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


distressing instance Of the cur
rent mischievous trend toward
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and re-
taliation against Arlington
County"
Since the measure was intro
duced just before the week
end recess, 1t was impossible to
determine Immediately whether
the Boatwright measure would
stir up the widespread interest
created by the Moncure bill.
Mr.. Moncure. . country
lawyer Of high principles,
strikes one q being . kindly
man. But when Q principle IL
at stake he casts diplomacy
to the winds and speaks his
mind. forthrightly.
Yet--rightly or wrongly
the idea is implanted In many
minds, both inside and out
side the Legislature. that this
is . punitive measure. Mr..
Moncure says no.
It il argued here by the de-
tenders of Mr.. Moncure's
cause that the January .
referendum vote on the Gray
Commission program Is not .
factor behind this legislation.
After all, it is contended. the
entire 10th congressional dis
trict, which also includes Alex
andria, Falls Church and Fair
fax County, voted against the
Gray Plan. No punitive legis-
lation was offered against
those areas.
Insult on Injury
But ardent Gray Plan sup
porters feel that Arlington
added insult to injury when
that county's school board
announced 1t planned to inte-
crate some Of its schools next
September. Overlooked. as
this column pointed out re-
Gently, was the fact that the
school board qualified its
statement by saying it would
act within the State law.
Last week D member Of the
Arlington School Board de-
livered what seemed to some
as an apology to the seq
regation minded Legislature.
James G. Stockard, appearing
at q public hearing on the
Moncure bill. said:
I'm afraid there's been a
terrible misunderstanding. i
sat with the board and our
superintendent Of schools dur
ing their deliberations on the
Gray Plan. From the bottom
of my heart / say the last
thing they intended to do was
to fiaunt the authority Of the
General Assembly.
IF what we have done has
been so interpreted, We are
deeply sorry"
This had considerable affect.
Some lawmakers admitted they
had misunderstood. Others
more vindictive--felt they had
brought Arlington to her knees.
An undetermined number
remained unchanged from prior
convictions.
Legislators Hopes
First Of all, members Of the
Legislature hope the commit.
tee viii kill the bill. Secondly.
the State Senators hope that
the House will kill the bill, II
the committee reports 1t.
And last Of all. the Senators
hope and expect the legislation
to be killed by the Senate
Privileges and Elections Com
mittee If 1t ever reaches
that body.
One reason for this Is a man.
He is State Senator Charles r.
Fenwick. the Arlington legisla-
tor who served on the Gray
Commission whose plan was
rejected by his own constit-
uentS.
Mr.. Fenwick told the special
session Of the Legislature In
December that he knew he was
taking a position that was un-
popular with his constituents.
But, he said. Frankly, I don't
care. When I know that I am
taking a position that is In the
best interests Of the majority
of the people political expedi-
ency will have to go by the
board"
Mr.. Fenwick today probably
Yields more influence than at
any other previous time In his
legislative career.
It is reasonable to assume
that the Moncure bill viii be
killed--or, at worst, would
emerge in q modified form to
require the school boards APP
pointment by the Arlington
County Board. There seems
to be considerable sentiment
for that.
But q politician would pre-
fer to avoid the hot spot that
Mr.. Fenwick finds himself in.
Legislators from all over the
State have become involved
in the dispute.
1t seems to be q decision be-
tween two choices with them:
Whether Arlington should
be punished for electing Q
school board 80 brash" as to
suggest Q plan for Indignation.
Or whether the Moncure bill
should serve merely Is .
warning to residents Of Ar
lington that they are. altar all.
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