Evening star., 1927-11-17

The committee which drafted the
bill. which became known as the en-
abling net, consisted of Mr.. McNemar.
chairman; Mr. Orr. who had started
the ball rolling; Clarence Ahalt, presi-
dent of the Arlington County Chamber
of Commerce. Amos c. Crounse of
Lyon Village. and Walter Varney,
town counsel of Potomac. The COM
mittee was assisted by State Senator
Ball, who finally introduced the bill in
the Senate "by request" The measure
had the backing of the Chamber of
Commerce and the Civic Federation.
The failure of this measure at the
last session has by no means dampened
the ardor of its advocates. They will
push for its enactment at the next
meeting of the General Assembly in
January. according to the present
plan.
The question of Incorporation is
not now before the people of Arlington
County," said Mr.. Orr to The Star to-
day. 1T cannot come before the peo-
pie until law is enacted giving them
the power to vote on the question
There may be, and probably is. con-
siderable divergence of opinion on the
question of the advisability or in
ACCESSIBILITY of Incorporating at this
time A large majority of the people
probably have not yet formed any
definite opinion on the question of
facts and the disclosure of in
formation attendant upon the cam
paign. which would he conducted
whenever an election on that question
was held. before finally making up
their minds.
''The issue which is before the
county at present IS the securing OF
the passage of q law. under which the
voters would be permitted to settle the
question of incorporation for them
selves. 1t seems incredible that there
should be any difficulty about getting
such a law enacted However Mr.
Jesse. the delegate from Arlington
County TO tho lower house of the Gen
eral Assembly, last Spring refused TO
permit the enactment of such a law
He was assisted in his fight against
the enabling act by the common
wealth's attorney of Arlington County,
William c.. Cloth. The only reason
.hey have ever publicly stated for their
opposition to the bill is that they. per-
sOnallv. do not believe incorporation of
the county at this time would be wise.
In other words. they set their own
personal opinions on that question
against the opinion of the entire
county. They were wiling to deny to
the people of the county the most
sacred political right. that of self
determination.
Senator Balls Position.
"Contrasted with the action of Mr.
Jesse and Mr.. Cloth, there stands
the course of State Senator Ball. who
declared his personal opposition to in
corporation now, but secured passage
of the bill by the Senate. Speaking of
the bill at that time, he said. 1T is
a recognition of the right of self-de-
termination of local government and
political affairs, which has long been
accorded to the thickly.settled por-
tions of the State. 1t gives the people
of the county the right to determine
their own political destiny in affairs
strictly their own. and provides
means of expression at the polls
"It is incredible that any two men
who were elected by the people
should combine TO deny the people
the right to determine their own form
of government. But that is exactly
what Mr.. Jesse and Mr.. Cloth aid
at Is incredible that any one IF the
candidates for the next General AS
sembly i'm the recent election would
have thought of opposing the enabl.
Ing act in the General Assembly this
Winter. But, acting in the light of
q hitter experience. the civic Feder ra
ton of Arlington County. which. to-
gether with the Chamber of Com
merce, secured the passage of he act
by the Senate last Spring. sent n
QUESTIONABLE to each candidate for
the Senate and for the House of Dele
gates asking them whether or not
they would. il elected. support the
enabling act at the Forthcoming
session of the Assembly this Winter.
Question Before Public.
every candidate answered in the
affirmative. Until there Is law on
the books giving thu people the right
to determine the question for them
selves, IL would be unwise to indulge
in public discussion of the pros
aud cons of the Incorporation ques.
tion. When the law is enacted, aud
when an election Is called. it will be
every ones privilege TO favor or op.
pose the question. according is their |
best Judgment PROMPTS them. Mr. |
Jesse and Mr.. Cloth can :hen argue |
against Incorporation, and no just |!
criticism can lie against them for |
doing SO.
But the only question before the |
public now Is: Shall the people be /
accorded the right to determine for /
themselves, in IN election. what form |
of government they wish to live
Nndar."