continue
. to earn their living in the National
Capital Many of them are Northern
ers and Westerners
| The rural aspect of many parts Of
the county is fast disappearing. 1t Is
the smallest county in area in the
! United States, and for its size the
most densely settled county in Nlr-
ginia. In the opinion of many per.
! sons on both sides of the Potomac
/ River, the entire county is destined
! to become, In everything but name,
| virtually part of the National Cap
| ital--and that within a comparatively
| few years. The only exception per.
! haps would be it's local government.
! 1t is more closely allied today, in
| everything but local government, with
! the District of Columbia than with the
rest of Virginia.
Has "GrOwing Pains"
Because of its proximity TO Wash
| lneton and the ties which bind its
growing population to this side OF the
river, some persons even believe they
can foresee the eventual return of Ar
lington County. and perhaps of Alex
andria. to the Federal Government, to
be again included within the Federal
| District
| Meantime. however, the entire
region is suffering from acute grow.
! ing pains" The county is agitated
| from end to end by all sorts of in.ri-
cate problems arising from wide
spread dissatisfac with it's present
| form of government. Many persons
favor immediate incorporation of the
entire county as city. alongside the
! CITY of AleXa ndria. Others do not be-
| lieve the time has come for that.
At present the citizens are torn by
the question of whether they shall be
/ given an opportunity to vote as soon
as possible on the issue of becoming
a city or remaining a county, The
bill. known as the enabling act, which
would have provided for such Il vote,
| failed to become law at the last ses.
| sion of the General Assembly because
! il was opposed in the House of Dele
! gates by Charles Il. Jesse, delegate
! from Arlington County, who was not
n candidate for reelection in the re.
cent campaign. Charges. counter
! charges and explanations of many
sorts have been flying thick and fast
since Mr.. Jesse killed the bill.
] Although a large delegation of citi-
zcns from Arlington County went to
| Richmond and urged the enactment
| of the measure. it never was reported
on the floor Of the House of Dele
| gates. 1t was opposed not only by
| Mr. Jesse but some OF the other
courthouse politicians" of Arlington
County. as they have been dubbed,
and bv business men and city repre-
sentatiyes from Alexandria, Some
persons professed to fear that if the
| enabling act were passed Alexandria
! would hasten it's projected move to
annex part of Arlington County.
But. even though the hill failed, Alex
andria did not lose many months In
doing that very thing. Alexandrians
say. of course. that the bill is coming
up in the Legislature again this Win
| ter. and liz much more likely to be
passed They do not think they can
afford to delay their nnnexat ton suit
| any longer, II they ever expect 10
| enlarge their city.
Arlington County is fully cogfizant
of this situation. The only thing
which will prevent and forever stop
the continual nihblins away of
Arlington County by Alexandria City.
in the opinion OF the Arlington County
folks, is the incorporation uf the
county as city. Once the county
has become an Incorporated munich
paIity, II will be impossible under the
State law for Alexandria to annex any
pS,sn rsstas .s Of it. A1 as viii be sssns sasses M