Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-12

introduced would repeal legisl;
ployes to serve on school boards
and hold certain other local Of
fees. This legislation is an ex-
ception to the States general
law barring Federal employees
from local offices.
The basic issue involved in the
ancient debate is whether a con-
flict of interests exists when a
Federal employee holds a local
Office. 1t is a question that has
cropped up in Virginia govern
ment every time the State found
itself at odds with the Federal
Government on some major is
sue.
Indignation Reaction Seen
1t comes this time when the
State is resisting the Supreme
Courts school segregation deci-
sion. More pointedly. it origi-
mates this time with the legisla-
tor - Mr.. Boatwright - who also
sponsored the interpoSition bill
asserting Virginia opposition to
the Supreme Court decision.
There we're similar strong feel
Iings about the division of State
and Federal powers in 1888 when
Virginia first drafted the law
banning Federal employees from
holding local Offices in the State
That law even used a phrase
often heard at the current Gen.
eral Assembly seSsion-"the gooc
people of the Commonwealth.
Delegate Frank Moncure Of
Stafford. sponsor of the pending
bill to take away Arlington''
elected school board. has alluded
ito 1.-The good people" in Northern
Virginia as supporters of his bill
! Attorneys who have studied
the history Of Virginia's laws be.
llieve the 1888 measure wa.
adopted as a compromise to east
the objections some State lead
lers had against ratification Of
the Federal constitution.
Feared Federal Power
Such statesmen as Patrick
Henry, George Mason and
Thomas Jefferson then in
France as minister from this
lcountry-had strong objections
against ratification of the Fed
ieral Constitution. Mason espe.
lcially wanted a bill Of rights in.
lcluded before Virginia gave it'
vote of ratification.
The 1888 law that finally wa:
passed to protect Virginia from
Federal encroachment read Thu
way:
Whereas the good people O
this Commonwealth in conven
ton assembled did on the 25tf
day OF June last ratify con-
Istitution for the Government o.
the United States Of Americs
the operation Of which will soor
commence; and whereas it /:
Judged expedient and necessar,
that all those who shall be EN-
ployed in the administration Of
said Government ought to b
disqualified from holding or ad-
ministering any Office or place
whatsoever under the Govern
Iment of the Commonwealth: bt
liz therefore enacted by the Gen
leral Assembly that the members
of Congress Of the United States
and all persons who shall holt
any legislative. executive or judi
cial office, or other lucrative
office whatsoever, under the au'
Ithority of the United States
shall be ineligible to. and in
capable of holding any seat In
either house of the General AS
sembly, or any legislative, execu'
tive or judicial office. or Other
Lucrative Office whatsoever undel
1.-THE Government Of this Com
Imonwealth: provided that such
Idisqualifications shall not extene
10 militia officers or magistrate!
of the county courts"
County Duties Cited
/ Ironically. the magistrates
referred to in the last sentence
were similar to present-day SD
pervisors, and county court!
/ compared to the modern-daI
county boards.
/ The Federal Government wa:
in its infancy in those days anc
the ban didn't affect too many
people. The first special excep'
/ ton was added to the law II
! 1919. according to students Of
/ Virginia law, when the State de.
cided to let congressman serve
as visitors for certain colleges
I The end of the Civil War anc
/ the carpetbagger era that fol-
/ lowed left new scars in thu
struggle between Federal anc