Evening star., 1950-02-17
Annexation Ban
Before Virginia
Assembly Today
Legislation Would Boz
Filing of Suits by Cities
For Two Years
By Alex R. Preston
BY Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff Correspondent

II enacted, such cities as Falls
Church and Alexandria woulo
have to file their proposed suits
against Fairfax County immedi-
ately or else wait and see what the
1852 General Assembly does about
the question.
The new legislation is in the
form of an amendment to a House
bill by Delegates L. M. Giles ano
Samuel Swanson, both of Pittsyl-
vania County.
The bill, as it now stands
would prohibit the filing of an
nexation suits after it's passage
by the General Assembly. Nor
mally, such legislation does not
take effect until June but the
wording Of the amendment ap-
parently would make it effective
as soon as both branches of the
legislature pass it.
Delegate J. Maynard Magruder
of Arlington suggested the
amendment as a compromise be-
tween the county and city repre-
sentatives. The Committee on
Counties, Cities and Towns then
agreed that it would not pass on
any more annexation bills at this
session A rocky path is ahead
for the present measure. how
ever. as floor fights are sure to
be encountered.
The House passed and sent to
the Senate the Governors bill
to permit women to serve on
iuries. The vote was 81 to s.
Delegate George Damn. Airing
ton; George Cochran, Staunton,
and Armistead Boothe, Alex
andria, were co-patrons on this
measure.
Delegate Damn joined Delegate
Shirley T. Holland of Isle of Wight
County in sponsoring a bill to
reduce the State income tax by
10 per cent and to trim the whole
sale merchants license tax from
20 to 13 cents on every S100 of
purchases in excess of $4,000.
Judge Bills Hit Opposition.
Two bills to provide additional
judges for Washington's Metro
politan area ran into rough sled
ding in the Senate yesterday
They had been reported by the
Courts of Justice Committee but
Senator E. o. McCue. jr. of Char
II esFille, objected to one of the
his designed to give Alexandria
second corporation court judge
One OF the bills. by Senators
Charles r. Fenwick of Arlington
and Andrew w. Clarke, Fairfax,
would provide additional judges
for Arlington's 35th Circuit and
the 18th Circuit, made up of Alex
andria. Fairfax and Prince Will
liam Counties.
Senator McCue said Alexandris
would, in effect, receive foul
judges because of another bill by
Mr. Clarke which seeks to give
the Corporation Court a second
judge. Senator McCue said there
are other circuits in the State
with more people and less judges
than Alexandria would have.
Senator Clarke agreed to a
motion by Senator Robert o. Nor
ris of Lively that both bills be
recommitted to the Finance
Committee.
Rent Showdown Delayed.
Meanwhile. showdown on the
BoatWright rent-decontrol bill
continued to be delayed. 1t comes
up for final passage in the Senate
today in a form which would re.
move controls everywhere in tht
State.
Senator Fenwick said he woulc
offer an amendment to keep Ar.
lington under rent controls, buI
Senator Clarke said he would op-
pose this move.
Mr.. Damn and Mr. Magrudel
introduced a bill giving Arlington
additional powers to assess prop
erty owners for sidewalks, such
as it now has for sewer con-
struction.
Retirement Measure.
Another Magruder-Damm bill
would appropriate $4,000 for the
State to pay half of the cost OF
retirement of employees of the So
called constitutional Offices
This would affect employees in the
Offices of county and city treas
urers. court clerks, sheriffs or SER
geants and the commissioner ol
revenue as well as welfare de-
partments.
A large delegation of Fairfax
County residents appeared before
Senate committee in opposition
to three Clarke bills relating to
proposed changes in the form oil
government for Fairfax County
One speaker, Tyrrell Krum
chairman of the Fairfax County
Republican Committe, said the
bills are red herring" to con.
fuse the voters because a move al.
ready is under way to change tht
form of county government under
existing law.
David H. Scull said there hae
been no advance discussion of thu
bills and that "aS far as I know
no one has publicly requested thi
legislation"
Martin T. Webb of the Po
mona Grange favored one of tn
three bills which provides for /;
choice of four different plans. bu
said it should be amended II
limit the choice to only two plans
including the county manage
type of government.
Mrs. Anna A. Wilkins criticized
one of the bills to establish al
administrative officer.
Among others speaking in op
position to the bills was Georg'
w. Kirkley and Edward Gibbons
president of the Fairfax Taxpay