Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-29
Ban on Federal
Worker Holding
Office Killed
Bootwrioht Measure
SheIyed Indefinitely
In Virginia House
BY ALEX r. PRESTON
Star stan Correspondent

RICHMOND, Feb. 29.-The
Boatwright bill to deny Federal
employees the right to hold State
or local offices, was killed by a
tie vote of the House Education
Committee today. The commit
tee split, 8 to 8, with one mem.
Der absent.
At today's hearing, Arlington
State Senator Charles r. Fen
wick said, I'VE are bitterly OPP
posed to this bill"
Pounding the committee table
with is fist. Senator Fenwick
shouted, I'm sick and tired of
having our dirty linen aired
before this Legislature every
session. You've heard 1t said
we have crackpots up there.
We've got crackpots on both
sides Of the fence. This business
of saying a man can't serve two
masters is a lot Of poppycock."
1t was one Of two bills spe-
officially aimed at Northern Vir-
ginia during the current session
of the General Assembly.
Moncure Bill Advanced
The other. by Delegate Frank
p. Moncure Of Stafford. to repeal
the right OF Arlington's citizens
to name their School Board by
direct election. was favorably re-
ported to the Senate today.
Opponents OF both measures
have charged that the bills are
punitive legislation against the
Arlington School Board follow
ing an announcement several
weeks ago that it intended to in
tegrate about so Negro children
in is elementary schools in the
fall. II State law and policy
permits this.
Mr.. Boatwright admitted he
had the Arlington School Board
decision in mind when he intro
duced his bill. Mr.. Moncure de-
MED that his bill was retalitory.
He said his objective is to remove
the school board from politics.
Passage OF the Moncure bill
by the Senate is virtually certain.
1t cleared the House Monday by
q vote of 80 to 10 and was re-
,ferred to the Senate Privileges
and Elections Committee yester-
day.
Compromise Won
Tie Arlington delegation sue
Iceeded in getting a compromise
amendment tackled on to the
Moncure bill which permits the
present elected members of the
board to serve out their terms
and allows their successors or
any vacancies to be appointed
by the county board.
I Mr.. Moncure. who had 80 CO.
sponsors Of the legislation.
sought to shut of all terms of
present members by July /, even
though they will have up to
three-and-a-half years more to
serve. He also sought to have
the School Board named by a
court-appointed School Trustee
Electoral Board. as in most other
Virginia counties.
I Under the Boatwright bill di-
jrected against Federal employees,
three members of the Arlington
School Board would have been
disqualified on July /. This bill
also would have removed four
members from the Fairfax
County School Board, five from
the board in Falls Church and
one from the board in Alex
andria.
Under Virginia law, Federal
workers are. in general. forbid
den from holding State and local
ONCE. This includes ban on
serving ON county governing
bodies. A number Of exceptions
have been made to the general
law. however. to permit service
on school boards and other
bodies. The Boatwright bill
would have repealed permission
to serve on school boards and
other agencies.
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