Evening star., 1942-03-03
Reappofionment Bills Virginia Senate Acts
Reach Virginia Senate Today on Bill Lifting
And House Calendars Farm Motor Fees
Committees of Both
Branches Act After
Pressure by Dorden
BY a Staff Correspondent of The star

by a StdII Correspondent OF Inc otdr.
RICHMOND, Marcn 3.-Prospects
of increased representation for
Northern Virginia in the General
Assembly appeared brighter today
as the result of action by the Privi-
leges and Elections Committee of
both branches of the Legislature.
The committee of the Senate yes
terday voted 10, to to report the
bill carrying out the Fuller CommlS-
sion recommendations which would
take Arlington County out of the ex-
isting Goth senatorial district and
give 1t a Senator of his own, while
leaving the remaining portion Of
that district comprising Alexandria
and the counties of Fairfax and
Prince William, with another Sem
ator. The committee action was
taken in executive session after a
lengthy morning public hearing.
The House Privileges and Election
Committee, also meeting behind
closeds doors, reported a bill dras-
tically revised from the Fuller Com
mission report but carrying out the
recommendation that Arlington's
delegation in the House be increased
from one to two members.
Pushed by Darden.
Gov. Darden has made known his
wishes that something be done to re-
apportion the State on more equit-
able basis. When only last week it
appeared that reapportionment was
doomed because most of the areas
would be adversely affected, the
Governor is said by reliable sources
to have renewed his earlier pleas,
but in a firmer vein.
Senatro I. Paul Wales of the Am
herst-Nelson District, declared at
the morning hearing that while
there is constitutional requirement
for redistricting, there is nothing
said about how it is to be done. He
said minor shift" would meet the
constitutional requirement without
disrupting most of the State. He
said this Statment probably would
open him to criticism from news
papers who are primarily interested
in urban areas"
DR.. J. Belmont Woodson. former
Senator from Amherst-Nelson Dis
,trict, said the United States Senator
is not apportioned according to
population and therefore the State
Senate districts need not be estab-
lished on this basis. He said more
attention should be given to revenue
provided by the localities.
Medley Points to Revenues.
At this point, Senator William D,
Medley of Arlington, in defense of
the Fuller Commission recommended
tions, said Arlington provides the
greatest amount of revenue of any
Virginia county and provides more
revenue than all but four cities. He
also argued that Arlington's in
creased population should be a
major factor in giving that county
additional voice in the Assembly.
Both bills as reported will now
appear on the House and Senate
calendars and bitter debates are ex-
pected. ION the floors of each body.
The House bill dealing with redis-
tricting of House seats must over
come opposition on the floor and
pass through the Senate Privileges
and Elections Committee before the
final hurdle on the Senate floor. A
similar process, but starting at the
other end of the Capitol, in the Sen
ate, must be encountered by the
Senate bill.