Evening star., 1952-03-04
Virginia House
Will Vote Today
On Fenwiick Bill
Approval Predicted
For New Congress
Seat in Northern Areo
By Alex R. Preston
Ssor Stoff correspondent

RICHMOND, Mar. 4.-The con-
troversial Fenwick bill to place
the States new 10th Congressional
District in Northern Virginia
faces its crucial test today. with
House of Delegates action set for
this afternoon.
Delegate j. Maynard Magruder
Of Arlington. who will pilot the
measure through the House, OBJ
tanned approval of a resolution
yesterday requiring the bill to be
disposed of today.
The Senate-approved bill OF
Arlington Senator Charles r. Fen
wick would carve the 10th Dis
trict out of the present eighth
so as to permit Arlington, Alex
andria, Fairfax and Falls Church
with a population of 100000 to
elect q Representative of their
own.
The rest of the eighth, now
represented by Howard w. Smith
of Alexandria. would be increased
in population by adding other
counties to bring its population
up to about 277.000. Even so, it
still would have the smallest num-
Der Of inhabitants.
May Add More Counties.
Indications are, however, that
amendments acceptable to the
patron may be offered to bring
up the population still further,
by adding two or three counties,
possibly from the northern neck
area. In that event. the 7th,
which embraces the Upper Shen-
andoah Valley. would be the
smallest, with 281 900.
Opponents have argued that the
277.000 figure is too far below the
ideal Of 331. 900 for each district.
They say the bill. as passed by the
Senate, fails to meet a Constitu-
tional requirement for equality OF
population as nearly as practicable
The principal opponents are
Norfolk area legislators, who hello
a caucus in a hotel room last night
to plan their strategy of attack
this afternoon. They had offered
a bill to get the 10th district ir
their area and undoubtedly will
offer amendments to this end.
But a delegates already art
committed to the Fenwick bill by
having sponsored an identica
measure in the House. This Il
only seven short Of the required
majority.
Bleak Prospects in Assembly.
While the outlook appeared
bright for increased representa-
|tion for Northern Virginia in Con
|gress, the prospects wee exceed
|ingly bleak for gaining addet
representation in the General AS
|sembly, as proposed by a legisla'
tive study commission.
The Senate yesterday votet
|22 to Is to pass legislative reap
lportionment bills that make prac'
ltically no changes. About all the!
do is shift Powhatan Count.
around in the SO Senate district
and 70 House districts.
The sponsor of the bills wa
Senator Charles T. Moses Of Ap
Ipomattox, who made a frank pie;
not to shift the balance of powe
from the rural counties to th'
urban cities and counties, such a.
Arlington.
Moses Plan Attacked.
Senator John A. K. Donovan
whose Alexandria Falls Church
Fairfax Prince William distric
Ihas more than 10000 inhabi
Itants, bitterly assailed the plal
lof Senator Moses, whose four
county district has about 1900
population.
Senator Donovan's fight turne'
principally on support OF al
amendment by Norfolk's delega
ton which, in effect, would hav
restored the commissions plan a
a substitute for the token change
incorporated in the Moses pills
But the amendment was beatel
down, 81 to 10.