Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-01
Lynch Measure
On Subdivisions
Sent 10 House
Opponents Soy Plan
To Control Property
Is Revolutionary
By Alex R. Preston
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff Correspondent

RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 1.-THE
bill of Delegate Edwin w. Lynch Of
Fairfax authorizing the Board Of
Supervisors of his county to adopt
ordinances requiring the recording
OF plats to control subdivisions, was
before the House of Delegates today
following criticisms by opponents
that it is revolutionary and with.
out precedent"
The House Committee on Coun.
ties, Cities and Towns reported the
measure yesterday after assigning
Delegate w. Selden Washington OF
Alexandria, one of its members, to
work with Mr.. Lynch and a delega-
ton from Fairfax to iron out diff
ferences that may be submitted in
the form of amendments on the
floor of the House.
The same committee reported
without change the Lynch bill in
cooperating a new charter for the
town of Falls Church, when no op-
ponents appeared at the session for
which time had been set aside for
a hearing.
Two Oppose Measure.
Charles Pickett Fairfax, and John
Mackall, Langley, were the. only two
who appeared to oppose the Lynch
subdivision bill.
T.. j.. Stockton, county planning
engineer, and Donald L. wilkins of
the Civic Federation, were the prin-
cipal speakers of delegation sup
porting the measure.
Although designed as a local bill,
Mr.. Mackall said 1t goes beyond the
scope OF a measure of this nature
since it would vest title in fee
simple to the State to all subdivision
areas recorded as streets, thus
throwing maintenance on the high
way department.
Bill Call Dangerous"
He said it was a vicious and
dangerous bill because a person
could not divide his land into three
percels without recording the plat
as a Subdivision, and thus be
made to meet certain prescribed
standards of improvement.
Mr.. Pickett said the measure in
wolves the constitutional rights of
every land owner in Fairfax County
and delegates dangerous legislative
powers to the local governing body
and its designated agency of en-
forcement. Without criticism to in
cumbent officials, Mr.. Pickett as
serted the powers were too broad
to give future unknown county ad-
ministrations.
Mr.. Lynch said he was agreeable
to amendments which could bring
all interests into accord and that
he had introduced the bill only at
the request of the Board of Super
visors after it had been drafted by
the Planning Commission.
Special Problems Cited.
Mr.. Stockton explained that Fair
fax is three-fourths rural and one
fourth urban. Special problems are
created in the fringe area" out
from Washington which encircles
all OF Arlington, Alexandria and
Fairfax, he said.
He emphasized that the entire act
would be permissive and the extent
to which the authority would be
exercised would be determined by
the type of ordinances enacted by
the local governing body after due
notice and public hearings.
Mr.. Wilkins pointed to pending
legislation in Congress to increase
Federal employees salaries and said
manpof these workers would come
into Virginia to make their homes
in the fringe area"
Arlington Charter Deferred.
I'VE are all familiar" he said
with the type of real estate deal
ers who run a bulldozer through
a field and then sell lots on each
side with promises that a fine street
Is to bS constructed. 1t looks fine
in the summer, but when frost
comes and winter sets in, everybody
is left stuck in the mud. We need
the authority to require certain
standards of improvements.
The committee did not consider
the Arlington charter bill 1t re-
ported. however, a bill by Delegate
E. Blackburn Moore, providing a
new charter for the town of Mid
dletown, Frederick County, and the
bill of Delegate William j. Gibson,
Fredericksburg amending a section
OF the chapter on his city relating
to the civil and police court.
The Senate, meanwhile, set for
special and continuing order at
12:45 pm. Monday the series of
bills and resolution by Delegate
Stuart B. Campbell, Wythe, revis-
ing the suffrage laws. The action
was taken on motion of Senator
William D. Medley, Arlington, a
member of the Campbell Suffrage
Commission which made. an interim
study and recommended the pend
ing revisions.
Realty Bond Bill Passed.
1t passed and sent to the Cover
nor, one of two companion bills by
0SiSSoeSo y. MdylldlQ MdSEuQ6f
and George Damn, both Arlington.
Lynch and Washington, authoriz-
ing local governing bodies to re-
quire $1,000 bonds of statesmen and
$4,000 bonds of brokers dealing in
real estate as prerequisite to their
being licensed in this State. The
second bill comes up in this series
for passage today
AS each branch has only through
Saturday to move to the other legis-
lative body legislation originating in
its own chambers, the House skipped
all Senate bills and worked only on
House measures.
Among those passed was a bill
by Delegates E. w. Dodd, Botetourt.
and c. c. Louderback, Warren and
Page, to provide free textbooks for
elementary grades.
1t advanced to passing stage for
today more than score of bills up
for second reading yesterday, but
in the process killed by a vote of SO
to SO a bill to increase the income
tax rates and repeal the existing
tax on money on deposit.
Al