Evening star., 1948-02-11
Falls Church Fights
Annexation Changes
Before Assembly
BY a stoff Correspondent Of Tn. s.er

DVuVIV HSSVutUu
By q stoff Correspondent Of The ster
RICHMOND, Feb. 11.-Although
the town of Falls Church does not
want to be annexed by Arlington.
it was on record today as opposing
legislation intended to make an
nexation more difficult.
A spokesman yesterday told the
House of Delegates Committee on
Counties, Cities and Towns that
Falls Church is against the re-
strictive legislation because 1t hopes
to "be nimble enough" to acquire
additional territory before Arlington
does.
The differences between the Fair
fax County town and Arlington
County-which soon may become an
incorporated city-posed a problem
for the committee.
LaRue Van Meter, Falls Church
town attorney, told the committee
that his council has instructed him
to testify against three bills under
consideration.
Purpose Is Explained.
Delegate Joseph j. Williams Of
Henrico County, chairman Of the
committee conducting the hearing,
asked Mr.. Van Meter:
do understand that you people
in Falls Church favor being annexed
by the proposed city Of Arlington
without first being given voice
in the matter?"
EYES," the town attorney replied
"But we hope to be nimble enough
to beat them to it."
Mr.. Van Meter explained later
that Falls Church may become a
second class city, immune to an
nexation from other quarters, and
acquire power to take in additional
territory itself.
He acknowledged that if Airing
ton incorporated today the new city
would be in position to annex Falls
Church.
Petition Is Cited.
Observers said that If Falls Church
was first to become a city, it could
ward off encroachments from Ar
lington and could absorb adjacent
areas in Fairfax County. Testimony
yesterday aligned Fairfax against
the interests of Falls Church, Arling-
ton and Alexandria, alike.
Mr.. Van Meter told the committee
that the community of Jefferson
Village wanted to join the town and
citizens had offered to circulate petit
tions to start court proceedings to
bring this about because they obtain
quicker police and fire protection
services from Falls Church than they
do from Fairfax.
He recalled that in 1910 the East
Greenway Downs area had success
fully fought of an annexation suit
by Falls Church. For these reasons,
he contended, the present law is fair
because 1t works both ways.
Conflicts With Other Witnesses.
Mr.. Van Meters testimony con-
trasted with that of other witnesses
who spoke either entirely from the
viewpoint of counties or gave only
a municipalities arguments. He was
among a delegation from the Metro
politan Area of Washington who
attended the hearing.
G. B. Runyon, member of the
Fairfax County Board of Super
visors, who represents Falls Church,
indicated he was opposed to the
bills. He said he believed they
would make the expansion of cities
too difficult. Another member OF
the board, Arthur Shaffer from
Mount Vernon district, and r. M.
Loughborough, county executive Sec
retary, supported the legislation
sponsored by Robert J. McCandlish,
jr., of Fairfax.
Mr.. McCandlish also represents
Falls Church in the House. State
Senator Andrew w. Clarke. who
represents Fairfax County. includ-
ing Falls Church. as well as Alex
andria, refused to comment on the
Legislation, but expressed the belief
that the measures would not pass
the House
Pickett Calls for Passage.
Charles Pickett of Fairfax, asked
that the proposed bills be enacted.
Today" he asserted, I'VE have
Falls Church, Alexandra and Ar
lington County, which may become
city, as well as the District Of
Columbia, all within a small area.
1t would seem that this General
Assembly would recognize the right
OF the people to decide which mu-
nicipality they want to join"
He said the present law often
makes annexed territories "the re-
luctant and unwilling bride" Of
cities.
Among those attending from the
Washington area were David Robb
and William Zimmerman, both Of
the New Alexandria Citizens Associ-
alton: A. N. Taylor, Belle Haven
Citizens Association; Albert E. Cor
ham. John Carper, John Mackan
and Albert Schmitz, all of Mel can,
and Cooper Dawson. jr., of Pen Daw.
Chairman williams indicated the
committee may act on the bills
tomorrow.