Evening star., 1950-02-24
Assembly Still Studies
Bill Giving Arlington
Public Utilities Plan
By a Stoff Correspondent Of The Stor

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. ga
Senate subcommitte today stud
led bill to give Arlington County
the same public utilities franchise
powers now possessed by cities.
The precedent-setting legisla-
tion yesterday ran into anticipat-
ed opposition, and action was de-
ferred so that it can be given fur
ther study. The bill, sponsored
by Senator Charles R. Fenwick OF
Arlington, had been requested by
the County Board.
During a public hearing yester-
day, charges were made by a
Roanoke Senator that the only
purpose of the bill was to permit
Arlington to take over the Wash
ington. Virginia & Maryland
Coach Co. (Arnold busline).
Asks Approval of Bill.
Lester r. Conley, counsel to the
Arlington Public Utilities Com
mission, asked the Counties, Cities
and Town Committee to approve
the bill. Admitting that Airing
ton would be the first county to
have such powers, Mr.. Conley
said:
ut is the only way we know how
to meet the problems that the
cities have-and we have the same
problems that the cities have
Arlington is unlike any other
county and this bill would moi
affect any other county"
Senator Earl A. Fitzpatrick o1
Roanoke inquired, isn't this bill
aimed at one particular trans.
portation company"
Mr.. Conley denied that.
Isn't this bill aimed to permit
some fellow named Dugan Daniel
A. Dugan, chairman of the County
Board to carry out what he said
in the papers that he would take
over certain transportation COM
pany?" Senator Fitzpatrick per-
sisted.
The attorney reiterated his de-
nial.
Asks About Incorporation.
At this point. John C. Goddin
of Richmond, representing the
Virginia Passenger Bus Associa-
ton, interceded. He asked why
Arlington does not incorporate
under charter passed by a previ-
GUS session of the General As
sembly.
Mr.. Conley said this was mat
ter for the voters to decide.
Senator Fenwick informed Mr..
Conley that the State Corporation
Commission was represented at a
hearing last week and opposed the
bill because it would create con-
fusion and an overlapping of
duties.
Mr.. Conley replied that such is
not the case when cities have
franchise powers. He then made
a direct reference to the Arnold
lines when he described transit
company whose financial affairs
had been taken over by Northern
bank. This line, he said. served
Arlington and Fairfax Counties
and Washington.
In other developments yester-
day, Delegate Edwin w. Lynch of
Fairfax introduced a bill for new
charter for Falls Church.
The House and Senate agreed
to minor amendments to a bill
offered by Mr.. Lynch permitting
Federal employees living in Alex
andria, Fairfax and Falls Church
to hold public Offices which are
not prohibited by Federal law.
The bill was sent to the Governor.
The Senate yesterday finished
a fight by passing a compromise
version of the Gray Tax Study
Commission reassessment bill.
The vote was q to 10.
Steps Up Reassessments.
The bill now provides for re-
assessments of real estate in
counties every six years, instead
of four. The reassessment would
be under the supervision of the
Department of Taxation-whose
results would only be used as a
basis of determining whether a