Evening star., 1942-01-08
Assembly Get
Retirement Bill
For Arlington
Uniform Hours for
Polls on Fenwicks
Legislative Program

IOllS OF CSUWl(N ,
Legislative Program
Retirement Of Arlington County
employees and uniform hours for
election polls are among legislative
proposals now being prepared by
Charles r. Fenwick, member Of the
House Of Delegates from Arlington,
for introduction at the Virginia
General Assembly, which convenes
Wednesday at Richmond.
Mr.. Fenwick also disclosed today
he is giving favorable consideration
to, or is having bills prepared for,
the following legislative enactments:
A special act authorizing Arlington
to issue bonds to finance purchase
Of park and playground lands.
A bill to require all pawnbrokers
to file daily reports with police de-
partments similar to the practice IN
the District of Columbia.
Legislation establishing medical
scholarships to restore the country
doctor" to rural sections of the
State.
Optional with Counties.
The county employees retirement
bill is the result Of action taken
by the County Board and instituted
by Leo Lloyd, one of its members.
The draft of the bill, as it is now
being considered, would be general
in nature so as to apply to other
counties and would be permissive,
making the retirement plan op-
tional with the local county govern
ments.
Mr.. Fenwick is a member of
special committee appointed by the
County Board and headed by State
Senator William D. Medley OF Ar
lington. The committee recon-
. mended that a retirement plan be
worked out for policemen and that
study be given to the question of
retiring other county government
personnel after specified terms of
service. Police retirement is pos
sible under present law.
Establishment of uniform hours
for the opening and closing of polls
would be of particular benefit to
thousands of Government workers
in the District who live in Virginia,
Mr.. FenWick believes. At the same
time, 1t would end the confusion
which now exists because of the
opening of the polls at sunrise and
closing at sunset.
Changes With Season.
There are three regular election
periods in Virginia. Several towns
elect local officials in June, the
Democratic primaries are in Au-
gust and the regular State and
national elections are in November
In June the sun rises at aboL.
A:30 am. and sets at about 7:30
pm.: during August the sun rises
at about 4:4O a m. and sets at about
Z pm, while in November the sun
rises at about 7:45 am. and sets
ut about 4:45 pm.
Under the present law the polls
remain open for about Is hours
during the town elections, but are
open only about nine hours during
the regular November elections. Each
year, many Government workers
complain to Arlington and Alex
andria election officials they have
failed to vote because OF being un-
able to reach the polls before clos
ing time. Many Government de-
partments, however, permit employees
to come to work late or leave early
50 that they may vote.
The legislation to require pawn
brokers to furnish daily reports of
all items purchased, together with
the names of the pledges, will be
sponsored at the request of Arling-
ton Police Chief Harry woodward,
Mr.. Fenwick said. Most OF the pawn
shops in the county maintain records
for police inspection, but they are
not required to send the reports to
the police department as is done in
Washington. The legislation, to be
generally applicable throughout the
State, will be of great assistance in
recovering stolen property, Mr.. Fen
wick explained.
1 Ilc SpcCldl dCG W dutIlOIlLc
bond issue for parks and Fairgrounds
will be permissive and will depend
for it's fulfillment on a referendum
decided by Arlington county voters.
Under the present law, Virginia
counties may issue bonds approved
by the referendum for such improve
ments as schools, roads, water and
sewer systems. The proposed law
would merely enlarge the purposes
for which bonds could be issued in
Arlington County, Mr.. Fenwick said.
Z. Mr.. Fenwick revealed that the
bond issue bill will be introduced
at the request of several organiza-
stions, including the Organized
Women Voters of Arlington and the
County Civic Federation.
Z The medical scholarship bill will
follow closely the provisions of
similar legislation which he intro
5duced at the last session in 1910, but
which failed to pass because of delay,
In the consideration of all revenue
spending legislation.
The measure will provide for the
State to award four annual scholar
ships to medical students who agree
TO practice tor specified number of
years in territories assigned to them
by the State Department of Health.
The vollnp phvsicianS would serve