Evening star., 1928-03-05

HEARING DELAYED
Fight on Measure at Rich
m0nd Reveals Shift of
Supporters.
BY n STAFF Correspondent OF Tho Star.

~,
bitter fight over Arlington Countys city
referendum bill was fOresecn here today.
The bill is virtually the same as that
introduced by Senator Ball at the spe-
cial legislative session last year, and
which was killed in the House.
Charles r. Jesse. former Arlington
County delegate to the Legislature, who
defeated the bill then. and Common
wealth Attorney William c. Cloth were
here today to lead the fight against
passage of the measure. On arrival
they found that the committee hearing
scheduled to take place this afternoon
had been postponed until Wednesday
in order to give advocates of the bill
more time.
That the bill stands but little chance
of amendment i'll the few days left for
its consideration became apparent to-
day when Senator Ball. in letter sent
this afternoon to the Arlington County
Civic Federation, disclosed that he ha;
serious objections to the bill now. fear
ing 1t will be preiudicial in the pend
ing annexation suit filed by Alexandra.
He Is Il member OF counsel for Arling-
ton County III the annexation trial.
Jesse and Cloth also are defending the
county in this case, and all are agreed
that agitation of the So-Called lncor-
poration bill at this time will be dis
astrouS to the countys cause in the
pending court proceeding. Jesse and
Cloth announced that they arc repre-
scnting the board Of supervisors OF Ar
lington County and acting under that
authority are going to do all in their
power to defeat the bill.
Reid in Hot Water.
Hugh Reid. who succeeded Jesse as
delegate, and who introduced the bill
Friday in accordance with a pre-elec-
ton pledge to the voters, admittedly
has gotten himself into hot water. He
is confronted on the one hand with his
campaign promise to get the bill passed.
and on the other hand by the insistent
cntreatics Of counsel in the annexation
case that it be withdrawn at once.
Postponement OF the hearing on the
bill was granted by Reid yesterday
after representatives OF the Arlington
County Civic Federation had requested
time In which to present the matter
10 the whole membership Of the or
gaCization at its meeting In Clarendon
tomorrow night. Reid conferred with
representatives of the federation and
Of the county Chamber Of Commerce
IN Clarendon yesterday. He advised
them of the inSistence OF annexation
counsel that the bill will v!tally affect
the litigation. but Is said TO have in
dicated he would carry out his pledge
10 the voters unless convinced that
such a course would be detrimental to
the best interests OF the people The
enabling act" as the bill sometimes
Is called provides for special
referendum on the question OF In
cooperating Arlington County as a city
Of the first class. As 1t now stands the
measure refers specifically 10 Alex
andr!a's annexation intentions. II IS
expected the bill will be amended 10
eliminate any possibility OF direct In
reference with the pending trial
The situation regarding the enabling
act on Incorporation has developed to
the point where I think 1t should be
carefully considered by the federation"
Senator Ball said IN his letter to
Grover f. Payne. secretary OF the Civic
Federation. Last Spring I introduced
this proposal at the insistence Of the
federation. believing that the people OF
the county almost unanimously desired
such legislation.
Provision on Annexation.
ut carried at that time a provision
to the effect that should an annexation
suit be filed by the neighboring city OF
the proceedings should be
stayed until after the election and the
court should then take into considcra-
ton the entire situation and give due
thought 10 the expressed desire OF the
county electorate in making its de-
cision. stated at that time that the
principle OF self government
tt1 ti tiZs, .f
sound. and further stated that In my
opinion the bill should not be the SUBJ
iect Of political controversy. The bill
failed in the House.
During the last Summer the bill was
made the subject OF political contro-
vcrsY In our county and much acrid
discussion was had. Some Of the meet
ings We're held In Jefferson district
During this campaign. and especially in
The late stages through October. I no
ticed tendency on the part OF some
people In the lower district 10 resent
any further attempt toward the pas
sage OF an incorporation act.
After the Alexandria suit was filed
IN The late Fall number Of prominent
CITIZENS freely expressed their opinion
that any further attempt at legislation
along this line would drive many who
''''' 'tHt4 NI0t ilHituiy W tIlc county
to take sides with the city l attended
a meeting OF the Citizens Association
or Potomac with other counsel in the
annexation case and the question was
directly put 10 me as 10 whether
could guarantee that no such 1egisia-
tioh would be proposed. l could. OF
course. give no such guarantee. | then
appeared before the Chamber OF Com
merce OF our county and spoke 10 them
on the question and advised them that
the agitation was doing lis an injury
IN the case and driving some OF our
friends to the other side.
Injury 10 County Feared.
II have further consulted very re-
Gently with many people In jefferson
district and without single exception
All o! them have told me that this
legislation would ALLEVIATE the countys
friends there. Reid Is under u definite
pledge To Introduce and actively work
idf the passage Of the act and In carry
Ing I,,!t out that pledge he had intro
Il personally think its passage would
turn several hundred peopin who ure
no" aligned with the county over TO
The side OF the city In the hnnexa-
Ton suit and would be absolutely dis
ahtrouh. ] might refer you To r. Il
Sebreli Alan Prosise, G. G.. iamond,
and to the president of the Potomac
Citizens' Association. who made the
statement In an open meeting that he
was for annexation because of this in
corporation legislation,
We started into The annexation suit
united and Alexandria divided This
agitation has united Alexandria and
divided sentiment III that part OF The
county.
III Is impossible To get the bll through
or even out OF the committee with the
old provision FOR stay ~ the annexa~
tion proceeding mtil after the election.
and IN ease the bin paase, 1t viii be with
the proviaion that II does not become
effective IN tho tRrrItnrv Affected by