Evening star., 1942-01-27
Bills Threaten
Annexation Plan
0fFaIIs Church
Roanoke Dispute
May Prevent
Fairfax Extension
BY ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Sta Staff Correspondent.

BY ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
sta. Staff Correspondent.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. N.-An-
nexation proceedings by the Town
of Falls Church would be imperiled
by legislation which is before the
General Assembly today.
Delegate Ben Chapman Of Roa-
noke County and Senator Harvey
B. Apperson of the City of Roanoke
introduced identical bills in both
branches of the Legislature to post
pone any further annexation pro-
ceedings in the State until 80 days
after the 1914 session of the General
Assembly.
Although the measures are in
tended to apply to a local contro-
versy involving the City of Roa-
noke, they are general in applica-
ton and would hold up all such
proceedings.
The Falls Church Town Council
has instructed its attorney, John A.
K. Donovan, to prepare papers to
institute a suit in the Fairfax County
Circuit Court for annexation of ad-
jacent Fairfax County territory.
Sufficient territory would be taken
In to make Falls Church city rated
as second class: that is, with at least
5000 inhabitants.
Says Defense" Is Issue
Mr.. Chapman gave national de-
fense" as the motive for his legis-
lation. He said the defense effort
would be hindered by citizens of
any county or city of Virginia being
aligned against each other in court
pertaining to annexation when they
have far more important questions
facing them"
Also among the 20 bills which
were introduced in yesterdays 10
minute session of the House was a
measure by Delegate Charles R.
Fenwick of Arlington to permit the
appointment of county policemen
for terms as long as five years
instead of the present maximum of
one year.
The Arlington Delegate said he
had been requested to sponsor the
measure by the Arlington County
Policemen's Association and by
members of the Fairfax County
Police Department. The object is
to give police. personnel a greater
feeling Of security in their employ
ment. The five-year appointments
would not be mandatory. however,
and appointments for lesser terms
would be permitted.
Delegate E. r. Conner of Manas-
sas introduced a measure to amend
the charter of the town of Deco
quan. Among the provisions Of the
charter submitted for legislative
approval is permission to levy
license taxes on motor vehicles,
which would authorize the issuance
OF "city tags for automobiles.
Other Proposed Amendments.
Other charter amendments would
give the town Mayor a vote on the
council only in the event of a tie
vote; would declare a council va
cancy to exist if a member volun-
tarily absents himself for three
consecutive meetings, and would
authorize proceedings to be taken
to remove buildings declared to be
a menace to adjoining properties.
Mr.. FenWick said today he will
introduce a bill to exempt deeds
of trust conveying land to be used
as sites for churches, from recorda-
ton taxes which are now required
by law
The measure originated as the
result of an experience of Ashton
c. Jones, Arlington real estate deal
er, in recording deed of trust for
the Westover Baptist Church in the
5700 block of North Washington
boulevard in Arlington.
Mr.. Jones. who was active in rails
Ing funds for the new church site.
found 1t necessary to pay $48 record
alton tax when the deed of trust
was recorded at the court clerks
ONCE. Taxes are now exempt on the
recording Of deeds, and the bill
would merely extend the exemption
to deeds of trust
Meanwhile. Mr. Conner is study
ing proposed legislation suggested
by the commissioner of revenue of
the town of Manassas, which would
require automobile owners to pay
personal property taxes on motor We
hlcles at the time they obtain their
license plates, similar to the plan
in effect in the District of Colum-
bla. Mr.. Conner said he was re-
quested to have the law enacted be-
cause of the difficulty in assessing
some individuals with. personal
property taxes against their auto
mobiles.
Defense Bill Delayed.
Gov. Darden's plan to substitute
one commissioner for the three
member State Unemployment Com
pensation Commission went before
the General Assembly yesterday,
but introduction of the Governors
proposed civilian defense legislation
was deferred temporarily for revi-
Sions.
The Senate confirmed in executive
session 40 appointments of former
Gov. Price to various boards and
commissions, most of which were
non-salaried positions.
Delegate c. F. Blackwell of Lunen-
burg offered bill to require motor
vehicle carriers to purchase fuel in
Virginia equal to the amount neces-
sary for operations in the State or
to pay into the highway fund an
amount equal to the gas tax that
otherwise would have been paid.
Senators Leonard G.. Muse and
Apperson of Roanoke submitted q
bill to cut the interest rates on loans
from the State literary fund to
county and city school boards from
( to 3 per cent. effective July 1.
A number of other State Board OF
Education-approved bills were Of
fered. One by Delegate Lloyd w.
Hopkins of Patrick would reduce
from 80 to IS days after the opening