Evening star., 1950-03-03
By Alex R. Preston
Star StoH Correspondent

~ NISA N. tiSStob
star stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Mar. 3.-Northern
Virginia members of the General
Assembly today were considering
plans to convert the Bancroft Res
ervoir into a State park.
Delegate J. Maynard Magruder
of Arlington disclosed he already
has had a bill and a resolution
prepared. Unanimous consent
would have to be obtained for in
PRODUCTION of the bill this late in
the session or else Gov. Battle
would have to send a special mes
sage to the Legislature.
The Bancroft Reservoir is on
Columbia pike extended, west Of
BaileyS Cross Roads, in Fairfax
County. Now owned by the Alex
andria Water Co., the damned up
lake and surrounding territory to-
tails about 900 acres.
Bill Provides Commission.
The bill would establish a COM
mission, or authority, similar to
the Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
which operates in Montgomery
and Prince Georges counties in
Maryland
It would make possible the &C
QUESTION of the lake and sur
rounding land with Federal aid
through the er-Crampton
Act. Mr.. Magruder said the Fed
eral Government would pay two
thirds of the cost of developing
the project, if this plan were
carried through.
The proposed resolution which
needs no special consideration to
be introduced, would direct the
State Conservation Commission to
study the project.
|. The water company is asking
$1300,0o0 for the property.
Mr.. Magruder said the legisla-
ton has been prepared for study
by Northern Virginia members of
the Assembly and that no decision
had been reached as to whether it
would be introduced.
Tax Reduction Bill Passed.
The Senate yesterday passed
the bill of Senator Harry P. Byrd,
jr., Winchester, providing tax re-
duction "kickbackS" if the State
has a surplus.
The bill was fought vigorously
by Senator Charles r. Fenwick
of Arlington who predicted that it
would bring about a sales. tax
The vote to pass the bill was 80
| to 5.
The bill provides that if rev.
enues reach S99 million, a 5 per
cent reduction in the income tax
rate for corporations and indi-
viduals will take effect. For the
next ST million the reduction
would increase to 20 per cent.
| Senator Fenwick based his ar
gument on this premise: That
badly needed conditional appro-
priations for such essential serv-
ices as welfare and hcspitaliza-
ton would be lost. This is because
of the mandatory reduction in
taxes that would be effective if
the revenues exceeded by 81 mil
lion the $95 million which is the
estimated revenue each year for
the next two years. he said. Con-
ditional appropriations, as the
term implies, are made available
only if funds are on hand.
Cites Need for Services.
The need for greater services in
several important fields outWeighs
the need for tax reduction, he
contended.
New charters for Alexandria
and Falls Church were scheduled
to be reported favorably by a
House committee today.
A hearing on the Falls Church
charter yesterday brought dele
cations favoring and opposing the
bill, introduced by Delegate Ed
win Lynch, Fairfax.
John Bethune displayed a petit
tion which he said was signed by
535 citizens objecting to the char
ter. He said inadequate notice
had been given and that if he had
more time he could obtain It's
names of 800 more"
Larue Van Meter, city attorney.
was chief spokesman for propo-
nents. He introduced Mrs. Ethel
Regan, chairman of the city
School Board; John Bold of the
Falls Church Citizens Association
and Samuel E. McCrary, city
councilman, who spoke for the
bill.
James H. Simmons of Arling-
ton, representing the Northern
Virginia Builders Association, and
Arthur H. Stickley. Falls Church
attorney, appeared to object to
charter provisions which would
give the city authority to control
subdivision developments within
l mile of the city on the Arling-
ton side and 2 miles on the
Fairfax County side. This power
was removed from the bill, how
ever. and they did not object to
the revised plan.
The Senate passed the bill, CO.
sponsored by Mr.. Damn and Dele
gate Armistead Boothe, Alexan-
dria. providing for voluntary jury
service by women. The bill now
goes back to the House for con-
currence in minor amendments.
Boreroft PTA to Meet