Evening star., 1942-02-06
Split on Redistrictinq
Issue Is Aired at
Committee Hearinq
Gain in Population in
Metropolitan Area Of
Washington Cited
By . Staff Correspondent Of The star.


RICHMOND, Feb. "a joint
hearing by the Senate and House
Privileges and Elections Committees
adjourned for the week end after
public hearings yesterday in which
the interests of rural and urban
areas were brought into conflict over
proposed legislation to reapportion
districts for both houses of the
General Assembly.
Called city sickers" by their op-
ponents, the Senator'S and Delegates
whose constituency in the cities and
urban areas would be benefited by
the bill, emphasized the point that
the legislation would, If enacted,
still leave the agricultural areas con-
trolling 10 per cent or more OF the
votes in the Legislature.
Because OF the urban character
istic Of It's population. the Wash
ington Metropolitan Area of Arling-
ton and Fairfax Counties, as well as
Alexandria, was placed in the city
slicker" category.
The Northern Virginia area stands
to benefit by the proposed legislation
which is the result of a study OF .
special commission, headed by Sen
ator E. r. Fuller OF Richmond, since
the 1910 session. Arlington would
be given two members of the House
instead of one and would be given
Senator of its own. The remain
ing portion Of the 10th senatorial
district, which now includes Airing
ton, Fairfax and Prince William
Counties and Alexandria, would be
unchanged after the removal Of
Arlington.
Provokes Dissension.
1t was this part of the legislation
which brought about dissension
among the Northern Virginia
"slickers."
Delegate Maurice D. Rosenberg of
Alexandria objected to Prince vii.
liam County being included in the
proposed new senatorial district and
contended that that area should
comprise only Alexandria and Fair
fax Counties because of the corre-
spending urban characteristics of the
populations and because q district
thus created would be more nearly
the average in total population for
other districts throughout the State
Senator William D. Medley of the
28th district told the committee that
while he represented Mr.. Rosenbergs
city as well as Fairfax, Prince VIII
liam and Arlington Counties, he in
dorsed the arrangement in the leg
islation because a majority Of the
Jurisdictions in his district felt the
same way.
Mr.. Rosenberg suggested placing
Prince William County in the 28th
senatorial district. but Senator
Thomas B. Glascock. who represents
that area, opposed the plan. Dele
gate E. r. Conner Of Manassas, the
Prince William County member Of
the House, also told the committee
that I'VE are very well satisfied to
stay with Fairfax County and Alex
andria."
Delegate Charles r. Fenwick of
Arlington declared, I'VE are well
pleased with the recommendations
and our only fear is that you will not
carry them out"
Cites Population Gain.
Mr.. Fenwick said the reapportion-
ment commission based its recon-
mendations on the 1910 census, which
was compiled in 1899. and that Ar
lington was credited with only 5000
inhabitants, whereas the population
today is nearly 10000.
Mr.. Fenwick cited the peculiar
situation" of Arlington and its posi-
ton with respect to downtown Wash
ington, which he said favors It's de-
velopment OF stable population over
other Metropolitan Areas of Wash
ington which are farther away. He
said a large proportion of the War
Department employees, which will to-
tai from $4,000 to 10000, will move
to Arlington with their families to
make permanent residence there.
To emphasize the stability" of
Arlington's population, Mr.. Fenwick
said more than SIS, 900 worth
OF building permits were issued In
1941 and that this Should abolish
the disillusion that we have only
a hoater population"
Senator Medley reminded the
committee that the population fig
ures on which the commission
recommendations were made were
taken before the present war effort
began. and, therefore. represent .
permanent class Of inhabitants, h