Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-13
AnnexafionCurb
Measure Put
BeforeAssembIy
First-CIuss Cities
Would Be Limited
To 1929 of Lund Value
BY Alex R. Preston,
Ca CT

Sfof Sfofr NofFe&Pohoeht
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 13.-Re.
ported by a committee by a one-vots
margin, bill to prohibit annexa.
tion Of more than 10 per cent of 9
county's taxable land values within
q period Of 10 years will be giver
its first reading in the General As.
sembly today.
The House Committee on Coun.
ties, Cities and Towns voted, 9-8, tx
report the bill by Delegate j. j
Williams to limit a county'S losse.
from annexation proceedings, but
amended it to exempt all munich.
palities but cities of the first elias.
and also excluded cases already be.
fore the courts.
Under the amended bill, Alex
andria and proposed City of Ar.
lington would be barred from an.
nexing more than 10 per cent oil
Fairfax County's assessed land val
ues, whereas Falls Church would be
unaffected by the measure.
Delegates j. Maynard Magruder
Arlington, and w. Selden Washing
ton were among those voting against
reporting the bill.
Road Tax Hearing Held.
Gov. Tuck's proposed four-point
revision of the road tax structure
is being studied by the House and
Senate Finance Committees fol-
lowing a packed joint committee
public hearing yesterday presided
over by Delegate E. Blackburn
Moore, Winchester and Clark.
The proposed increase by / cent
gallon in the tax on gasoline
which is part of the program
would pose peculiar problems fol
the Virginia area adjoining Wash.
ington, where dealers and distribu-
tors already absorb 2-cent price
differential in order to sell fuel al
District of Columbia price, accord.
ing to testimony given by a delega-
ton from Arlington, Alexandria ano
Fairfax.
Increasing this differential by an.
other l cent means the difference
between profit and loss and a mum.
Der of service station operators ir
that area would be driven out O!
business, according to David Squires
operator of gasoline station at 10:
North Washington street, Alex.
andria.
500 Retailer Affected.
Harry L. Wainwright, represent.
Ing retail gas dealers of the District
Maryland and Virginia, and MIR
Squires were the chief spokesman al
the hearing on the Governors roac
tax structure program. Mr.. Vain.
wright told the joint committee
there are between 300 and 400 gaso-
line retailers within the District
price zone who would be "crucified'
by imposition Of the cent a gallon
tax increase. From Virginia north
Ward to Maine the average tax is 31a
cents a gallon compared with Vir-
ginia's proposed total Of 6 cents, he
said.
Mr.. Squires told the committee
that retailers would be driven out OF
business within this Northern Vir-
ginia price zone.
For every 5000 gallons of pur-
chases you drive into the District, ,
Mr.. Squires said, you are putting
one more dealer out of business ir
Virginia."
He said that since the dealer,
and distributors now absorb thu
differential to sell at District prices
the Arlington Alexandria Fairfax
area is contributing II per cent O.
the States total gasoline tax rev
enues, but that if they are forcec
to sell at higher prices nearly al
Of this trade will buy in the District
The House Courts of Justice Com
nlittee killed series of bills and
resolution by Delegate w. Stuar
Campbell, Wythe, designed to re
duce court circuits from IS to q
after a public hearing last nigh
in (which almost unanimous oppo
sitlon was expressed.
Opposed by Medley.
Senator William D. Medley, Arl
tngton, opposed tbs plan inasmucl
s it eventually contemplated on
judge sitting on the Arlington Cir
cult and Alexandria Corporation
benches. He stressed the point tn
General Assembly had recently mad
Arlington separate circuit becaus
OF the volume of work handled there
III Delegate Norman C. Bailey
Orange, also presented resolution
from the Orange Bar Association
opposing the plan.
i!lE Other high lights of yesterday
4 legislative action of significance t,
Northern Virginia areas include /,
favorable report by the House Com
mittee on Schools and Colleges OF
bill by Delegates John B. Spiers
Radford, and G. C.. Louderback
Warren and Page, authorizing tn
Department of Education to dis
tribute to localities funds based OF
an average daily attendance for
mula rather than by teacher units
Five of the Is Northern Virgini,
counties and one of the cities within
this area stood to lose next yea.
under the new school funds for
( mula, but indications were toda,
that an amendment to the ap
/ preparation bill may avert losses t,
Il the localities If the new plan
approved.
FIJI Confer With Lancaster.
Hit Delegate Edmund T. de Jarnett
H Hanover, was chairman of specia
i committee of legislative representa-
tives from total of 20>counties ant
seven cities throughout the Stat,
standing to lose under the plar
which conferred with DR.. Dabney S
Lancaster, superintendent of publ,
instruction, about absorbing tn,
losses. Later his group appeared
before the House Appropriation
Committee and he announced toda,
that funds probably will be included
In the budget to take up all losses
Among the localities which woui,
have received less funds are Airing
ton, Fairfax, Clarke, Shenandoah
Prince william and Harrisonburg.
81 The Schools and Colleges Com.
mittee set a hearing for $3.50 pm
4 tomorrow on a bill by Delegatl
! Edwin w. Lynch, Fairfax, to in
+ crease from IS to 100 per cent o
1@e@ 80 A.,