Evening star., 1942-02-26
Virginia House
To Act Today on
DC. Boundary
Fenwick Bill Coils
For Airport Within
Stute Confines
By q Staff Correspondent of The star.


RICHMOND, Feb. 26.-Legislation
to establish the District Of Colum-
bia- Virginia boundary in accordance
with the terms of a bill offered in
Congress by Representative Ran
dolph, Democrat, of West Virginia
moved toward passage today in the
House of Delegates.
The measure, sponsored by Dele
gate Charles r. Fenwick of Airing
ton, was given its second reading
yesterday and would establish the
boundary line as it now exists at
the high water mark Of the Potomac
River and would place the Wash
ington National Airport entirely
within this State, but with the status
of a Federal reservation.
Virginia would have the right
to collect its gasoline tax at the
airport and also would be en-
powered to enforce its alcoholic
beverage laws there.
If Congress passes the Randolph
bill the Governor and attorney
general could ratify the boundary
line without further action by the
General Assembly.
No opposition to the bill was
voiced yesterday when Mr.. Fenwick
explained that it is designed to
abolish the mo mans land" which
has existed for years resulting in
conflicting law enforcement and
sometimes no enforcement at all be-
cause of Federal. State and District
officials each denying jurisdiction
over certain borderline areas.
Anti-Annexation Bill.
A bill by Delegate Robert J. Nc
Candlish, jr., of Fairfax County to
freeze" annexation of any portion
OF Fairfax County until 1914 has
been referred from the House Com
mittee on Special, Private and Local
Legislation to the House General
Laws Committee and will be acted
on by the latter group this after
noon.
Not only would the McCandlish
bill prohibit the town of Falls
Church from proceeding with an
annexation suit involving land on
the Fairfax County side and the
City of Alexandria from extending
its borders further, but it would also
stop Arlington, If that county be-
comes city, from annexing either
Falls Church or Fairfax County ter
ritory.
Rosenberg Promises Fight.
Delegate Maurice D. Rosenberg of
Alexandria, q member of the Gen.
eral Laws Committee, said he Wig
orously will oppose Mr.. McCand-
hsh's bill because the Legislature
already has demonstrated its un-
Willingness to hold up annexation
proceedings and because the Fair
fax Delegates legislation would
violate the State constitution.
Dill by Mr.. Fenwick to permit
the appointment of policemen in
counties for five-year terms instead
OF one year was recoinmitted to
committee yesterday with the con-
sent Of patron.
Action taken by the Senate yes
terday indicated that legislation to
make uniform the opening and clos
ing OF polls may be sent to Confer
ence Committee to iron out differ
snces between the House and Senate
The House already has passed the
Fenwick bill, which has been amend
ed to provide for the opening of polls
at am. and their closing at pm.
Although Mr.. Fenwick proposed the
closing hour at pm. in his original
measure the bill was referred to the
Senate Privileges and Elections Com
mittee.
Identical Bill Passed.
In the meantime, however, SEN
ator John S. Battle of Charlottes-
vile introduced q bill Identical to
Mr.. Fenwick's original proposal and
this measure was passed by the Sen
ate yesterday by a vote Of II to is.
A proposed amendment by Senator
Charles T. Moses Of Appomattox to
provide for the 7 pm. closing hour,
so as to conform with the Fenwick
bill. was defeated after a lengthy
debate.
Polls are now kept open from
Sunrise to sunset" and a need for
a change was described yesterday
by Senator Medley, who declared
that the polls close as early as 5 pm.
during the November elections, max
ing 1t impossible for many Federal
Government employees working in
Washington but living in Virginia to
return to their homes to vote.