Evening star., 1947-01-09
Virginia Bills
Stir New Fight
Over Annexation
Protection Sought by
Fairfox From Both
Arlington, Alexandria
Bv Alex R. Preston
By Alex R. Preston
Sfor Stoff CORRESPONDENT


RICHMOND, Jan. 9.-Annexatior
the biennial problem that almost
invariably confronts the General AS
sembly in one form or another
was before the special session Of the
Legislature today. with Arlington
and Fairfax Counties and the city
of Alexandria occupying the center
of the ring as principal contenders
Scarcely a session has passed
within the memory of veteran OBJ
servers that the issue has not
cropped up.
The legislative battle was
launched this time by the introduc-
tion yesterday of two opposing bills
from Fairfax County Delegate Ed
win Lynch and Arlington's House
members, George Damn and j
Maynard Magruder
Acting on the recommendation oi
the Fairfax County Bar Association
Mr.. Lynch seeks to protect his
county from further encroachment
by Alexandria or potential annexa-
ton by Arlington-if the latter were
to incorporate into a city-by per-
mitting his constituents to vote on
the question of a county manager
form of government.
Arlington Now Protected.
Arlington, which already has the
county manager plan, has been
protected" from further expansion
by Alexandria since 1892.
Mr.. Lynch and a large number of
his constituents feel that, If Fairfax
adopts the same form of govern
ment it should be afforded equal
protection. Alexandria already has
taken in some of the county's highly
developed territory and the county
fears further loss of its highest tax
able land values by further expan-
sion Of its neighbors.
The Arlington delegation and a
sizable segments of the people back
home feel that Fairfax does not
have the same arguments against
annexation as does Arlington. While
it is true the County Manager Act
prohibited annexation of territory
governed by that form of govern
ment, it also specified that such
areas should not be taken away
from county when its total area
is less than so square miles.
Fairfax Much Larger.
Arlington'S argument Is that IT, Is
the smallest county in the State
and one of the smallest in the Ma
ton, and further reductions In size
would reduce it to political non
entity. The Arlington viewpoint is
that the same cannot be said of
Fairfax, which has more than 500
square miles of area.
Under Virginia law, no county can
absorb the territory of another. But
Arlingtonians look forward to the
day when residents may vote to
incorporate as a city, thus giving
1t the same powers of extension
that Alexandria now has.
Meanwhile, State Senator Andrew
w. Clarke, who represents both
Alexandria and Fairfax-opposing
interests in the issue-has been
placed in "a hot spot" since it
would\be his job to steer measures
introduced by his House associates
through the Senate. =
Arlington, on the other hand, has
its own Senator, William D. Med
ley, to see that House legislation
safely passes through the upper
branch.
The Damn -Magruder bill would
amend the so-called county man.
ager act, so far adopted only by
Arlington, to read as follows:
s"If any county having an area
of more than 20, but less than &C
square miles and a population In
excess of 1000 a square mile, &C
cording to the last preceding
United States census, adopts or has
adopted any of the forms of gov
ernment provided in this chapter
then such county shall not be an
nexed in whole or in part"
Bars Another Proposal.
"The language in the latter part
of this amendment also would quash
a proposal recently made by Mr.
Lynch in a letter to the Arlington
County Board that Arlington anc
Alexandria cQnsolidate into one
municipality.
Meanwhile, the Arlington delega-
ton is going ahead with plans to
introduce bill opening the way for
a nonpartisan election of the Coun-
ty Board. If this legislation shapes
up in the form of an amendment to
the county manager act, some
quarters feel the predominant Dem
ocratic organization would oppose
adoption of a county manager plan
for Fairfax.
A bill by Mr.. Damn and Mr.. Ma
gruder to permit referendum this
wear on the question of abolishing
the present stagger method Of elect
ing members of the County Board
also was introduced yesterday.
Another local measure by the same
two patrons was introduced to ex-
tend the 1912 public employees re-
tirement act to include the employees
Of elected constitutional officers such
as the sheriff and treasurer.
Senator Clarke introduced retire
ment legislation for Fairfax County
employees in the upper branch. The
measure includes, in addition to all
county employees, workers under the
constitutional officers and police
and firemen.
Earlier, at his press conference
Gov. Tuck limited he may recon-
mend legislation other than the
teachers salaries and labor legisla-
ton for which the General Assem-
bly, has been called into special ses-
sion.
Rent Law Being Drafted.
Gov. Tuck has asked the Attorney
General to study proposed State
rent control act to become effective
II Federal control is lifted July !
Delegate Walter Scott, Roanoke
disclosed at the same time he il
preparing State rent law patterned
after one now effective in New