Evening star., 1932-01-26
VIRGINIA EXPENSE.
CUT SURVEY VOTED
Abolition of Unnecessary o.
fices and Pay SIashes
Urged in Senate.
BY a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, January 26.-By
unanimous vote the State Senate
passed a resolution calling for
sweeping investigation of all State Oh
fees in a move toward the reduction
of salaries and expenses found too high
and the abolition of any offices or em-
ployes found to be not necessary to the
State government.
The resolution, which was offered by
Senator George w. Layman. precipi-
tated discussion lasting 30 minutes,
most of those speaking, however, being
In favor Of the resolution If the com
mission to be appointed in case OF its
passage by the House car complete its
investigation in time for action at the
present 60-day session.
Object Is to Cut Expenses.
In introducing the measure, Senator
Layrnan indicated that its object was
to curtail State expenses in places
where curtxi1ment could be best ef-
fected without impairing either the
efficiency or service of the State gov
ernment.
There was some doubt expressed by
Senator Saxon w. Holt of Newport
News rs to whether the investigation
could be completed in time for action
at the present session, but Senator Lay
man stated that he believed it could be
available in a brief form within 20
days Senator Holt also said that ne
did not know whether he would be in
favor of the measure unless some bill
is introduced to reach some of the
higher paid fee officers, and Senator
Layman agreed that he would be glad
TO support such bill if it is introduced.
In the speeches that followed the
various Senators making them hit the
higher paid State officers, their travel
ing expenses, the overhead of the State
Department of Education, which, it was
said, amounted to S578,000 before a
penny went to teachers salaries" and
"the vast increase in the expenses of
the Judiciary" 1t was also suggested
that the 1913 game wardenS and many
fire wardens of the State might be
eliminated and their duties taken over
by local officials
The Investigating Commission to be
created would consist of two members
Of the Senate and three members of
the House The measure was to go to
the House, that body having ad-
journed before the resolution was
passed by the Senate.
Denies Tax Boost Plan.
Rising to a point of personal priVi-
lege, Senator Robert Gillian denied re-
ports that he will sponsor bill to in
crease income taxes on persons with
moderate incomes. Senator Edward r.
Fuller made like denial with respect
to his own intentions.
Senator Gillian declared that instead
of lowering the exemptions on moderate
incomes he expects to introduce bill
which will put the State tax on the
stock of foreign corporations back to
S1,10, the rate that prevailed in 1926.
The Senate unanimously voted for
the House resolution ordering an in
vestigation into the official conduct OF
Judge Thomas B. Robertson of the
Hopewell Corporation Court.
Prevented from taking final ac-
ton by differences of opinion as
to whether the safety code should be
administered by the Industrial Com
mission or special safety code COM
mission. the Senate Committee on Cen
eral Laws set Friday morning at $50
o'clock for a hearing on the bill to es-
tablish a safety code commission, con-
sisting of the commissioner of labor,
industrial commissioner and State
health commissioner.
Backed by Labor Leaders.
The bill is the minority report Of the
Special Safety Code Commission and is
being sponsored by John Hopkins Hall,
IT.. commissioner of labor and labor
leaders of the State Hall and Indus
trial Commissioner B. P. Deans en-
gagged in a brief but spirited battle
when the latter asked what was in the
bill and the former replied that Deans
knew las we'll what was in it as I do"
Despite the statement by Hall that
the code can be administered without
expense under the provisions Of his
bill, whereas the Industrial Commis-
sion, as recommended in the majority
report to administer it, would have to
set up special machinery for the pur-
pose, the committee delayed action so
that the manufacturers could be noti-
fed and heard.
The Spanish government will increase