Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08

Committee today stands Z to 4
in favor of reporting the Mon
cure bill to abolish Arlngton's
elected school board.
This was disclosed by a poll
of all IS committee members by
The Washington Star.
One member said he will abb
stain unless Arlington voters can
Arlington Civic Federation Oppose.
Moneure Bill. Poee Az
decide the issue by referendum
Another said he is in doubt and
will not make up his mind until
after the public hearing is held
on the bill at 10 am. tomorrow
in the House of Delegates cham
Der.
Members were asked how they
would vote on the bill las of this
moment" and a few indicated
they could change their minds
based on testimony at the hear
ing. Chairman Roy Davis of the
House committee said it is un-
likely the committee will vote
tomorrow.
One of those questioned said
his support of the bill is very
weak"
Urges Local Option
State Senator Harry C. Stuart,
author of the resolution of inter-
position adopted by the General
Assembly. said last night that he
is prepared to insist in the Legis-
lature that each city or county
be given the local option to in
tegrate if it wants to go ahead.
The interposition resolution,
approved by the General AS
sembly last week. terms the SUI
preme Court decision on school
segregation IAN Illegal en-
croachment" on State sover-
eighty.
Senator Stuart said his home
county. Russell. in southwest
Virginia, which has small per-
centage of Negroes. may be ready
to integrate in the fall.
Three members of the Priv
tleges and Elections Committee
are among the. 81 patrons of
the Moncure sBilI. They are
Delegates Henry b. Gordon of
Charlottesville. George L. Mum
ford of Wakefield and Stuart
B. Wheatley OF Danvtlle.
Ask Anonymity
The poll was taken with as
surances given members that
their names would not be iden-
titled with their stated position.
One member who said he
would vote for the bill If it came
up for action today admitted
1t may be politically unwise"
to do so by the time the COM
mittee is called on to vote. He
apparently referred to a rather
widespread impression that the
bill is punitive action against
the Arlington School Board for
announcing it planned to begin
indignation next fall. if State
law allows.
Others have said the legisla-
ton is a reprisal against North
ern Virginia for having been
one Of the few areas that voted
against the Gray Commission
Plan to avoid forced school in
tegration on January 8.
I'VE made mistake by let
ting Arlington have an elected
school board in the first place, -
a member said.
One of the patrons of the bill
but not a member of the
committee-said, II don't know
what / was doing when / put
my name on that bill. / doubt
If I'll even vote for it If it comes
To- the floor.
Reverse Entertainment
"It looks to me like we're
doing to Arlington what we sa.
the Supreme Court did to us BY
its school segregation decision.
He said Virginia has adopted
a resolution of interpositior
protesting the Federal Govern.
ment's "encroachment" on State'i
rights. The Moncure bill, thu
co-patron of the measure said
seems to be an encroachment
by the State on the right Of
Arlington citizens to determine
how they want to select theil
School Board.
While a survey of the entire
membership of the House O.
Delegates has not been made
the concensus is, on the eve O.
tomorrows public hearing, tina
the Moncure bill will pass. Tn,
principal objection centers OF
the fact that Arlington Is tn,
only place in Virginia where tn,
School Board is elected.