Evening star., 1942-01-28
Fenwick Drafts
Bill 10 Ratify
Airport Plan
Bases Legislation on
Move to Keep Area
Within Virginia
Nv ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.


over the Washington National Air
port, Charles r. Fenwick, member
OF the House of Delegates from Ar
lington County, today was preparing
legislation which would, in effect.
ratify the terms of congressional
bill submitted by Representative
Randolph, Democrat, OF West Vlr-
ginia.
Although the congressional meas
ure is still pending and a vital
amendment has been proposed
which would place the airport in the
District of Columbia, the Arlington
legislator is preparing bill to an
ticipated congressional action which
he feels would be acceptable to the
General Assembly Of Virginia.
The legislation to be offered the
General Assembly in accord with
Representative Randolph's proposal
is to establish the Virginia-District
of Columbia boundary at the high
water mark Of the Potomac River on
the Virginia shore except at the
airport. which would be included en-
tirely in the Old Dominion and be a
Federal reservation.
Opposes Nichols Amendment.
The amendment to Mr.. Ran
dolph's bill was submitted by Rep
resentative Nichols. Democrat, OF
Oklahoma, and would carry out the
boundary lines suggested by Mr..
Randolph, except that the airport
would be placed in the District Of
Columbia.
Mr.. Fenwick does not agreed with
Representative Nichols amendment,
nor does he believe the General AS
sembly would vote the necessary
ratification of such an agreement.
The General Assembly. however,
would be asked to reserve to this
State the right to collect automobile
gasoline taxes and to require that
the airport observe Virginia liquor
laws. The Governor and attorney
general of Virginia would be en-
powered to negotiate with the Fed
eral Government on all other con-
ditions involved in the settlement
of the boundary dispute.
U. S. to Police Area.
Mr. Fenwick pointed out that Ar
lington County would not stand to
lose by such an arrangement. Since
the State would not provide police
and fire protection and these ,func-
tions would fall upon the county he
n tho air-
port would cost the county about
$50 900 annually If the airport was
ceded to Virginia outright. II the
airport is made Federal reserva-
ton, he said, the county would be
relieved of the burden of this serv-
ice, which is primarily a Federal
Government obligation.
Delegates H. B. Davis of Princess
Anne and Fenwick offered a bill
Yesterday broadening the authority
of the State Corporation Commits
sion's aeronautics division over air
ports. 1t would authorize the COM
mission to purchase land for air
ports and aircraft and give 1t full
power to supervise and regulate
fields to which it makes grants OF
funds.
The Arlington delegate also dis
closed he has prepared a bill which
would require the State Corporation
Commission to notify local govern
ing bodies of proposed changes IN
public utility rates or schedules De-
fore such changes are authorized.
The bill is the result of request
of the Arlington County Board,
which asked that such a law be
enacted following the merger OF
the Rosslyn Gas Co. with the Alex
andria Gas Co. about three months
ago.
All public utilities, including
transportation companies. electric
and gas firms. would be required
to inform the local governing bodies
of any contemplated changes in
rates or routes. In the event the
corporation commission decided a
public hearing would be necessary,
the proposed law would require that
the commission inform the local
governing bodies of the application
before any change is effectuated.
A Senate resolution against di-
version of the gasoline tax revenues
was responsible for split in the
vote of the Northern Virginia della
ton at yesterdays session Of the
House.
Fenwick Opposes Diversion.
Mr.. Fenwick delivered the prlncl-
pal address in the House Of Dele
gates against using the gasoline tax
funds for other State governmental
functions. Delegate Maurice D.
Rosenberg of Alexandria told the
House that he believed the Governor
should have all the facilities OF the
State in furthering the national de-
tense program.
"It seems to me that in times
such as these when it is imperative
that We maintain, as far as pos
sible, funds for future expenditures,
we could well reiterate the policy
of opposing gasoline tax diversion
when the revenue from this source
will be drastlcally curtalled In the
future because of the tire short
age Mr.. Fenwick said.
iMr. Rosenberg asked that the
RESOLUTION be set aside because of a
consideration of task Of much
more Importance" He said the
Legislature already had placed the
facilities of the State at the dis
posal of the Governor in national
defense and that Virginia's chief
executive should not be hampered
by restrictions, such as limitations
placed on the expenditure of gaso-
line tax revenues
The House adopted the Senate
resolution against diversion of gaso-
line tax funds, but amended it so
as to provide that nothing in it
should be construed as to interfere
with powers granted the Governor
In the national defense effort.
Will Form Fire Auxiliary
IAN auxiliary to the Hillandale