Evening star., 1942-02-28
Life Insurance
Housing Bill
Hearing Called
Durden to Look Into
Sentiment for Veto
In Alexandra
BY ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Corresponcent.

the General Assembly making pos
sible the development of a $1,000, 600
apartment housing project in Alex
andria by the Metropolitan Life In
surance Co. of New York, will be
held at 10 am. Monday by Gov.
Darden at his Office in the State
Capitol.
The legislation. designed to ex-
tend the field of investments of life
insurance companies to include
housing projects, has lain on the
Governors desk for signing while the
Chief Executive has been confined to
bed for the past several days with
influenza. The legislation was
sponsored by Delegates Robert G.
Baldwin Of Norfolk and G. G. Loud
erback Of Page County.
While the bill was making its way
through the General Assembly. the
Governors Office has received num-
erous letters and telephone calls
from Alexandria residents urging
veto of the bill. The Metropolitan
Life Insurance Co. proposes to build
a project of more than 1,700 apart
ments in the Beverly Hills section OF
Alexandria.
A bill providing for the incorpora-
ton of Arlington County as a city,
subject to a referendum, was intro
duced in the House yesterday by
Delegate Charles R. Fenwick. Desig-
mated House Bill 536, the measure
was referred to the Committee on
Special Private and Local Legisla-
ton. It carries an emergency clause.
A petition to the Arlington Circuit
Court containing the names of at
least 1000 qualified voters would be
necessary to call the referendum.
Fight in Prospect.
Reports reaching Richmond say
opposing movements have been
started in Arlington to thrash out
the incorporated issue. Mr.. Fenwick
and Senator William D. Medley
issued a joint statement today in
which they declared they would take
no part in any movement advocating
or opposing incorpation. They as
serted the only purpose in introduc-
ing the bill now was to anticipate
the possibility that incorporation
would become necessary or desirable
before the General Assembly again
conveneS in 1914.
The Senate passed two bills by
Delegate Maurice D. Rosenberg OF
Alexandria. One authorizes City
Council to establish permanent
annual real estate assessment sys-
tenn and the other would permit
the council to be advised by refer
enda and to raise council members
salaries to not more than 81 200
each.
The House passed a bill by Sem
ator Medley which prohibits the
proration of business license fees
of S. or less.
Also passed and sent to the Senate
was bill by Delegate Elliot Camp
bell of Caroline County authorizing
the State Highway Commission to
purchase the James Madison Bridge
across the Rappahannock River,
which serves a link in the north
south traffic bypass around Wash
ington, D. c.
Liquor Tax Bill Offered.
With only Is days remaining for
consideration of mass of bills, the
House yesterday received one by
Robert Whitehead of Nelson and 16
other Delegates to impose per
cent tax on liquor and wine.
Mr.. Whitehead, pointing out that
the Legislature had just repealed
the 1910 10 per cent tax, estimated
to yield about s4,200,OO0 for the
biennium, said the 17-patron bill
should yield s2,10O,O0o and balance
the budget as to current expendi-
lures and revenues, as Gov. Darden
has insisted.
The Senate yesterday passed 20
bills, mostly of minor nature.
One, however, extended the Work.
mems Compensation Act to employ
ers with seven or more employees,
thus carrying out another of Gov.
Darden's inaugural proposals, though
in modified form. The bill, pre-
viously passed by the House, is ready
for the Governors signature.
When the House convenes today
1t will have up for passage the
following measures: A bill by Dele
gate Thomas B. Wolfe of Scott
County, amended by Delegate
Robert j. McCandlish, jr., of Fair
fax County, authorizing the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors to re-
ceive a salary of from $500 to 81 200
annually instead of $500 each, as
at present.
Other Bills Up.
A bill by Mr.. Fenwick and others
to regulate the use of cleaning
fluids In dry cleaning industries. A
bill by Delegate H. B Davis of
Princess Anne County and Mr.. Fen
wick requiring interstate operators
of airlines to pay taxes on fuel COM
mensurate with the mileage flown
over this State.
A bill by Delegate Samuel D.
Rodgers of Petersburg, amended by
Mr.. McCandlish so as to raise from
SIS to $25 the annual State appro-
priation to the Confederate Ridge
Chapter, United Daughters of the
Confederacy, for tending Confed-
crate graves at Centerville in Fair
fax County.
A bill by Delegate E. r. Conner Of
Manassas amending the town chap
ter of Occoquan which permits the
issuance of city license tags. A bill
by Mr.. McCandlish authorizing the
Fairfax County Board of Supervi-
sors to require building permits for
all construction projects valued at
$500 or more; the fees for which
would cost from so cents to IS.
A bill by Mr.. Fenwick and Dele
gate John B. Spiers of Radford pro-
viding eight annual medical scholar
ships to persons who agree to serve
as county doctors or hospital interns
after graduation.
Game Law Action Delayed.
The Senate yesterday postponed
action on a bill designed to recodify