Evening star., 1950-01-18
Bill Would LET
i. ). Aides Hold
nia0ffices
Alexandra, Fairfax
And Falls Church
Affected by Measure
By Alex R. Preston
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff Correspondent


RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 18.-
Federal employees living in Alex
andria. Falls Church and Fairfax
County would be given the right
to hold certain State and local
Offices under a bill to be intro
duced today in the General
Assembly.
Delegate Edwin w. Lynch OF
Fairfax and Falls Church drafted
the measure. and has as co-spon-
sor Delegate Armistead Boothe OF
Alexandria. Such legislation for
Arlington is not necessary because
Of law already in effect.
Last fall the Civil Service Com
mission extended certain exemp-
tions to the Federal Hatch Act to
include Fairfax County. The
exemptions were designed to per-
nit Federal workers living there
to hold local Offices providing they
were elected or appointed without
regard to political affiliation.
No Permanent Law.
The commission earlier had ex-
tended these same exemptions
to Arlington, Alexandria, Falls
Church and certain incorporated
towns within Fairfax County.
Introduction of the Lynch bill,
however, centered attention on the
fact there is no permanent Vir-
ginia law in effect-except for Ar
lington-which permits Govern
ment employees to hold State and
local Offices. A wartime Virginia
law suspended the States prohi-
bition against the practice. But
when the end of the war formally
Is declared, areas in the rest of the
State. such as Prince William and
Loudoun Counties. will fall under
the State ban against Federal en-
ployes in public Office.
With the exception of introduc-
tion of new bills the General AS
sembly is expected to transact
little business today. with chief in
terest centering cn the inaugura-
tion Of John S. Battle of Char
lottesville as Governor.
Sees Revenues Underestimated.
A preamble to what is expected
later in the session was touched
on yesterday by Delegate Robert
Whitehead of Nelson County,
anti-organization Democratic lead
er in the House. He figured that
Gov. Tuck's budget recommenda-
tions totalling s590.000,0 900 had
underestimate revenues for the
current fiscal year by $34.500 900.
e He declared there is "an
habitual Understanding of the
revenues of this Commonwealth"
and said that the underestimates
had amounted to $84 900 dur
ing the last three years.
This Understanding practice
has been device to deprive our
public free schools, our mental
hospitals. our tuberculosis hos
pitfalls and our service agencies of
money that they need. The prac-
tice recently has been carried on
to degree never before known, +"
he said.
Delegate H. H. Adams, rank
ing member of the House Ap-
preparations Committee, defended
the estimates by stating that it
is better to be conservative than
overestimate revenues.
Hospital Bill Introduced.
Meanwhile, Senator Charles r.
Fenwick of Arlington introduced
bill extending to cities the
rights now held by counties and
towns to establish hospital and
health center commissions either
locally or on a regional basis.
In his own area, Arlington and
Fairfax Counties already had such
authority. but Alexandria and
Falls Church have been barred
under existing law.
# Two bills affecting Fairfax
County were introduced by State
Senator Andrew w. Clarke. They
would permit investment of the
State literary funds in general
obligation bonds of that county
and permit payment up to $500
annually to members of the Coun-
.ty Board of Welfare.
. Senator Clarke also introduced
two other bills: One would make
1t unlawful for any person or firm,
acting as agent in the sale of
lreal estate, to ''intermingle" any
funds paid by the buyer in order
I 70 make the transaction binding.
HI Would Limit Truck Speeds.
Il The other Clarke bill would
EImake it unlawful for any tractor
lltrailer truck to pass another such
vehicle headed in the same direc-
zion on a hill.
Hit Senator E. o. McCue, jr.. OF
Charlottesville, also introduced a
bill affecting tractor trailer trucks
1t would limit the maximum speed
of those vehicles to 40 miles pei
hour. At present, so and SIS mile
limits prevail.
Delegate Frank P. Moncure OF
Stafford sponsored a bill to re-
auire an acquittal after two hung
Iuries result from the trial of any
person indicted for a felony.
A bill by Delegate II. H. Pur-
ttlbell of Louisa would remove the
exemption given to women to
.lterve on juries. In effect. wom-
IIlsn's service would be mandatory