Evening star., 1927-03-25
ARLINGTON COUNTY
METROPOLIS URGED
Proposed Bill Would Let Vot-
erS Decide on FirSt-cIass
City Project.
BY REX COLLIER,
c,aA Carrne ,1ondant re The ctar

RICHMOND, Va, March 25.-Crea-
tion of a new Virginia metropolis
Arlington City-embracing what is
now Arlington County, is provided for
in a referendum bill being drafted
here today by State Senator Frank
L. Ball of that county.
The bill would provide for vote
on the proposal at special election
to be called by the courts. The meas
ure will be introduced in the Legis-
latune Monday, Senator Ball an.
nounced.
1t is understood that the bill stands
a good chance of passage at the spe-
cial session Of the Legislature now in
session. Delegate G. T. Jesse of Ar
lington County has assured Senator
Ball that he will support in the House
u reasonable" bill along the lines
mapped out by the latter.
City Manager Proposed.
The Ball incorporation measure as
tentatively drawn up would give
the voters an opportunity to decide
whether they wish to establish "city
of the first class" with a city coun-
Gil of five members, three Of whom
would be elected from three wards.
comprising the present magisterial dis
tricts of. Arlington. Washington and
Jefferson, and the remaining two OF
whom would be members at large.
There would be a city manager, who
would have charge of the business ad-
ministration of the new city. A clause
will be included providing for assump-
ton by the city of all outstanding OBJ
legations against the county and of all
existing or pending contracts, such as
those for water, sewers, etc.
The movement for incorporation of
Arlington County has shown marked
impetus since the action of the Arling-
ton County Chamber of Commerce and
the Arlington County Civic Federation
in approving a referendum on the
proposal to change the form of gov
ernment, as recommended by the Bet
ter Local Government Commission.
The agitation recently by the Alex
andria Chamber of Commerce looking
toward annexation of a part of Jeffer-
son district, in the county, is said TO
have helped crystallize sentiment in
favor of incorporation. especially
among those who had been unable to
make up their minds on the question.
Annexation Plan Denied.
Incorporation of the county, it is
pointed out, is a means of protection
against possible encroachments. House
Floor Leader Charles Henry Smith of
Alexandra strenuously denies, how
ever, that Alexandria wants to annex
part of Arlington County. Any such
report. he asserts, is premature and
unauthorized Mayor Smoot of Alex
andl Ia has been quoted similarly.
Opponents Of incorporation, on the
other hand, point out that Arling-
toms hope Of obtaining a State road
to the new Memorial Bridge will be
dashed to pieces if the county is
made into "a city. Under Virginia
statutes the State may not lend aid
in the construction of highways
through a regularly incorporated city.
Chairman Fl. G.. Shirley Of the State
Highway Commission has just an
nounced again that Virginia is going
to build IAN appropriate" boulevard
to the new bridge in the location 1t
thinks best.
May Delay Incorporation.
In response it is argued that the
present Legislature may pass the en-
abling act and that actual incorpora-
ton of the county may then be de-
layed until the State has acted
Senator Ball expects to return to
Washington this evening TO CONFER
Continued on Page 7, Column p