Evening star., 1933-09-03
LEGISLATURE 0. KS
GAS TAX REBATE
Measure Reduces Fee
Cents in Northern vir-
ginia Area.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
Stan Correspondent of The Star.


RICHMOND, Va, September 2.-The
adjournment Of the special session Of
the Virginia General Assembly was de-
layed this afternoon as Northern vir-
ginia representatives made q successful
effort to save the gasoline filling station
operators in the section adjacent to
Washington from ruination through
operation Of the Federal petroleum code
A bill giving relief for six months was
finally passed and the session adjourned
sine die.
The two houses were deadlocked for
several hours during the day on the
question Of financing the schools, but
the House finally prevailed and a meas
ure appropriating an emergency fund
Of $l50.000 was agreed to by the Senate
before the Assembly adjourned the spe:
cial session.
As the Assembly reached the closing
hours. Gov. Pollard sent q message to
both Houses asking them to pass a bill
which would permit the State Highway
Commission to rebate a part Of the diff
ference in the gasoline taxes of the
District Of Columbia and Virginia to
the dealers within q 15-mile radius OF
Washington.
Would BE Forced Out.
Unless this was done. the Governor
said. he was informed by the director
Of the division Of motor vehicles that
ITO Northern Virginia filling station
operators would be put out of business
and 1000 men thrown out of work
The bill, which was drawn following
conferences throughout the day between
representatives of the dealers and Sena- :
tor John w. Rust and Delegates Hugh
Reid. J. Fred Birrell and John c.
Mackall, established two zones. in the
first of which the State will refund 2
cents Of the Scent difference and in
the other l cent
The Senate passed the measure with
out difnculty. but when it reached the
House its conytitutionality was ques-
toned and on q vote the House refused
reading.
Upon reconvening after recess .
motion was made to reconsider. and
Delegate Hugh Reid Of Arlington Coun-
ty explained that the oil dealers have
been absorbing the difference, but are
unable longer to do this because Of a
provision in the petroleum code pro-
hibiting it. He suggested passage Of
the bill with the understanding that
the Governor would veto it If 1t were
decided to be unconstitutional. The
House at this time voted SO to 8 to dis
pense with the constitutional reading.
accepted an amendment limiting the
time during which the rebate can be
made to six months and passed the bill,
So to IS.
S150,000 for Schools.
As finally agreed to by both Houses,
the schools are given an appropriation
Of $150000 with which to keep them
open until the next regular session, at
which time the State officers are
pledged to work for passage OF legis-
lation that will insure a full eight
months term for every county in the
State
When this bill was sent to the Senate
that body amended 1t to provide that
the general fund cut Of 80 per cent be
reduced to IS per cent in the school
fund. but the House refused to agree
to this because Of a statement by Ash
ton c. Dovell. chairman Of the Ap-
propriations Committee. that 1t would
increase the State deficit by $1,050. 600.
A Conference Committee finally agreed
to the bill as originally introduced and
the report was agreed to by both Houses
With the beer and repeal questions
out Of the way. the Assembly today
waded through the remainder Of the
administration bills making 1t easier for
the localities to secure money under
the national Industrial recovery act. and
concluded the session at $50 o'clock
Northern Virginia Bills Passed.
All Northern Virginia legislation
sought at the special session was passed
This included the bill permitting re-
entry Of Arlington County into the
secondary system Of highways. the bill
permitting a change in the route of
the Lee Boulevard approach to the Ar
lington Memorial Bridge. the elimina-
tion Ct school districts in Fairfax
County and bill which will permit
Fairfax County to secure the funds
for its school building program from
the State literary fund without an
election.
Next to beer national prohibition
referendum and State prohibition refer
endum bills, both of which provide for
vote on October 3, the most important
Statewide piece Of legislation passed
was the bill giving the State Highway
Commission the right to borrow, with
the approval Of the Governor, $4,000
600 In industrial recovery funds for a
huge road-building program for the re-