Evening star., 1950-02-02
Seek
Parking Lots
For Arlington
Measure Authorizes
Public Facilities in
Business Areas
BY Alex r. Preston
Sfor Staff Correspondent

IO1SI1Mo1Nb, va, rcU. I.-HuD-
licly owned parking lots for Ar
lington business areas could be
constructed and operated under
terms of new legislation intro
duced in the General Assembly
today.
Delegates j. Maynard Magrude1
and George Damn, both of Ar
lington, offered bill to this effect
A similar plan already is in eff
feet in the Silver Spring (Md.)
area.
The lois could serve such busi-
ness areas as Clarendon, Cherry
dale and darlington. 1t would
be up to the County Board to
determine whether the entire
county should share the cost OF
the projects or whether their costs
should be assessed only against
The business district which would
benefit most by the lots.
Debate Prolonged.
The House and Senate each
remained in session longer yester-
day than at any time previously
in the 1850 session to pass Gov
Battles $45,000,0O0 school con-
struction program. AS passed
the plan calls for an outright
grant of $30,000,O00 Immediately
and $15,000,000 after July l, 1851.
Ten per cent would set aside in
an equalization fund for those
localities which have tried hardest
and are least able to meet their
needs.
Debate at both ends Of the
Capitol was prolonged by those
who sought to amend the bill SO
that the localities would have to
match the States money. The
bills were passed with the main
principle intact but in slightly
different form. A conference will
be held by committee chairmen
in an attempt to iron out differ
ences before the final enactment
goes to the Governor.
In the upper house, Senator E.
Q. McCue, jr, Of Charlottesville.
was the chief proponent of re-
quiring matching funds from the
localities. When his amendment
was voted down, he refused to
vote for the bill but the measure
passed SO to l.
BOothe Backs Whitehead.
On the House side, DELEGATE
Robert Whitehead was the chief
proponent of matching by local.
titles but after his proposition was
voted down, he went along with
the majority in voting for the
bill. The House vote was e6 to q.
During House debate there were
Two surprises involving Northern
Vlrglnians. Delegate Armistead
Boothe of Alexandria, O stat,nch
organization supporter on most
matters, indorsed Mr.. Whitehead's
amendments. He argued that
without the amendments the bill
departed from principle and pro-
vlded a dole. He also said that
it ignored the recommendation of
the Commission on Revenues and
Expenditures.
Delegate j. Maynard Magruder
OF Arlington, a member of this
commission. explained why he
would oppose the Whitehead
amendments. He admitted he had
agreed with other commission
members that a $3.50 matching
basis should be required for school
aid, but added that he believes
a real emergency exists now. He
recalled that the commission had
estimated $3O,000,00O would be
needed Immediately to meet the
emergency.
Liquor Bill Recommitted.
IF we ask the localities to
match these funds" Mr.. Magruder
said, I'VE are not going to meet
this emergency because they will
nave to raise bond issues to meet
their share. Can you issue bonds
tomorrow? Or next week."
Delegate George Cochran ef
Staunton supported the match
ing proposal, but did not vote
against the bill. He feared that
we are opening the door" to fur
ther grants to localities without
recurring an incentive for local
effort. He compared the outright
grants principle to that of the
Federal Government giving money
to the States.
House Speaker E. Blackburn
Moore OF Berryville, showed no
disposition to shut off debate and
the argument continued for almost
three hours.
In other actions the House voted
to recommit to committee a bill
permitting sales of whisky by the
drink in the city of Norfolk. A
sharp division occurred on this
move. The vote was AZ to 80.
Moncure Asks Floor Fight.
The motion was made by Dele
gate George S. Aldhizer of Harri-
sonburg, who said he was on the
majority side when the committee
reported the bill, to 6. Upon re-
Election, he said, he felt that two
absent members of the committee
should have been present and that
perhaps the bill has more than
local significance.
Mr.. Boothe Joined in the debate
to send the bill back to committee
by contending that the measure
has Statewide significance mas
much as it would set precedent.
Also he said the bill might seri-
ously involve operation of the
L. L