Evening star., 1948-03-14
Arlington Takes
Assembly
In Bills Passed
Northern Vireinions
Active in Sponsoring
Statewide Measures
BY O steff ce,r.spend.nt Of The star

BY a stoff Correspondent Of The Star
RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 13-Ar-
lngton's delegation emerged from
the General Assembly which ended
tonight with the highest legislative
batting average" of the session.
AL the Northern Virginians took
leading parts in sponsoring sig
nifcant measures applying to the
State as whole. Floor Leader E.
Blackburn Moore of Winchester and
Clarke County, sponsored most of
Gov. Tuck's bills while Delegate
Armistead L. Boothe joined him in
cleaning up" the anti-Truman
election measure which removed
most Of its original objectional fea-
lures.
More than a dozen laws affecting
Arlington County and nearly as
many for Fairfax County were
passed by the General Assembly
One of several affecting Alexandria
"a referendum on at-large elec-
tions of the City Council there
already has been carried out.
Richmond Charter at Issue.
Perhaps the biggest issue of the
session, as far as Arlington was con-
cerned, centered on the Richmond
city charter with its provision for
nonpartisan elections of city coun
Gil Proponents of a similar plan
for the Arlington County Board
looked on passage OF the Richmond
bill as an invitation for Arlington
to obtain a similar law.
The county's legislative delegation
felt otherwise, however, and all they
would do in this direction was to
support law to change the date
of the school board election from
November to May so as to remove
this contest from the influence of
the fall political campaign. This
bill specifies. however, that the elec-
ton shall be nonpartisan.
This year Arlington again obtained
special laws because the county's
form of government, together with
its high density of population, give
1t the problems and characteristics
of city while it legally remains a
county. .
Arlington has become the first
county in Virginia to obtain certain
taxing powers heretofore reserved
exclusively to cities. These powers
include authorization for the county
board to impose license taxes on
businesses and professions and to
require county automobile tags.
Road Fund Bill Put Through.
In the opinion of Some, Arlington
now has attained about all of the
benefits of city without incor-
porating .and thus losing road funds
that go only to counties.
But III case Arlington does incor-
porate, the county delegation put
through d bill which would give
Arlington all highway funds al
located to It at the time 1t incor-
porates.
The county already enjoys virtual
immunity from annexation by Alex
andria and is not affected by an
other annexation law passed by the
legislature.
Fairfax County will be affected
by a number of measures intro
duced by Senator Andrew w. Clarke
and Delegate Robert j. McCand-
lish: jr. 1t will have new police
trial board along with Arlington.
Fairfax, as well as Alexandria and
Arlington, will be able officially to
adopt daylight saving for the first
time this summer, if Washington
changes it's clocks. The bill met
opposition in both houses but Gov.
Tuck already has signed it despite
his opposition to anything but Gods
time"
Bills Sponsors Mentioned.
Delegates j. Maynard Magruder
and George Damn of Arlington.
Jointly introduced % bills, all but
four of which were passed. Mr..
Magruder sponsored a total of "a
measures. Mr.. Damn sponsored 81.
Senator Charles r. Fenwick of
Arlington introduced II measures
and six fell by the wayside. Sena-
tor Clarke sponsored "a and nine
Of those we're lost.
Mr.. Boothe's name was on %
measures, of which were defeated,
and Mr. McCandlish's name ap-
peared on 10, with nine defeated
/. The names of a sponsor on a bill
does not necessarily mean that he
was the chief patron and in some
instances only the chief patron
steers bill through the Legislature.
Some bills killed on the floor or in
committee, while others were volun-
tarily withdrawn.
Arlington Bill Passed.
The following measures, co-spon-
sored by Mr.. Damn and Mr.. Ma
gruder, were passed.:
Giving Arlington the same author
ity the Highway Department now
has in other counties, to close cer-
tain streets and railroad crossings
Authorizing the County Board to
impose business and professional
licenses.
/ Providing an assistant central
registrar.
Permitting the County Board to
require auto licenses.
Extending State rent control act
II Federal controls cease.
! Giving the Revenue Commissioner
until September to deliver personal
property assessment book to treas
urer.
! Giving road funds TO Arlington
II it Incorporates.
Permitting voting registration
books to be closed five days prior
to special election or referendum.
Providing for reassessment of lots
when subdivided or rezoned.
Bond Issue Powers.
! Granting additional powers to
local governing bodies to issue
bonds for public works either with
Or without Federal grants.
Providing for associate and sub
Stitute trial justice and increasing
Justices salary to $1,000 annually.
Increasing county board mem
bers' salary from 81 200 to $1,000 a
fear each.
| Increasing pay for electoral board