Evening star., 1942-02-03
House 10 Act
Project Today
r.
Possoge Would Send
Housing Development
Bill to Senute
Nv ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.

By ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.
RICHMOND. Feb. 3.-Legislation
making possible relief of a large
portion of the acute housing problem
In the Metropolitan Area Of Wash
ington is scheduled to be passed by
the House of Delegates and sent to
the Senate today.
The House yesterday advanced to
third reading the Baldwin-Louder-
back bill making it possible for the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. Of
New York to construct . $1,000 600
housing project in Alexandria. The
builders plan to erect 1,764 apart
ment units. The House Insurance
and Banking Committee had striken
out an emergency clause making the
bill effective Immediately upon
enactment, but the clause was
feinserted on the House floor. thus
opening the way for immediate con-
struction, provided the Senate
passes the measure and the Gov
ernor signs it.
The bill limits such projects, owned
and operated by life insurance firms,
to 10-mile radii of cities of 100000
population or more, and Delegate
Maurice D. Rosenberg of Alexandria
amended it to limit the number of
units that might be built in such
Enn Eooyynn fhof hGr
Rosenbergis amendment might pro-
hibit the development of similar
projects in Arlington, Delegate
Charles R. Fenwick further amended
Mr.. Rosenberg's proposal so as to
limit the construction of $500 apart
ments to single county or city. This
will make 1t possible for another
project of a similar nature to be
erected in Arlington which is within
the same 10-mile zone as Alexandria
: Referred to Government Housing.
Mr.. Fenwick later explained his
amendment was not offered in an
effort to foster this type of develop
n1ent in Arlington County. but to
make such types of housing possible
IN preference to Government
sponsored housing projects. He said
That the housing projects built by
the Government are not only less
desirable, but that they deprive the
county of taxes Privately financed
developments. such as those allowed
under the bill, are designed to give
a return on the investment for so
years, he. said, and consequently
represent a higher type OF con-
struction.
Also moved into position for pas
sage today was the bill by Delegate
4. Blackburn Moore Of Berryville
reducing the maximum highway
speed from 55 to As miles per hour to
promote conservation of tires and
fuel. This bills second reading
yesterday brought about prolonged
debate in which opposition was ex-
pressed by Mr. Rosenberg, among
others. The Alexandria delegate
argued there is no need for the law
because emergency powers given to
StdtC dllt C0Cl al dut1lol 4tlCS SooAo
have the effect of nullifying its pro-
visions. He said a much larger
State police force would be required
to enforce the proposed lower speed
limit.
A feature of the bill permitting
military vehicles. acting on instruc-
tions of officers, to exceed the max
imun speed allowed, was criticized
by Mr.. Rosenberg as permitting
military officers to set their own
speed limits. An officer. under this
bill, can get in his car and tell his
chauffeur to drive like hades any
where he wants to-"
In arguing for the legislation, Mr.
Moore cited the commendable traffic
record of Arlington County. which
has reduced the speed limit to a
maximum of 40 miles per hour, and
where there has not been a traffic
fatality since March 2, 1941, despite
4 population of close to 10000 in
habitants.
oOsshASy . A~seAAs --~.A 49,
Before the bill reached its present
stage, Mr.. Fenwick and Senator
William D. Medley, also OF Airing
ton, were quick to satisfy themselves
that 1t would not abolish their home
county's right to regulate speed
limits within its own borders,
distinction given no other Virginia
county.
A compromise civilian defense
bill, designed to meet most OBJ
jections raised to two previous
measures, was introduced in the
House yesterday by Delegate o. E.
McCue. jr., of Charlottesville. The
Governor would be the head of the
defense organization and he would
designate State department heads
and other officials as members OF
his advisory council.
= Significance is attached to the
provision making Government ofh-
cials of the localities key defense
officials for their respective areas.
local defense directors would be the
Mayors and executive officers of
counties. cities and towns, which, in
tirn, could designate local defense
co-ordinators.
The Governor would be authorized
to designate two or more localities
as comprising areas embraced by
regional defense councils The local
defense directors mayors and execu-
tive officers, could appoint local
defense councils, and regional coun-
cils would be made, up only Of the
defense directors of the localities.
A serious problem may arise in
such Jurisdictions as Fairfax County,
some observers believe, because that
county has incorporated towns, and
consequently Mayors. in addition to
the county governmental agency
the Board of Supervisors. A conflict
in the authority of defense directors
from each jurisdiction may result
from the present plan, some persons
believe.
Appearing on the printed cal
! sndar Of the House for the first
time yesterday was bill by Mr..
Rosenberg to amend the charter of
Alexandria to permit members of
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