Evening star., 1950-02-15
Final Fight Starts
For Arlington
Curbs on Rents
Clarke Won't Seek
Exemption of Other
Areas Near D. 6.
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

1I1S444N4o4N1, w. 3Os-4 444oA
efforts to keep some areas of Vir-
ginia under rent controls were to
be made today in the State Senate.
Senator Charles r. Fenwick of
Arlington was scheduled to lead
the floor fight to keep his own
county as well as a few other
scattered communities under regu-
lations either by the Federal or
State governments.
The rent bill was scheduled to
come up for second reading" in
the Senate. This means that it
has reached the stage at which
amendments may be added. Sena-
tor Fenwick said he would offer
an amendment to keep his own
county under controls. He did
not intend, however. to offer an
amendment covering Alexandria,
Fairfax or Prince William Coun-
ties.
Alexandria Council Takes Stand.
State Senator Andrew w.
Clarke, who represents Alexan-
dria, Fairfax and Prince William
Counties, said he believed the
national emergency had passed
and that there was no longer any
need for controls anywhere. He
had no plans for offering amend
ments to exempt his territory
from the rent repeater bill.
(The Alexandria City Council
last night adopted a resolution
asking Senator Clarke and Del
egate Armistead Boothe of
Alexandria to try to keep the
city under rent control.)
Two new bills relating to Ar
1ington and Fairfax County were
introduced in the House of Dele
gates today.
One, sponsored by Delegate Ed
win Lynch of Fairfax, would re-
quire private water companies
which have adequate lines to fur
nish facilities for fire protection
at reasonable raCeS.
Mr.. Lynch said that the Fair
fax County Board of Supervisors
had requested legislation to meet
problems now encountered in the
areas around Baileys Cross Roads
and along Franconia road outside
of Alexandria.
A bill designed to give Airing
ton more revenues from fines i'm
posed for certain types of criminal
offenses was introduced by Dele
gates George Damn and j. May
nard Magruder of that county.
Administration Bill Killed.
1t would authorize the county
board to enact ordinances against
misdemeanor offenses which par
allel State law. Cities now have
this power. The effect would be
that Arlington would receive the
fines paid on misdemeanor con-
victions when the charges were
brought under the county law
rather than under State statutes.
The Senate Finance Committee
yesterday killed, by a vote of IL to
6, the bill which would have Gre
ated an administrator of the
courts. This administrator would
be named by the supreme court,
receive $4,000 annual salary and
have no authority.
The bill was supported by the
State supreme court. Gov. Battle
and a large segment of the bar.
It had been passed by the House
and reported by the Senate Courts
of Justice Committee. There was
speculation that administration
forces might try to revive it.
Test on Annexation.
In House committees yesterday
city Delegates won the first test
of strength on annexation in the
House Committee on Counties
Cities and Towns-but the victory
was temporary. The committee
refused to report, by vote OF
3 to 6. the Crockett House bill
(No. 76) which would provide for
referendums in annexation pro-
ceedings.
A parliamentary tangle fol-
lowed. And when 1t was un-
raveled the situation remained
the same. All annexation bills
are now due for a committee de-
cision Thursday afternoon.
Gov. Battles second school con-
struction bill went into the Sen
ate yesterday. 1t would transfer
$11 million from sinking fund re-
serves to the literary fund, from
which loans can be made for loca.
school construction. The first Bat.
tie bill-for a $45 million grant
has become law.