Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-03-10
Reservoir Park
Proposal Goes
State Senate
House Approves Bill
Allowing Acquisition
Of Bancroft Property
ID. Al-~x b n~~.k~
BY Alex R. Preston
Sfor Stof Correspondent

Star stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Mar. l0.-Acuui-
sition of Alexandria Reservoir as
a park for the Washington Metro
politan Area would be possible I'M
der terms of a bill before the
State Senate today.
The measure was introduced
yesterday, with a recommendation
from Gov. Battle, and was passed
by the House of Delegates.
1t would authorize Arlington,
Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls
Church to establish a parks au-
thority by resolution of the gov
erning bodies of one or more of
those communities.
The bill was introduced by dele
gates from those areas. j. May
nard Magruder and George
Damn, both of Arlington; Armi-
stead Boothe, Alexandria, and
Edwin Lynch, Fairfax and Falls
Church. The authority would be
made up of five members. at least
one of whom would be from each
participating locality. The agency
would be similar to the Mary
land-National Capital Parks and
Planning Commission, which
serves Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties.
Hearings Required.
In event the authority decided
to purchase the Bancroft reservoir
from the Alexandria Water Co., or
any other park site requiring a
bond issue. the local governing
bodies would be required to hold
public hearings. If substantial
opposition developed, the govern
ing bodies would order referen-
dums on financing.
The Bancroft reservoir property
is a 600-acre tract containing a
large lake behind a dam on Co.
lumbia pike extended. just west of
Baileys Cross Roads, Fairfax
County.
The bill creating the authority
would make possible the acquisi-
ton of Bancroft Reservoir with
Federal aid under the Capper-
Champion Act, the Federal Gov
eminent paying one-third of the
cost and lending the remainder.
Senate to Get Charter Bill.
Meanwhile. the Alexandria city
charter bill was expected to come
before the Senate today. A large
delegation from that city was re-
ported on it's way to Richmond to
protest an amendment to the bill
added by a Senate committee.
The amendment removes the
requirement for holding nom
partisan elections for City Council.
An advisory referendum last No.
vember on this question was ap-
proved by voters by about 2,700
to 1,700.
Senator Andrew w. Clarke,
Alexandria, said he would attempt
to beat committee amendments to
the bill so non-partisan elections
would be required.
The Senate Privileges and Elec-
lions Committee yesterday killed
the bill of Senator Charles r. Fen
wick, Arlington, to change the
time OF electing members of the
County Board and School Board.
Almond Issues Opinion.
Attorney General j. Lindsay AL
mond, jr., in response to a request
from Chairman Roy Davis, issued
an opinion which declared the bill
unconstitutional. The bill was in
PRODUCED at the request of Mrs.
Florence Cannon, member of the
county board. who appeared here
Wednesday.
After quoting sections Of the
constitution, Mr.. Almond wrote.
This does not, in my opinion,
authorize the General Assembly to
provide that county officers shall
be elected at different time from
that specifically fixed by Section
H." He added: "It is my opinion
that any law changing the date of
the election of county officers
would violate this constitutional
provision.
The House and Senate yester-
day formally elected William D.
Medley as associate judge of the
35th Arlington) judicial Circuit,
and Arthur Sinclair, Manassas, as
associate judge of the 10th Cir
cult. comprising Alexandria. Fair
fax and Prince William. Their
service will begin March Is. Their
regular eight-year terms COM
mence February /, 1851. Both
were elected for the unexpired
portion Of the current terms and
for the eight-year period that
follows.
Senate Passes Bill.
Among bills passed by the SEN
ate were the following:
Providing a new charter for
Purcellville, by Delegate Stilson
Hall. Loudoun; bill sponsored by
Mr.. Lynch authorizing Fairfax to
require subdivision developers to
set aside sites for schools, parks
and Fairgrounds; Lynch bill per-
hitting portions Of sanitary dis
tricts to withdraw from the dis
tricts prior to issuance of bonds;
Magruder bill, sponsored by Lions
Clubs, to protect the blind while
crossing streets in cities; Lynch
bill setting annual salaries of Fair
fax School Board members at not