Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-08
BROWN SELECTED
SPEAKER.OF HOUSE
Committee Appointments Are
First on Program Of. vir7
ginia Assembly.
Special Dispatch to Tn. star

Special Dispatch to The star.
RICHMOND, Va, January e.-Party
caucuses over, members of Virginia S
General Assembly this morning had
completed skirmisnes preliminary to the
opening at noon today Of the biennial
60-day session. -
Committee appointments occupied the
frst day and night, with j. Sinclair
Brown Of salem unopposed for Speaker
Of the House, being formally elected
By the Democratic caucus last night.
Gov; Harry p. Byrd will present his
budget to the General Assembly, both
Houses being In Joint session, Friday.
On Monday he will explain provisions
Of the recommended budget. The
speech, will 20 on the air over station
WRVA. Richmond, beginning at pm.
Monday.
Gov. Byrd was to personally read his
annual message To. the lawmakers" in
joint session, this AFTERNOON.
First Up for Action.
The first matters to be taken up for
action by the assembly will be the
proposal to increase the governors
salary from 5000 to $4,000. This
must be done the flrst week, II at all,
as an increase cannot legally be: voted
after Gov. -elect Pollard is inaugurated
January Is.
Next In order ana more important in
interest Is the election of four justices
of the Supreme Court Of Appeals, one
corporation commissioner and a, num-
Der, Of, Circuit and, Corporation Court
JHstic. Louis 8. Epes and Justice
Henry w. Holt, who have served as ad
interium appointees to succeed Judge
Jessie r. West and Judge Martin p.
Burks, both deceased, are expected TO
be elected. More than two dozen judges
from all over Virginia have been in
dorsed by various bars for the other
two vacancies on the appellate bench.
Among politicians, Judge w. Floyd Rob-
erts of Bristol and Judge Edward Hud-
gins of the Lunenburg circuit are said
to have the strongest backing.
Controversial subjects will be the per-
ennial oyster matter and the question
Of apportioning the gasoline Tax for
highway construction. 2 .s
Except for the Speakership. there viii
be little change IN this first session Of
the General Assembly, since the ratifi-
cation of the new constitution. In the
body will be 90 Democrats and Re
publicars, no candidates. Of the anti
smith persuasion having been success
full in the November election. The Sem
ate Is q hold-over body.
The night Of January 1.-two days
after the Inauguration - is tentatively
set for the judgeship wrangle.
solidiy Behind Pollard.
Gov. Pollard Is expected to enter
once with virtually the solid backing
OF the Legislature. Both the governor
elect and the new Legislature were COM
mitted to existing policies.
Among matters to be decided by the
legislature: A State farm relief plan;
expansion Of public welfare, health and
| rural sanitation programs. particularly
the crowded prison problem; rehabilita-
| ton of the seafood laws. administration
and industries in general: strengthening
of rural pubic schools; establishment
of q liberal arts college for women CO.
ordinated with. the University of Vir-
ginia: revision Of the basis for, gasoline
tax distribution; reforms recommended
by the State judicial council.