Evening star., 1936-02-02
MUSE SEES PEERY
0NPENS|0N PLAN
Senator Ready to Push
Drive-Governor Awaits
Report.
Nv the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, February L.
Senator Benjamin Muse OF Peters,
burg, stanch champion OF old-age
pensions and Gov. Peery, who has
recommended that the Assembly de-
fer action on this phase OF social
security. held two prolonged confer
ences today. but the results apparently
were inconclusive.
As the youthful advocate of State
assistance for the aged left the execu-
tiyes ofiices after nightfall, the Gov
ernor merely said he would await the
report of the Legislative Committee
now studying old-age pensions before
commenting further.
Senator Muse appeared undaunted
and ready to prosecute the drive for
pens!ons with unabated vigor.
Meanwhile, Assemblymen began to
receive a flood of literature from or
eanizatiore and individuals aligned in
support Of pension legislation. Indi-
cations were that the attempt to cor
raj votes fol- pension bill was begin
ming in earnest.
Alabama Set-up Cited.
Senator Muse laid before the Gov
ernor figures on old-age pension laws
Of four Southern States. and stressed
particularly the set-up in Alabama,
which has been approved by the Fed
eral Social Security Board. The others
he mentioned were Florida, Mississippi
and Missouri
Alabama, the Senator said, will pro-
vide about 100000 yearly for its
aged, with the State and the locah-
ties each supplying half the funds.
Approval of the plan. he pointed out,
assures Alabama another 100000
from the Federal Government, max
ing the sum available for aged citi-
Gems approximately Sl,200,0O0 year.
Applying the plan to Virginia. Muse
said about 100000 of the $1,O0O,OO0
annually the Governor has recon-
mended for relief could. if augmented
bv $500 900 from localities and $780,
900 from national social security
funds, care for Virginia's aged on
basis at least equal to that con-
templated by Alabama. That State,
he said. calculated on an average
pension of $40 monthly.
Virginia could enact comparable
plan, he told reporters after the con-
ference, without disturbing the gen.
eral outlines of the Governors relief
plans for the next biennium-"and
get the Federal subsidy without ap-
propriating an additional dollar"
Position Unchanged.
At the end of the first discussion,
the Governor said his position re-
manned unchanged. Senator Muse
said:
"The State wide demand for the
old-age assistance plan is only be-
ginning to express itself. and it will
be heard from now on in steadily in
creasing volume until the bill is
passed. 1t is now evident that the
people of Virginia will not rest until
an intelligent plan of old-age relief
Is adopted.
I'VE are anxious therefore, to have
the cooperation and advice OF Gov.
Peery in working out the soundest
and best plan possible, and one which
may be wholly In keeping with his
prudent financial policy"
Walter Y. Hosier, legislative chair
man Of the Old-age Pensions League
of Virginia, has claimed the support
Of three-fourths Of the Delegates and
iorifxy nf tho Conota
At its next meeting Wednesday
morning. the joint Committee on Pen
sion Costs, Of which Senator Henry T.
Wickham is chairman. expects to hear
Assembly members who wish to offer
Information.
Bill on Truck Licenses.
The House Monday will plunge
again into consideration of the SpierS
bill providing that operators of trucks
carrying loads twice their rated ca
pacities shall purchase licenses on the
basis of the load Amendments ap-
plying the law to trailers and tractor
trucks carrying a so per cent overload,
instead of 100 per cent, and allowing
operators an additional per cent lee
way in all cases have been adopted.
Pending for decision Monday, when
the bill is special and continuing Or
der of business, are amendments al
lowing credit on new tags for licenses,
in whole or in part, already purchased.
The bill IS on its second reading, which
Is the amendable stage.
Also on the House calendar is the
bill that would outlaw sales of wine
and beer on Sundays and after mid
night. Passed by indefinitely by the
Moral and Social Welfare Committee,
the bill was resuscitated by Delegates
from Southwest Virginia. who Friday
persuaded the House to discharge the
committee from further consideration
Of the bill. -
Southwest Demands Law.
The proponents asserted the South
vest demanded the law as an alterna-
tive to return to prohibition, while
opponents-mainly from the cities
answered that the communities favor
ing the law could obtain Sunday clos
angs by resort to existing statutes.
The House has also to dispose of
che .controverted bill restricting adver-
Using by Virginia dentists.
Due for early and probably pro-
longed consideration is the Cover
nor's budget bill, with which Chair
man Frank Moore said the House Ap-
propriations Committee is making
rapid progress.
On the Senate calendar for Mon
day are bills authorizing an alternate
Juror" and making the registered
owner responsible for establishing the
identity Of the driver when his auto
mobile figures in an accident causing
Injury or property damage.
Far down on the list, but likely to
b reached during the week, is the
unemployment compensation bill. gin
gerly placed on the calendar by the
Finance Comittee, without recon-
sfendations for or against its passage.
Vigorous debate on the floor Is con-
sfdered certain when the hill naraI.