Evening star., 1927-03-28
ASKS REFERENDUM
ON ARLINGTON CITY
Ball Introduces Bill for In
corporation of County as
Municipality.
BY REX COLLIER.
staff CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

RICHMOND, Va. March 2S.-A
referendum bill for the incorporation
of Arlington County as the "City of
Arlington" was introduced in the
Senate here today by State Senator
Frank l.. Ball of that county. 1t was
referred to the committee on private
and local legislation.
A bitter fight on the measure at
once loomed with announcement by
Charles T. Jesse, Arlington County's
representative in the House of Dele
gates, that he will vigorously oppose
the bill when it reaches the House.
Those In touch with legislative mat.
ters here foresaw in Delegate Jesse's 8
statement an almost insurmountabIe
obstacle TO Its passage at the special
session Of the General Assembly now
sitting. 1t was pointed out that there
can be but slight chance of a local
bill passing the House over the OBJ
lection OF the delegate from the par
ticuiar community affected
Supported by Civic Groups.
The bill has the support of Arling.
ton county civic interests, including
the Chamber of Commerce and the
Arlington County Civic Federation
1t was drawn up over the week end
by Senator Ball in conference with
members OF the Better Local Govern.
ment Commission of that county.
Wnlch mas recommended the incorpor-
atlon OF the county as "city of the
first class"
Briefly the measure authorizes a
general or special election I'm Airing
TON county, upon petition of $50 quail.
ned voters, for the purpose of taking
the sense OF the qualified voters Of
the county on the question of whether
SAID county shall be incorporated. .
Arrangements for the poll are to he
made. by the Circuit Court.
Special exceptions are made i'm thc
cases OF the incorporated towns OF
Fotomac and East Falls Church and
provision Is made that these munich.
paities, or such part of them as fall
Within the limits of Arlington County.
may become part of the city of Ar.
lington upon application of a majority
oI the voters at 81 special election.
City Manager Proposed.
A city council of seven members.
city manager and other municipal
o.1cers are authorized In the bill. The
Guy would assume all the obligations,
duties, liabilities, rights. powers a nd
IV
The city council thus created would
De composed of two regularly elected
counciimen from each of the existing
Inaglsterial districts of Arlington
washington and jefferson. and Of q
councilman-at-large, who would serve
as mayor. The districts each would
De divided into two wards, each to be
represented on the council. If the
town or Potomac should vote to ioin
ene cuy' IL would automatically be.
come one of the wards of Jeffarson
district. SUI
A section creates the offices re
commonwealth attorney, clerk of the
court. city sergeant, city treasurer
ana commissioner of revenue. to he
niied, respectively, by persons holding
the omceS of commemorative attor.
ney, county clerk, county sheriff.
county treasurer and commissioner of
revenue at the time of incorporation
OF the county, all to hold office until
their successors are duly elected.
Provides for New Court.
The present Circuit Court C. Airing.
ton County would become the Circuit
Court of the City of Arlington, and q
new court, to be known as the Cor
poration Court, would be established
to appoint electoral boards and en-
force police regulations. The first
judge of the Corporation Court would
be appointed by Gov. Byrd and he
would hold Office until his successor.
is elected. His salary would be SO. 500
per annum.
In addition there would be created
a Civil and Police Justice Court, with
, a judge properly elected and receiving
d salary fixed by the city council.
1t Is provided that the. mayor of
the City of Arlington must be an
actual resident of the city while in
office. The city manager form Of
government is specified
Would Keep Present Laws.
Immediately upon the incorpora.
tion of said county as the City of
Arlington" the bill states, ''the ordi.
nances of said former county shall
remain in full force and effect in so far
as their provisions as ordinances of a
city are not in conflict with the con-
stitution and laws of this State, and
Continued on PAGE 5. Colunn "a
IL