Evening star., 1927-04-03
ARLINGTON GROUP
PLANS PILGRIMAGE
Delegation to Storm Rich
mono Monday in Plea for
"City" Referendum Bill.
BY REX COLLIER.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star

RICHMOND. Va, April "a stern
countenanced delegation. representing
Arlington Countys organized citizen
ry, will descend Monday on the State
capitol, especially that part of it
which is the stronghold of Delegate
Charles T. Jesse, in final concerted
effort to stave off defeat in the House
of the city of Arlington" referendum
bill.
This was the information reaching
State Senator Frank L. Ball tonight
from Arlington County sources. Sen
ator Bali is author of the referendum
measure, and he succeeded Friday In
eetting it rushed through the upper
wing of the Legislature several days
ahead OF schedule.
Measure Before Committee.
whpo the General Assembly re-
kurnes business Monday morning it
Will find the Arlington City bill in the
hands of the House committee on
counties. cities and towns for con-
s1deration. 1t is before this commit
tee that the fate of the measure at
the current special session will be
decided. ~
Delegate Jesse left here last night
for his home in Arlington County, and.
il is understood, he met there a veri
able storm of petitions and protests
anent his announced determination TO
= see that the referendum bill expires in
the committee. Unless he changes his
mind that is just what will happen.
Local legislation is being considered AT
this session only as a courtesy to rep
resentatives from the counties af-
fected, and the possibility of the
House seriously considering a bill
which is disapproved by the county's
ylr1n 60 to 1t7S Of IaaT IcE4in
Speed Is Necessary.
Advices received here last night
were to the effect that Delegate Jesse
has agreed to arrange a hearing for
the county delegation, but that al
such hearing he reserved the right
to make it plain to his colleagues in
the House that he does not want the
Arlington City bill to be passed at this
session. The committee hearing prob
ably will be held Monday afternoon.
Speed is necessary, in the event the
bin is TO pass, as the Legislature is
planning to adjourn by Wednesday.
The group from the county will be
fully representative of the Arlington
County Civic Federation. the Airing
ION County Chamber of Commerce,
the Arlington District Council of Citi-
zens' Associations, the Better Govern
ment Commission and other civic
bodies, it is understood. The pilgrim
age viii be made by automobile,
weather permitting.
The House committee viii have be-
fore it, also, three other Arlington
County bills which have received Sen
ate approval These are the twin"
loan bills, for the benefit of the schools
and the water system, and the county
franchise amendment, all sponsored
by Senator Ball.
May Oppose Water Loan.
The school bill authorizes the Board
OF Education to borrow $85, 900. at the
discretion of the county supervisors,
for the purpose of meeting expenses
of the remainder of the present school
term and the beginning of the next
term. If the authorization is not OBJ
tanned at this session the county
schools must close on May I, and re-
main SO until next December. This
bin is sure of enactment.
The proposed water loan of 100000
is for the purpose of installing fire
hydrants and paying interest charges
on the bond issue of $750,000. Dele
gate Jesse is known to be curious
over the necessity for this bill, and he
has indicated that he may decide to
oppose il. He said he was surprised
to learn that so much money is need
ed by the Water Board this early in
its career, and he has not been in
formed of the need for 1t.
The franchise bill, which seeks 10
, give to Arlington County the same
: control over public service corpora
tions as the statutes now give to cities
and towns, is reasonably certain of
adoption in the House, 1t is said. The
measure. in brief, makes 1t compulsory
on public utilities to execute contracts
with the county for the use Of public
property.