Evening star., 1946-02-17
North Virginia
Bills Slated for
EARLY Hearings
Annexation Curb
Set for Tuesday,
Charter Thursday
By Alex. R. Preston

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 16.-When
the General Assembly convenes
Monday it will begin the busiest
week of the session, with legisla-
ton of major Importance to North
ern Virginia and particularly Ar
lington, Alexandria and Fairfax oc-
cupying the spotlight.
OF Statewide significance, some
OF the main legislative recommends
tions of Gov. Tuck and former Gov
Darden will be brought before both
houses and their committees dur
ing the week.
Specifically, the matters which
may have far-reaching effects for
the areas near Washington deal
with annexation and city charter
for Arlington.
The bill of Delegate ]. j. Will
liamS, Henrico, to limit the amount
OF territory county may lose with
in any 10-year period to 10 per
cent of the assessed valuation of
its real property will come up for
debate in the House Monday. 1t
was passed by Friday because of its
highly controversial nature and be-
cause the Moncure-Locker bill to
blacklist for five years public en-
ployes who strike took up most of
the day.
Set Annexation Hearing.
Annexation legislation of direct
interest to Fairfax will occupy the
spotlight at 2:30 pm. Tuesday when
the House Committee on Counties
Cities and Towns will hold a public
hearing on a bill by the county's s
delegate, Edwin w. Lynch. The
measure provides that no areas may
be taken in when municipality in
stitutes a suit unless first the con-
sent of so per cent Of the qualified
voters of the areas affected has been
obtained. Included in his measure
however, is the section of the pres
ent law providing that 81 per cent
of the voters may initiate action to
join a city.
No hearing has been set on a
second and more stringent law pro-
posed by Mr.. Lynch directed spe-
cifically at Arlington and Alexan-
dria.
The second Lynch bill would, in
effect, require the consolidation of
Arlington and Alexandria into one
political unit before either, sur
rounded entirely by Fairfax County,
could annex. He seeks a law which
would prohibit any county, city or
town which contains all or part of
territory once ceded to the United
States as seat of Government, and
later retroceded to Virginia, from
filing an annexation suit unless,
first, all of such area retroceded to
Virginia is contained in one unit
All of Arlington and the greater
part of Alexandria were within the
original District of Columbia 100
years ago.
A bitter fight is anticipated at a
public hearing before the same
House committee at 2:3o pm. Thurs
day when Arlington's proposed city
charter is given a hearing. There
have been number of objections
to the charter as prepared by the
County Charter Commission and
which was introduced without al
teration by Delegates J. Maynard
Magruder and George Damn, both
of Arlington.
Opponents Seek Delay.
Those who have expressed most
outspoken dissatisfaction to the
city, plan have gone so far as to
propose the selection of another
charter commission to prepare a
plan for the 1948 session
This door is left open by one
provision of the bill which would
not repeal the 1912 act unless and
until the city government came into
being. The 1912 act sets up the
machinery for appointment of a
commission to prepare charter for
legislative approval.
Also next week, plan for re-
tirement of all Arlington County
employees is expected to be intro
duced. One measure for retirement
and death benefits for police and
f1remen of that county now is
before committee.
Although the Campbell Suffrage
Commission recommendations have
been reported unanimously by the
House Privileges and Elections
Committee, they face a battle in
both houses. The changes include
repeal of the poll tax as pre-
rnn11icifn tn untirn 1lrcnI htyf fnr
mer Gov. Darden.
The budget bill reported Friday
failed to carry Mr.. Darden's recon-
mended 100000 for tourist adver-
tising and the House General Laws
Committee has declined to report
boiler inspection law urged by
both Governors.
Tax Bill in Committee.
The comprehensive revisions to
the highway tax structure are still
in committees of both branches and
may come before the Senate FL
nance Committee Tuesday. The
measure includes proposed one
gallon tax increase on gas
oline and abolition of the two per
cent gross receipts tax on common
and contract truckers.
The Virginia Passenger Bus Asso-
citation, Inc, today asked to be in
cluded along with the truckers in
the exemption from the gross Ne
ceipts tax. A letter to members of
the Assembly claims more than 400
passenger carriers operate within
the State.
The bill of E. B. Moore, Winches-
ter and Clarke, to set up a Water
Control Board to prevent pollution
of streams, has undergone extensive
amendments. Changes include de-
letion of provision that no member
of an industry certified by the board
could serve on the board; a more
exact definition of the types of rules
and regulations that could be issued
and at least 80 days notice and
hearing on orders requiring installa-
ton and treatment plants or other
control devices. Both Governors
urged enactment of anti-pollution
laws
! Road Bill Vote Nears.
The House is slated to take final
action Monday on the Noses
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