Evening star., 1946-01-18
Magruder Seeks
Arlington Board
Election Chanqe
Bill Being Prepared
| Would Eliminate
Staggered Terms
BY ALEX r. PRESTON,
Star STAFF Correspondent

Star STAFF Correspondent.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 18-Legis-
latlon to return members of the Ar
lington County Board to a system
Of simultaneous elections to replace
the present stagger method is being
for General Assembly ac-
ton next week, Delegate J. Maynard
Arlington, said today.
A number Of measures affecting
Northern Virginia were introduced
at yesterdays session of the House Of
Delegates before it adjourned until
noon Monday. The Senate was to go
into session again at IL am. today
before weekend adjournment.
The change in terms of Arlington
Board members has been urged by q
of local civic groups after
passage OF an act setting up the
present stagger system in 1910. Prin-
cipal objections were based on the
theory that the stagger system all
lows the majority party to perpetu-
ate itself on the local governing
board by concentration of all cam
palgn efforts on one or two candi-
dates instead of the full membership
of five.
Four-Year Terms Proposed.
Even if the stagger method Is
reinstated at the present session.
it probably will be 1850 before the
county board can be placed back
on a full simultaneous election plan
because present staggered terms
must expire. Thereafter, the pro-
posed law would provide for four
year terms, Mr.. Magruder said.
Delegate Charles c. Louderback,
Page and Warren, introduced a bill
authorizing the Town Councils Of
Luray and Front Royal and the
Boards of Supervisors of Page and
Warren Counties to make donations
OF real estate personal property and
money from their respective treasu-
ries to associations and institutions
promoting hospital and voluntary
f1refghting services within their
respective boundaries.
He said the Front Royal Hospital
was specifically in mind when he
introduced the measure, since it
depends on support from local con-
tributions.
The House approved resolution
introduced by Delegate Norman C.
Bailey. Culpeper. commencing Sen.
ator Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia.
and members of Congress from Vir-
g1nia for recent labor positions.
Bill Aimed at Bradford.
On the Senate side, Senator An.
drew w. Clarke, Alexandria, Fairfax
and Prince William, introduced a bill
designed to remove the incumbent
personnel director, j. H. Bradford
from office. Mr. Bradford also is
budget director, and the Alexan-
drlan's bill would prohibit the bud-
get director from being appointed to
any capacity in connection with ad-
minlstration of the Personnel Act.
Senator Clarke contends there are
many discrepancies in salaries paid
to State employees with consequent
loss OF valuable aid. The Assembly
declined to act on a similar measure
In 1914.
Senator Clarke joined Senator
Benjamin T. Pitts, Fredericksburg.
In sponsoring a law which would
abolish existing requirements in the
ABC law that distributor of beer
and light wines must first deliver the
product to his place of business be-
fore storing it in a separate ware
house.
Antipollution legislation identical
with that introduced in the House
by Delegates F. Blackburn Moore.
Winchester and Clarke, and Bailey
was introduced in the Senate yes
terday. The sponsors are Senators
James D. Hagood, Glover, and LLOYD
c. Bird, Chesterfield, who said they
sought to expedite passage by stimuli
taneous consideration in both
branches. The legislation would es-
tablish a water control act to BE-
administered by a five member
board.
Judges Are Elected.
Delegate William j. Gibson. Fred
ericksburg, joined Delegate William
H. Cassell, Portsmouth, in sponsor
ing a bill to require local boards Of
public welfare to investigate any
cases referred to them by a Juvenile
and domestic relations court and to
make written report of findings
and recommendations to the court.
Such reports also would be valid az
evidence in appeals.
At one stage of yesterdays Assem-
bly,, the House and Senate went into
concurrent session to elect a num-
Der of judges who previously had
been nominated as uncontested
candidates by joint Democratic
caucus
Among judges elected yesterday
were Burnett Miller, jr, Culpeper.
to the 9th Circuit to fill the un-
expired term of Judge Alexander T.
Browning, retired. He was noni-
mated by Delegate D. French
Slaughter, Culpeper, and seconded
by Mr.. Bailey.
Judge Burr P. Harrison was re-
elected to the 18th Circuit and
Corporation Court of Winchester on
motion of Delegate William r..
Shaffer, Shenandoah, seconded by
Mr.. Moore.
Delegate Magruder seconded the
nomination for reelection of Judge
Harvey P. Apperson to the State
Corporation Commission.
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