Evening star., 1954-01-14
Session 10 Get
; Arlington
Bills Today
Involve Bond Suit
Curbs, Recounts and
Annual Legislation
By Alex R. Preston
Sscr Stcff Correspondent

R1CAMOND, Jan. 14.-Arllng-
tons delegation to the General
Assembly, armed with scores of
bills, was set to sponsor three
measures today:
One would set up machinery
for a recount of ballots in
closely contested Congressional
elections-an outgrowth of a
narrow victory by Representa-
tive Broyhill, Republican. in the
10th district in 1852.
A second bill is designed to
forestall prolonged delays by
lawsuits challenging the validity
of bond issues that have been
approved by referendum.
The third proposes an amend
ment to the State constitution
to require annual sessions of the
Legislature.
State Senator Charles r. Fen
wick said he will offer the bill
on ballot recounts. It would
apply only to those contests for
the House Of Representatives in
which the difference in votes is
less than 500.
Tally Suspected.
In the 1852 race, Mr.. Broyhill
defeated Democrat Edmund D.
. Campbell 33,152 to 32,83O. Mr..
Campbell said he thought mis-
takes had been made in tallying
the vote. but he found there was
no law covering the situation.
Delegate Kathryn Stone is the
chief patron of the bill designed
to avoid prolonged delay in the
issuance of bonds already ap-
proved by the voters. The meas
ure was a principal plank in her
campaign platform last year.
Mrs. Stones own county Of
Arlington. as well as adjoining
Fairfax, suffered long delays in
selling bonds, principally for
schools, as result of lawsuits
filed by Attorney John Locke
Green. Most of the suits involved
the rights Of Federal employees to
hold local offices.
Session Bill Pledged.
Delegate j. Maynard Magruder
said the measure for annual Ses-
Slons OF the Legislature carries
out campaign pledges of the
Arlington delegation. In addi-
tion to the 60-day sessions now
held every two years. the new
plan calls for 30-day sessions In
the years between.
At the opening Of the 1854
Legislature yesterday, State
Senator Ted Dalton, Republican,
an unsuccessful candidate for
Governor last year. also intro
duced an annual session propo-
sition. The plan, however, calls
for annual sessions of only 80
days. The sessions could be pro-
longed for an additional 80 days
upon approval of three -fifths of
the members of the Legislature,
but members would not get extra
pay.
The Arlington legislators held
their first caucus yesterday aft
ernoon to review the long list of
proposals submitted by the
county board for a 2 per cent
sales tax for Arlington. Mrs.
Stone has said she is not yet
sold on the idea. Heretofore, the
Arlington delegation has fought
all attempts to impose a State
wide sales tax.
Also under study is legislation
to give Federal employees the
right to serve on local governing
bodies.
Several measures to amend
Arlington's Special County Man.
ager Act are under study and
must be introduced within the
first 20 days of the session.
Among proposals in this category
are bills to provide staggered
terms for members of the county
board, to permit the establish
ment Of a central purchasing
department. to grant the county
the same authority cities now
have to issue franchises to pub
lie utilities. to provide a third
circuit court judge and to au-
thorize a referendum on swim
ming pool bonds.