Evening star., 1948-02-24
-Four Arlington Bills
Among 137 Offered
In Last-Minufe Rush

In Last-Minufe Rush
Bye staff Correspondent, Of The ster
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 24.-The
General Assembly today was faced
with 1877 new bills introduced be-
fore yesterdays deadline for most
types Of legislation. Eight new
resolutions also were offered.
Among the bills were four affect
Ing Arlington. They would transfer
the Police Department from the
Circuit Court to the county mana
ger and establish a police trial
board; authorize a war memorial
stadium; reduce the, amount of the
county treasurer's bond and trans
fer the burden for zoning changes
which are opposed from the adjoin-
ing property owners to the person
seeking the change.
Nearly score of measures, more
generally applicable to the State,
were introduced by other Northern
virginia legislators.
Bills Affect Arlington.
The measures specifically applying
Arlington were introduced by
~ Charles r. Fenwick.
County police, now appointed by
the judge of the Circuit Court,
would be named by the county man
ager who would be guided, but not
limited, by recommendations of the
police chief. Policemen would have
the right Of appeal to a trial board,
the action of which would be final.
The new board would be formed
within 80 days of the effective date
bffthe Act. 1T would consist of jal
practicing attorney, a citizen elected
BY ma tority vote Of the police
department, kho would be appoir1t-
ed by the county board, and the.
trial Justice The last-named off,
cial would serve for. the term of his
Office, but the two other members
would serve one year terms.
The second measure authorizes
the county board and school board
to contract with each other and
with outside associations for sta
dium and athletic field as a war
memorial. The memorial would be
under the control of the school
board for such times as are needed
for athletic events and the county
board would be empowered to permit
the use of the facility to other ac-
tiyities and to make charges for its
use.
Bond Cut Proposed.
A third bill would reduce the
treasurer's bond from 80 to IS per
cent of the funds annually received
by him. The county board could
set the bond higher and also pre-
scribe bonds for other officers and
employees.
The fourth Arlington biil relates
to contested rezoning actions of the
county board. Under existing law,
a four-fifths favorable vote is re-
quired to affect a change when the
owners Of 20 per cent or more of
land within the affected area, or
within a radius of 500 feet of the
property, file protest.
The proposed new law would shift |
the burden to the applicant so that
he would need a four -flfths favor
able vote, except when he has the
approval of the owners of 80 per
cent Of land in the area affected or |
within 500-foot radius. Then a
simple majority vote would be sufn-
cient.
Delegates J. Maynard Magruder
and George Damn OF Arlington, in
troduced 40 bill to permit elective
local officers, such as treasurers and
sheriffs, to be included in retirement
systems.
Bill Aids Lawyers.
Mr. Damn and Robert j. Nc
Candlish, jr., of Fairfax sponsored
measure designed to aid lawyers
In clearing up titles to property. 1t (
would place a statute of limitation
Of 10 years on inheritance taxes on
real estate so that if no assessment
had been made against the estate
Of a decedent within that period,
there would be no lien against the
property. The bill, however, would
not relieve estates from liability to
pay the tax.
Mr.. Damn and Mr.. Magruder
Two requests were made for con-
gressional action in resolutions in
troduced by Arlington's legislators.
One, by Senator FenWick. urges
enactment of law for universal
military training. The other, by
Mr.. Magruder and Mr.. Damn, asks
repeal of that section of the Hatch
Act which prohibits Federal en-
ployes from participating in partisan
elections.
Senator Fenwick introduced a bill i
to establish division of recreation
within the State Planning Board to
offer consulting service to localities
on recreation problems. l.
With all previous annexation bills
killed or likely to be killed, a new
measure on this subject yesterday
was given more of chance OF pass
age because of a milder approach to
the problem. Senator Lloyd C. Bird
OF. Chesterfield County sponsored a
bill requiring the courts to consider
values of areas to be annexed to
both the cities gaining territory and
the counties that suffer the loss, as
well as other factors such as serv-
Ices rendered and new taxes to the
people taken in by the municipah-
ties. 1t would prohibit an increase
In taxes in annexed territory for
Ave years. u
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