Evening star., 1942-04-08
Incorporation
AsCity Studied
In Arlington
Civic Federation
Asks County Board
To Take Action

Grafton last night urged the county
board to take steps to put into effect
procedure for incorporation of the
county as a city which was included
in an act passed by Virginia Gen.
eral Assembly at its session just
concluded.
The action was taken after
Charles r. Fenwick of Arlington,
member of the Virginia House of
Delegates, explained his part as
joint sponsor of the legislation.
The federation instructed its
Legislative and Legal Action Com
mittee to request the board to petit
ton the Circuit Court Judge to ap-
point charter commission which
would draft proposed city plan
OF government to be acted upon by
the General Assembly in 1914. In
the event the County Board declines
to take such a step the committee
was instructed to circulate petitions
to obtain 200 names of qualified
voters which could be presented to
the judge with the same effect.
According to the act, signed Mon
day by Gov. Darden, charter COM
mittee is to be appointed by a judge
of the Circuit Court following either
a resolution by the county board or
presentation of petition signed by
200 qualified voters. 1t also pro-
vides charter which may be adopt
ed by referendum prior to 1914,
but the federation declined to vote
on the city plan now provided.
Fenwick Explains Act.
In regard to the act, which he
sponsored with State Senator Will
liam Medley, Mr. Fenwick said:
Drawing a charter for a city of
the frst-class while trying to keep
up with the regular legislature busi-
ness is a job I wouldn't want to
have to tackle again. 1 was criti-
cized for introducing the bill but
thought Arlington voters ought to
nave a chance to express their
views.
My conscience Is clear. The peo-
pie of Arlington can take it or
leave it,
Redistricting to provide for a State
Senator and another Delegate from
Arlington was among the bills
| signed by Gov. Darden which Mr..
Fenwick outlined before the fedora
ton. The bill was almost lost, he
/ pointed out, when Delegates from
sparsely-settled areas objected to
increasing Arhnston5 representa-
! ton. ..,.
Mr.. Fenwick also discussed the
rent control act, permitting the
| Governor to designate rent control
areas: bill providing for a central
registrar at the county courthouse
and bill setting up eight medical
school scholarships on the proviso
that the recipients would practice
medicine in rural areas in need of
young blood"
Other Bills Reviewed.
Mr.. Fenwick reviewed the retire
ment system to be provided for
county and school board employees: {:
the "pawnbroker bill" requiring sec
ond-hand dealers to register articles
bought and customers names with
police; the State improvement of
Fairfax drive pending county acqui-
sition of the right of way, and the
S50,000 fund to purchase free text
books for INDECENT children.
Arlington's traffic record, a year
without traffic death. was brought
before the Legislature in connection
with lowering the State speed limit,
Mr.. Fenwick said.
Regarding the controversy over
the National Airport boundary dis
pute, Mr.. Fenwick declared he IA
vored making the land a Federal
reservation so Arlington would not
have to police it. If the District took
over the property, it might be the
first step toward annexing all the
county, he said.
The controversy has been fore
stalled by consideration of the Nc
Carran bill providing for reconsider
alton of the Act of 1846 which re-
| turned Arlington and most of Alex
andria to Virginia, Mr.. Fenwick
! pointed out.
Move to Oppose Plan Adopted.
On motion Of James Franklin
chairman, the Legislative and Legal
Action Committee OF the federation
was instructed to confer with Airing
ton and Virginia authorities in COM
batting the McCarran bill which
would return Arlington and Alex
andria to the District.
The group also approved a mo-
ton by DR.. Victor Myers, asking
that the county board purchase q
site from Lanham Act funds for a
building to be used for recreationaI
purposes.
Maintenance of existing milk
prices also was asked. The grour
took no action on a suggestion by
Mr.. Franklin that milk distributor.
pool their distribution facilities ano
limit their deliveries to every other
day.