Evening star., 1961-06-30
ANNEXATION

Continued From First Page
officials and legal counsel i'm
mediately sought a conference
to decide on the next move.
Statute Explained
In ruling against the referen-
dunn, Judge Brown noted that
the consolidation statute ap-
plies to towns adjacent" OF
adjoining" counties and not
to towns within" counties.
The. Judge also noted that
the towns of Herndon and
Vienna would not be able to
vote separately on the question
Their votes would be Jumped
in with others from the county
the judge said.
The successful move to stop
the referendum was initiated
by Herndon. Town Attorney
Lionel Richmond and Morton
Wallerstein, a legal authority
on municipal government, cited
Inconsistencies" and "ambigu-
tiles" in the law.
Warwick Davenport, attorney
for the county, said the county
conceded that there are incon-
sistencieS, but contended that
the legislatures successive
broadening" Of the statute over
the years made it applicable to
the way the county wanted to
use it.
Mr.. Davenport pointed out
that the county's election ma
chinery already was in motion
and added that, II know CT no
harm that will come to the
town of Herndon If it goes
forward" Some absentee bal
lots already have been cast by
county residents.
Exceed Population
The fear that the town.
would be dissolved by the
county's consolidation as a city
prompted Fairfax Towns ac-
ton today in becoming a sepa-
rate city.
When the town showed 1t
had a population Of more than
$4,000 and needed only 5000
to qualify, Judge Brown signed
an order making 1t a city.
The move by Fairfax Town
takes almost $40 million in
real estate assessments off the
county tax rolls. But the town
will have to provide its own
schools, Jail, recreation facili-
ties. libraries and other urban
services now furnished by the
county.
Mrs. wilkins warned last
week that if the town became
q city the county could cut off
all these services.
This would mean that the
new city would have to build
its own school system by next
fall and strengthen its police
force, which now. relies on
many of The specialized de-
partmentS Of the county.
Alexandria'S long promised
annexation suit also appeared
today in Circuit Court. The
suit asserted that the city is,
nov almost completely built
up" and that 'it is a necessity
that additional land be ac-
rquired by the city for its future
growth"
The 21.3 square miles the city
seeks to annex contains more
than $1,000 people. The city
now takes in 1872 squaret miles
and has a population of 81 900.
THE proposed annexation
will not have any significant
effect on the financial situation
of Fairfax County," the suit
said.
Falls Church Reaction
Meanwhile, there was reac-
tion on the annexation suit
Falls Church lost yesterday to
the county.
Falls Church City council
men were quick to give a cold
shoulder to Fairfax County's bid
to join in consolidation efforts.
The offer came right after the
city's attempt to annex part of
the county failed.
A three-judge annexation
court yesterday rejected the
Falls Church suit for As square
miles of count yland because,
it said. the county could pro-
vide the area with equal or
better services.
The decision prompted an
immediate proposal from coun-
ty supervisors that the city join
in Fairfax's attempts to con-
solidate with the Town of Cliff
ton into a city.
Councilmen showed little in
tereSt. Instead, said Mayor
Charles M. HALEY, I'VE are
going to do as good a job as
we possibly can with what we
have"