Evening star., 1933-08-17
REPEAL REFERENDA
ASKED BY POLLARD
Message Is Delivered to Spe-
ciaI Session of Virginia.
Assembly.
Continued From First Page

for legislative commission and for as
sembly, he said, and without it he said
ne did not feel that four-fifths ma
}orlty could be obtained, either for the
license or diSpensary acts.
The Governor estimated revenue tn
be derived from liquor tax from next
January to July (SM months) at
100000
he warned the assembly against a
control act without a referendum. as
serting that it would be repeating a
mistake made by prohibitionists in
adoption of the eighteenth amendment.
and would cause agitation to begin at
once for change He said State
wide prohibition was placed on the
statute books by a vote of the people,
and to remove it by any other methoI
would be sowing seeds of discord.
Asserting his belief in representa-
tive government. the chief executive
said the liquor problem and issuance
OF State bonds were questions which
experience had shown should be sub
mltted to direct action by the people
Before adoption of the eighteenth
amendment he said there were over
100 Statewide and 1000 local referen-
dums.
At the outset of his message, deliv-
cred to legislators in person, the Gov
ernor recalled that the session had been
called over his opposition by members.
and said he agreed now that it w3s
fully justified. He said it had become
necessary for National recovery CO.
operation, relief and public works legiS-
lation, for State financial legislation.
and since repeal was indicated at an
early date, to reach earlier decision on
how the State should deal with the
liquor problem
He called attention to the pledge Of
a majority Of members calling the ses-
sion, to confine subjects to beer and
repeal legislation and such other mat
tiers as the Governor might recommend
in writing, and asserted this should
shorten the labor of the body.
The public works section Of his mes
sage was delayed until a later date,
probably Friday.
A lengthy and detailed report of the
decline in State revenues since the last
budget estimates was set forth in the
message, decline which in the past
two years reached $4,000 annually
as compared with 1929-193l II was
predicted it would reach S5 900 coo dur
ing the current year.
Declines under budget estimates Of
approximately $4,000, 900 were met. he
said, by withholding capi al outlays of
sl,500 900. by S1,00O,000 in other econo-
mics and by general fund appropria-
ton reductions of $500 000-a total
of S10000,000.
Citing cuts made under budgetary
provision TO maintain balanced budget.
the Governor said they were applied
to all appropria! ions except interest on
cebt, as any other course would have
placed az unbearable burden on de-
partmentS or agencies no. excepted.
Financial Burdens Heavy.
While reductions have offset revenuc
declines, the Governor sad the tres
ury had. unfortunately. been cCmpeLe
to assume financial burdens OF gre.
magnitude not contemplated in budc
recommendations. Disbursements
criminal charges. assessment and
lection of taxes by local officers.
federate pensions and smaller items
continued. exceeded budget allOWf
by S566, 600
For the current year he eztims
the excess at S750000. with 5000
representing the loss to the gene.
fund by a court decision in7aHdat
the section of the State prohibition
under which fines collected in liou
cases were applied to payment of cos,
Under the decision fines and forfeitur,
must go into literary fund. for schoc,
A bill placing treasurers and commi.
sloners Of revenue on salaries. he sait
would result in net increase in ia
collection costs of s175.0O0 above bud
get estimates. Tax refunds under court
decisions amounting to s35O,O0O were
also cited
A deficit of s61S.S5s was reported as
Of June so as a result.
Critical conditions with which we
are now confronted make it of utmost
Importance that any additional rev
enues which are obtained during this
fiscal year from assessment of tax on
beer be first applied as offset to this
unforeseen burden on State treasury and
to meeting cost of this special session.
including increased outlay for public
printing and for division of statutory
research and drafting. 1t is impera-
lively necessary to protect the State
from any additional financial burdens
during period of emergency and great
ly reduced revenue he said in con-
clusion.