Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-25
Hearing on Boatwright Bill
Is Called Off by Chairman
Davis Points
To Logjon
Of Legislation
BY ALEX r. PRESTON
Star stan Correspondent


Star staff Correspondent
RICHMOND. Feb. 25.-A pub
lie hearing on the Boatwright
bill to deny Federal employees the
right to hold State or local Of
fees in Virginia has been called
OF.
Reason given by Chairman
Harry Davis Of the House Edu-
cation Committee is that a log
jam Of legislation on the House
calendar will preclude a lengthy
hearing at this time.
1.-THE committee will not be
able to act on the bill Tuesday"
Mr.. Davis said. That was the
day that a public hearing had
been set.
Delegate Omer Hirst of Fair
fax, said: MY conversations
with number of the legislators
who previously favored the bill
convinces me that they are COM
ing to realize that this legisla-
ton is not needed. They rec
ognize 1t is not good public pol
icy to deny to any county or city
the services of able citizens"
Success Indicated
There are growing indications
that the efforts of the Northern
Virginia delegation to kill the bill
were beginning to pay off.
The feeling seems to be spread
ing that the bill by Stafford
Delegate Frank P. Moncure to
abolish Arlington's elected school
board will be sufficient chastize-
Iment for Arlington at this ses-
sion. Resentment was felt here
over Arlington's plans to begin
indignation in September.
The Moncure bill was. up for
debate yesterday on the floor Of
the House, but action was put of
until Monday. at the request Of
the chief patron. If it follows
the normal course, passage is due
on Tuesday. Then it would 60
to the Senate.
Amendment Fight
State Senator Charles r. Fen
wick of Arlington offered a COM
Ipromise amendment in behalf Of
all the Arlington delegation that
permits the present members to
serve out their elected terms be-
fore the Arlington County Board
appoints their successors.
Mr.. Moncure issued state
Iment yesterday which led some
to believe he might make a floor
fight to kill the committee
approved Fenwick amendment.
He then would press for an
amendment of his own which the
committee rejected. His amend
ment would specify that all Of
the school board members be
removed on July l.
In that event, the present
county board would appoint five
new members. q
Moncure's Statement
In his statement, Mr.. Mon
cure said:
! Since House Bill $40 was re-
ported out of the Privileges and
Elections Committee last Tues
day. with certain amendments
added, / have received kilograms.
letters and personal calls from
people in Arlington and Fairfax
Counties indicating that they
feel that compromise has been
entered into by the patrons Of
this bill with the Arlington dele
cation in the General Assembly.
THE so-called Fenwick amend
ment would provide that the
present school board be con-
tinued in Office until their terms
expire or a vacancy or vacancies
occur at which time such vacan-
cies and new terms would be
filled by the County Board Of
Supervisors.
1.-THE amendment which pa
irons of this bill offered pro-
lvided that the terms of the
present School Board would
terminate on June 80, 1856.
When the bill was originally
drawn, it was intended to do
Just this but there being some
doubt whether or not this would
be accomplished, the patrons Of
the bill introduced their amend
Iment. The patrons amendment
was rejected by the Committee
on Privileges and Elections and
the Fenwick amendment was
adopted.
Il would like for the people
lin Arlington County to under
stand that the patrons of this
bill have made no compromise
whatever with anyone. The bill
lis now on the floor of the House
Iof Delegates and will probably
be acted on next Monday. 1t is
for the House of Delegates to
decide what amendments. If any,
will be approved. The patrons
of this bill have made this fight
because they believe it is right
and the outcome is entirely in
the hands of the General
Assembly.
so far as I am personally
concerned. l shall give my COM
Iplete and full support to the
IBoatwright bill because that also
lis absolutely right and proper"
Also sent to the Senate by the
House was a bill by the Arling-
ton and Fairfax delegations and
Mr.. Moncure to permit Airing
ton, Alexandria, Fairfax and
Prince William County to sup
plement the salaries of probation
and parole officers.
The House also approved the
Arlington delegation bill author
izing localities to join in acquir-
ing property for educational
purposes. Its purpose is to per-
NIT Northern Virginia commune