Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
FaI|s.Church
Bill Modified
ForPassage
Comes Up Monday
Without Provision
To Condemn Lund
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff Correspondent

most controversial feature, the
power to condemn land outside
the city, was advanced in line
for passage by the House or
Monday, when the General AS
sembly reconvenes from a week
end recess.
The city would have gained
the power of eminent domain
whenever the council believed
the condemnation of land and
buildings, either within or with
out the city, was in the public
interest.
Before the House advanced
the bill yesterday it adopted a
committee amendment limiting
the condemnation power to ter
ritory within the city. Fairfax
interests had raised objections
to the former feature of the bill.
The city obtains its water
through a trunk line extending
through Fairfax territory from
Chain Bridge to the city limits.
En- route the city sells water
service to the communities of
Chesterbrook and Mclean. Falls
Church wanted authority to ex-
tend its lines by condemnation.
Two Other Bills.
The bill is one of three meas
ures introduced to revise the
Falls Church charter. which Will
be sent to the Senate Monday.
The two other bills still are In
the House and Senate.
The days developments saw a
renewed attempt to impose a
State sales tax of 2 per cent, de-
signed to produce $50 million.
The patrons. Delegates Sam
Pope of Southampton, Frank
Moncure of Stafford and others.
also sought to provide relief else
where by doubling the personal
income tax exemptions from
$1,000 to $4,000 for the taxpayer
and spouse. Two-thirdS of the
sales tax revenue would be re-
turned to the localities for reduc-
ton of real estate levies.
Mr.. Pope has made unsucceSs-
full attempts in this direction at
three previous sessions.
The entire 10th district House
delegation joined Delegate Armi-
stead Boothe of Alexandria in
sponsoring a bill appropriating
$4,000 as the States share OF
operating regional planning and
economic development commits
sions, including one now operat-
ing in Northern Virginia.
Delegate Kathryn Stone OF
Arlington, one of the sponsors
and a member of the Northern
Virginia commission. said the
State. under the bill, would pay
up to $4,000 to any one group for
half the salaries and operating
expenses.
No Funds in Budget.
No State funds for the COM
missions are in the current
budget, she said, although money
had been advanced in previous
years.
Members of the Northern Vir-
ginia commission are Arlington,
Fairfax, Alexandria, Falls Church
and Loudoun County. They pro-
rate the cost according to popu-
lation. Delegate Lucas D. Phillips
of Loudoun Joined in sponsoring
the State-aid bill.
Legislation to increase benefits
under the State retirement Sys-
TEN for teachers and State en-
ployes was introduced in both
branches. Benefits would be based
on the five years CT the highest
salary. instead of on the last five
years before retirement.
Sponsor of the Senate bill
was E. o. McCue, jr., of Abe
marie, while the House bill had
as patrons Delegates George
Cochran of Staunton, Francis
Gouldman of Fredericksburg and
j. Maynard Magruder of Airing
ton.
Mr.. Boothe offered a measure
to simplify procedure for courts
hearing appeals from decisions
of local coming commission. It
would remove the requirement
that the courts virtually rehear
the entire case.
New IcebOx Safety Bill.
A new version of an icebox
safety bill came from Delegate
Griffith Purcell of Richmond.
Several measures to ban ice
boxes abandoned without first
removing locks or doors have
been introduced as result of
several number suffQcating while
playing in old refrigerators. Four
children were killed in that man
ner here in Richmond last
summer.
Mr.. Purcell's bill would re-
quire that icebox. doors have
handles on the inside as well as
on the exterior surface.
Mr.. Boothe offered a measure
to require approval of the State
Industrial Commission Of all
agreements between an employee
and employer over injury bene-
fits so that a fair settlement for
the worker would be guaranteed.
Auto Bills introduced.
Delegate Tom Frost of War
renton offered measures to make
it illegal to sell automobile hy-
draulic brake fluid which has
not been approved by the State
police, and another bill to limit
the sale and use of automobile
refrigerating apparatus for air
conditioning without State po-
lice approval.
The House passed about a
dozen minor bills before its cleo
trical voting machine broke
down. Passage of other legis-
1otinY Iroc c,,c,oo,.IoJ for tho doU