Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
ARLINGTON zON|NG
LAW NEAR PASSAGE
County Incorporation May
Have Hard Shedding in
Virginia Legislature.
BY REX COLLIER.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star

enacted or considered here the com.
ing week by the special Legislature
| now in session.
OF outstanding importance I'm this
connection are bills to zone the coun.
ty in accordance with recommends.
, tons OF the National Capital Park and
/ Planning Commission. to provide for
q referendum on the question OF in
cooperating the county as a city of
| the frst class" TO clothe the Virginia
Park and Planning Commission with
administrative powers and to author.
| ize the county to levy sidewalk and
sewer assessments.
Three OF these measures--those on
| zoning, the park commission and as.
sessments-are almost certain Of final
enactment by the General Assembly.
| The Incorporation bill. however, may
find some hard shedding from present
indications.
| Two other bills Of Importance are
expected TO pass through the legisla.
| tive mill early In the week They are
the administration bill calling for de.
| tailed county budgets annually, and
the Ball bill TO afford financial relief
for volunteer firemen Of Arlington.
| Fairfax and Prince William Counties
and Alexandria City.
Coming Bill Prospects.
The drastic coming bill, fostered by
State Senator Frank l.. Ball of Arling-
| ton County, and backed by the unani.
| nous Endorsement of virtually every
civic and trade body in that julIsdic-
| ton, not to mention the Virginia Park
and Planning Commission and Uncle
Sans park body. should become law
on Tuesday. Senator Ball asserts. It
passed the Senate without dissent last
| Wednesday, and has been favorably
reported to the House by the commit
tee on counties. cities and towns.
1t will give to Arlington County
| full powers to control the use and
| occupancy Of any building or prop
| erty in the county and to regulate
| and restrict the construction and To-
| cation of buildings and other struc-
lures. The bill is fashioned after the
| model coming law drawn up by Secre-
1 tary Hoover'S advisory committee on
coming and city planning.
Powers for Park Board.
The park commission bill is being
| drafted for introduction Monday or
Tuesday. Those preparing the meas
ure are Senator Ball, House Floor
Leader Charles Henry Smith OF Alex
andria and Delegate II. carlton Hanes
1 VI IDA COultSy ali VI WuUIl dtG
members of the commission. Under
such a law, the Virginia Park and
Planning Commission would be vested
| with legal authority to spend money,
| employ help, and exercise other ex-
| ecutive functions now denied it.
Such authority Is declared to be
absolutely essential, If Virginia is to
demonstrate her sincerity in cooper
| ating with the National Capital in the
regional Identification of Arlington
County. Maryland has taken similar
action in behalf of its park body, 1t is
pointed out.
The assessment bill will give Airing
ton County the same right to assess
abutting property owners for side
walk, sewer and alley improvements
as is now enjoyed by municipalities
throughout the State. A movement
is on foot here to permit Of such
levies for street improvements, also.
The referendum proposal for "Ar-
lington City" will be introduced In
the Senate. probably Monday, by Sen.
ator Ball. 1t is advocated by the
better local government committee
appointed by the Arlington County
Civic Federation and by the Airing
ton County Chamber of Commerce.
Opposed by Mr.. Jesse.
Opposition to the measure will be
voiced by Delegate Charles T. Jesse of
Arlington County, it developed today.
Mr.. Jesse, on learning of the action
of the Chamber of Commerce in join
ing with civic interests in support of
the referendum, had previously indi-
Gated that he might not oppose 1t.
Il had thought" Mr.. Jesse declared
before leaving for his home over the
week end, that maybe was wrong
in my views against Incorporation, in
view of the fact that such a respon-
sible body as the Chamber of Com
merce had seen fit to approve a refer
endum on the subject. but now learn
that the chamber was not fully ad-
vised OF all the facts, and, in fact, was
laboring under a wrong premise when
1t approved the report of the better
local government committee. / under
stand that the chamber was under the
Impression that Alexandria was MAX
ing a move to annex q portion of the
county, whereas such Is not the case.
Il believe the people have lost sight
OF some important matters in this con-
nection. To begin with, the county
stands to lose at least $4,000 by in
corporation-$60,00 900 a year from the
gasoline tax and an equal amount for
the upkeep and repair of the several
highways. Furthermore, to make the
county into a city means higher taxes.
more officials and increased expenses.
Il take the position that the county
VIII get all 1t needs at this time by
vesting it with the right to impose
taxes on abutting property owners for
public improvements. The county
has made provision for water
and lights, and the supervisors will
have the right to provide sewers and
70 levy assessments for paying for
them.
Homes, Not Industries.
Arlington County has few indus.
tries. 1t is. In fact, the home of many
hundreds OF persons who live in Wash
ington. The county is not sufficiently
populated to require a city govern
ment, which would mean an enormous
increase In operating expenses. The
county Is increasing in population. but
cannot see the need for q CITY gov
eminent, with large police and fire
II am opposed to imposing larger
taxes on the people when there is no
occasion for 1t, and / have decided
definitely to fight in the legislature
against passage of any bill providing
for referendum on incorporation"
delegate Jesses announcement Is q
severe dow TO proponents of the bill.
BENG Arlington County's delegate in
the House. his stand on such meas
ure is scarcely likely to be overridden
by the delegates from other counties
who have no special interest in the
matter.