Evening star., 1951-12-05
Urban Counties
In Virginia Seek
Annexiing j! Power
Arlington Delegation
Prepares Bill for
Assembly Action
By Alex. R. Preston


Urban counties would be
granted the power to annex ad-
joining territory for the first time
by terms of a bill being prepared
by the Arlington delegation to
the Virginia General Assembly.
The admittedly revolutionary
move was announced today fol-
lowing disclosure yesterday of q
legislative program for the AS
sembly which convenes January 9.
State Senator Charles r. Fen
wick and Delegates j. Maynard
Magruder and George Damn said
their program would be expanded
before the Assembly adjourns in
March.
Delegation Statement.
Heretofore, only cities and in
corporated towns have enjoyed
privilege Of annexing additional
territory" the delegation declared
in statement.
Fundamentally, there is no
reason why a county that can
provide improved facilities to
people in an adjacent county
should not have the privilege of
going before an annexation court
and making this showing to the
same extent that a city or town
can"
Fairfax would be the obvious
target of the move inasmuch as
it is the only county that ad-
joins Arlington.
A special commission of the
General Assembly studying an
nexation problems recently recon-
mended changes in the law, one of
which would permit counties to
institute annexation proceedings
requiring city or town to annex
a portion Of the county.
"Goes One Step Further"
Our proposal goes one step fur
ther." the Arlington delegation,
said. 1T would not only give thel
county the right to initiate thel
proceedings but give it the right
to acquire additional territory"
In the program outlined at q
press conference yesterday, the
delegation said it would seek a law
giving Arlington the same power
to- issue public utility franchises
that only cities in Virginia now
posses.
II the annexation bill and fran
Ichise law were passed, Arlington
through the operation of nu-
merous other special acts-would
have all of the powers now granted
cities. except one. Virginia cities
may issue bonds without holding
referendums while counties can
not.
Other Proposals Outlined.
4 Among other legislative pro-
posals outlined are the following:
Ban the use of Shirley highway
from Woodbridge to Route Z to
heavy through-truck traffic.
Insist on and support" a rec
ommendation of a special Redis-
tricting Commission calling for a
new 10th Congressional District
in the Washington suburban area.
The delegation will seek two ad-
dltional representatives in the
House Of Delegates, one of whom
would be elected jointly with
Falls Church. The commission
recommended only one additional
House member to be elected with
Falls Church. The delegation will
seek a second State Senator
elected with Alexandria. The
commission left Arlington's Sen
ate representation at one, but
recommended a State Senator
for Alexandria alone.
Eliminate retail price fixing
powers of the State Milk Com
mission and increase membership
of that commission from three
to four. At present one member
lis a producer. another is a dis
tributor and the third is one who
fails in neither classification. Ar
llington's proposal would require
that the third member plus the
proposed new member be con-
sumer" representatives.
Require flouridation Of water
for municipal plants approved by
the State Department of Health.