Evening star., 1950-02-14
SenatefightDue
In Virginia on
Rent DecontroI
Fenwick Plans Move
To Keep Arlington
Under Federal Curbs
By Alex R. Preston
Stcr Stoff CORRESPONDENT


RICHMOND, Feb. IA SEN
ate floor fight to keep a part of
Northern Virginia under rent con-
trolls was promised today.
The assurance followed a Senate
committees refusal to approve
the exemption of areas near
Washington from the Statewide
decontrol measure. BY a 10-to-1
vote the committee yesterday re-
jected the exemption written into
the bill last week by the House of
Delegates.
Senator Charles R. FenWick of
Arlington said he will make an
effort on the floor to keep his
county under some form of Fed
eral or State rent regulation.
In other developments, another
Senate committee reported favor
ably two bills to give a second
judge to two county circuits in the
Washington area, and eventually
to the Corporation Court of Alex
andria.
Fenwick Asks Retention.
The rent decontrol exemption
fizzled after Senator Raymond
Guest, of Bayard, proposed an
amendment to include Front
Royal and Warren County with
the other exempted communities
AS it arrived from the House, the
bill carried an amendment by
Delegate Frank P. Moncure ex-
empting Arlington, Alexandria,
Fairfax, Falls Church and Prince
William County.
Senator Fenwick appealed to
the General Laws Committee to
retain the Moncure amendment.
He said there is danger that
rentals will get out of hand in the
thickly populated Washington
area where apartments are at a
premium. He warned of a posi-
BILE disparity in rentals because
controls would continue in Wash
ington and nearby Maryland
areas.
Action by the General Laws
Committee yesterday took num-
Der of members by surprise. They
had not expected committee con-
sideration for another two days
or so.
Delegate John B. Boatwright OF
Buckingham sponsored the bill
and opposed efforts in the House
to exempt any portion of the
State. He said the legislation was
in line with the State administra-
tion's policy of getting out from
any and all controls by the Fed
eral Government. .....
Acts on Court Bills.
The Senate Courts of Justice
Committee acted on the bills re-
lating to the court circuits in the
Washington area. This was after
a delegation appeared from North
ern Virginia and Attorney Gen
eral j. Lindsay Almond, jr., as
Sured the committee that he
believed the legislation is consti-
. tutional.
One of the bills, sponsored joint
ly by Senators Fenwick and An
drew w. Clarke. Fairfax, would
provide the additional circuit
judges, One circuit, the 18th, is
made up of Fairfax and Prince
William Counties and Alexandria
while the other, the 35th, consists
of Arlington.
The second bill for an addi-
tional Corporation Court Judge
was introduced by Senator Clarke
The committee amended this bill
so that it would apply only tc
cities of 10000 population OF
larger while it originally woulo
have applied to those of 10000.
Clarke Presents Figures.
This measure also would require
approval of constitutions
amendment scheduled to be votec
on in November. The secone
Corporation Court Judge ther
would be appointed only if the
State Supreme Court of Appeals
certif1es the need.
Senator Clarke presented figures
showing crowded docket conditions
In Alexandria and was supported
by Randolph Davis, president o1
the Alexandria Bar Association.
The Northern Virginia delega-
tion included Thomas w. Phillips
president of the Virginia State
Bar; Attorneys Frank L. Ball, ST..
and Frank L. Ball, jr., of Airing
ton; James N. Colasanto and John
P. Strauss. both of Alexandria