Evening star., 1927-03-31
MOVE SEEN TO KILL
REFERENDUM BILL
Arlington County Zoning
Measure Is Signed by
Gov. Byrd.
BY REX COLLIER,
stan Correspondent of The Star.


RICHMOND, Va. March 31.-With
the "City Of Arlington" referendum
bill nearing it's legislative Waterloo,
progress was being made today in 90.
tanning from the special session OF
the General Assembly important legis'
lation which will give Arlington Coun'
ty.. without Incorporation, most OF the
rights and privileges Of a city.
An effort to defeat the referendum
bill even before 1t reaches the House
loomed as a possibility today with an
nouncement by State Senator Frank
l.. Ball, author Of the measure. that
special public hearing will be held
late this afternoon for the benefit, 1t
is understood, of Alexandria oppo-
nents Of the bill.
There arose, at the same time,
sharp conflict Of opinion as to who
asked for the hearing. with Senator
Ball naming House Floor Leader
Charles Henry Smith as the initiator,
and the latter denying he had any
thing to do with 1t.
Announcement Of Ball.
lat the request Of Charles Henry
Smith, delegate from Alexandria,
Senator Ball announced, "a public
hearing will be held this afternoon at
the Capitol for the purpose of hearing
a delegation from Alexandria in coil
nection with the bill to authorize a
referendum on incorporation Of Ar
lington County. The bill was reported
Tuesday by the Senate committee on
counties, cities and towns, but l ar
ranged to call 1t back in order to hold
this hearing"
Delegate Smith, on the other hand,
declared he had not asked for the
hearing and knew nothing Of rlans of
any delegation to appear before the
committee.
Certain of Defeat.
Senator Ball, on being informed of
the delegates statement, said he
would stand on his original announce
ment and that the hearing would be
quest is made for cancellation of the
special committee meeting. The bill
is certain of defeat in the House as a
result Of announced plans OF Delegate
Charles r. Jesse to oppose 1t there.
A group of prominent citizens of
Alexandria arrived here last night
The group included Gardner l..
Boothe, attorney and member of the
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce,
and William p. Woolls, common
wealth's attorney of Alexandria.
MGanWnltS IHG A66I5idtUIt WdE
making rapid strides toward enact.
ment of a program of bills which will
clothe Arlington County with much
of the municipal authority now vested
in cities Of the commonwealth.
Enactment into law yesterday of
the Ball coming bill, which was signed
by Gov Byrd, was the first and most
important legislative step in this con-
nection. The county, under this law,
will be zoned in exactly the same man.
ner as the National Capital.
Another measure, which will bring
the county under the technical cate
day by Senator Ball. 1t affords Ar
lington County the same franchise
powers over public service corpora.
tions as are given Virginia municipal.
tiles, including the right to enter into
contractuai agreements with public
utilities with regard to the use of pub
lie property. This bill today was be.
fore the committee on counties, cities
and towns.
Counties Under Budget.
A third bill in course of passage
gives Arlington County authority to
levy sidewalk and sewer assessments
on abutting property owners. At
present only cities and towns may
make such assessments under the
statutes.
Finally, constitutional amend
ment, sponsored by Senator Ball and
due for early approval, will place all
Virginia counties under a budget and
finance system similar to that of the
cities. This bill. urged by Gov. Byrd,
would require the boards of super
visors ito prepare and publish an
nual budgets, to hold public hearings
thereon, to give publicity to proposed
increases in the local tax levies and
to provide for regular audits by the
State accountant.