Evening star., 1942-02-27
Action Deferred
0nMcCandIish' 5
Annexation Bill
Delegate Asks Delay,
To Talk With Chiefs
OF Fuirfux County
BY ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Star STAFF CORRESPONDENT.


RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 27-Action
by the General Assembly on bill to
prohibit annexation suits involving
any territory in Fairfax County will
be postponed until next week, while
Delegate Robert j. McCandlish, jr.,
of that county confers with officials
In his home community.
The House had before it today,
however, a bill by Delegate Charles
r. Fenwick of Arlington authorizing
the State Highway Commission to
construct and maintain Fairfax
drive, in exchange for which Airing
ton would take over and maintain
North Washington boulevard, which
now Is a State highway.
The McCandlish bill is designed
to prohibit the town of Falls Church
from proceeding with an annexa-
tion suit and to make it impossible
for the city of Alexandria to take in
additional territory. 1t also would
freeze" the present boundaries of
Arlington County if this community
Incorporates into a city.
The House General Laws Com
mittee was prepared to consider the
McCandlish bill yesterday, but the
patron requested that action be
withheld until Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile. Delegate Maurice D.
Rosenberg Of Alexandria, who ex-
pressed doubts that the General As
semnly would pass any annexation
bill because of action taken by the
House killing similar legislation re-
Gently, said Mr.. McCandlish has in
troduced a measure which violates
the State Constitution.
Constitution Cited.
Because the pending legislation
would apply only to local area,
Mr.. Rosenberg said the bill violates
section 126 of the Constitution which
states: The General Assembly
shall provide by general laws for
the extension and the contraction
from time to time, of the corporate
limits of cities and towns; and no
special act for such purpose shall
be valid"
Mr.. Fenwick's bill does not make
1t mandatory for the Highway Com
mission to develop Fairfax drive in
exchange for Arlington's acceptance
of North Washington boulevard
maintenance. The question of terms
on which such an agreement would
be reached is left open for negotia-
ton.
The Arlington County Board has
sought the measure sponsored by
Mr.. Fenwick, and this week several
county officials conferred here with
Gov. Darden concerning the legis-
lation.
The Senate is scheduled to pass
two bills by Mr.. Rosenberg today and
send them to Gov. Darden. One
would authorize the Alexandria City
Council to raise salaries of its MEM
bers within certain limits and OBJ
tain by referenda advisory opinions
from the voters. The second bill
would permit Alexandria to establish
q permanent system of assessing
real estate each year instead of once
every four years.
The House unanimously passed
and sent to the Senate the Fenwick
bill designed to establish the Vir-
ginia District of Columbia boundary
along lines already proposed in a
bill in Congress by Representative
Randolph, Democrat, Of West Vir-
ginia.
Goode Bill Passed.
The House also passed and sent
to the Governor a bill by Senator
Morton G. Goode of Dinwiddie, en-
larging the powers of the State Hos
pital Board after Delegate Rosen-
berg unsuccessfully led a debate to
amend the bill to require the board
to license, inspect and regulate pri-
vate sanatoria for the mentally i'll.
The amendment was defeated only
by a vote of Al to As.
Delegate c. G. Quesenbery Of
Waynesboro, sponsor of the Goode
bill in the House, opposed Mr..
Rosenberg's amendment because, he
said, the Alexandrian's proposal
would probably raise objection to
the measure.
MIR. Rosenberg told the House that
q bill similar to the Goode measure
but which included the provisions of
his amendment had passed both
branches of the Assembly in 1910,
but had been vetoed for some un-
known reason.
The Northern Virginia delegates
split in voting on the Rosenberg
amendment. Those voting for the
amendment included Delegates Fen
wick, McCandlish, Howard c. Rogers
of Loudoun County and Rosenberg
Those opposed included Delegates E
r. Conner of Manassas and L. Lake
Triplett Of Faquier County.
The House adopted and sent to the
Senate JOINT resolution by Mr..
Fenwick and Delegate Stuart Camp
bell of Wythe County, calling for a
seven-member Commission to study
the powers OF administrative boards
and agencies to promulgate rules and
regulations having the force and ef-
feet of law.
Rights of Citizens Eyed.
The study would seek to determine
whether the rights of citizens are
adequately protected under existing
laws giving the agencies such pow
ers.
A bill by Senators ]. F. Walter OF
Onley, Maitland H. Bustard of Dan
vile and w. c. Caudill of Pearls
burg to recodify and make certain
changes In the game and inland
fish laws was up for passage in the
Senate yesterday, but was recon-
mitted to the Fish and Game Com
mittee to iron out an amendment
relating to appointment OF game
wardens.
Up for passage in the House to.
day is bill by Delegate Elliott
Campbell of Caroline County tt
authorize the highway commission
to purchase the James Madison
Bridge, now a toll span across ths
Rappahannock River. The bridgs