Evening star., 1938-03-13

Ine General Assembly 0f virginia
ended its 1898 session at 1913 am.
today The Senate adjourned at
midnight, but the House continued
on few minutes later as Delegate
L. P. Collins Of Smyth County spoke
on ways and means of Saving CIV
ilization.'
By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, March l2-The
General Assembly tonight passed a
bill to appropriate $220, 1000 to carry
out the judiciary salary increase and
retirement program and reached an
agreement on the final provisions Of
the old-age assistance and relief bill.
The s22O,00o bill became necessary
because the general appropriations oil
was passed this morning without being
amended to include the expenditures
IN the judiciary bills, then in a con-
ference committee for adjustment OF
Senate and House differences.
Floor Leader G. Alvin Massenburg,
OF Hampton, in a vigorous speech to
the House tonight asked immediate
consideration of the Seante bill ,p-
propriating $220,000 for the judiciary,
and on his motion the Committee on
Appropriations was discharged
The old-age and relief bill differ
ences Of the Senate and House were
ironed out when both adopted a con-
ference report which recommended
enactment of the bill virtually as it
was passed by the Senate.
The House also approved a confer
ence report, previously adopted by the
Senate, on the terms Of the bills in
creasing the salaries and providing
for the retirement of the judges of
courts.
Morton Appointment Approved.
During the day the legislators passed
nearly IS other bills and the Senate
confirmed the appointment Of Thomas
B. Morton of Richmond as commits
sioner Of labor, succeeding John Hop
kins Hall, jr.
Disagreement on amendments to
some Of the bills already passed kept
several conference committees engaged
in ironing out the differences in order
to complete action.
The old-age bill finally approved
made the Virginia Commission for the
Blind the administrator of funds for
the needy blind and the Public Welfare
Department administrator for the old
age, dependent childrens' and general
relief funds. 1t provided that the local
welfare boards be appointed by the
circuit or corporation judges, that they
serve without pay and that one men,
ber of the board might, in the dis
cretion Of the appointing Judge, be q
member Of the county board Of SUPER
visors or the city council.
Recedes From Amendments.
The House receded from practically
all amendments it made to the Senate
bill, which was sponsored by Senator
Aubrey Weaver, chairman of the
Special Old-age Assistance Commis-
sion, and Senator M. NJ. Hillard,
commission member.
State funds aggregating $3,300,000
are provided in the bill, with the maxi
q month fro mall sources.
Introduction of the special bill ap-
propriating 100000 for the judges
bills became necessary when Speaker
Ashton Dovell ruled that the bills were
valueless without such q measure, in
aSnuch as the budget bill carried no
appropriations for the program.
Gov Price tonight vetoed the House
bill prohibiting persons under 18 from
driving school buses. The Chief Ex-
ecutive said the law now permitted
boys over 16 to drive them, that safety
records showed there was no hazard
and that the bill would cost the State
$50,000. The House sustained the
veto by q vote Of IS to 3.
Differences Are Compromised.
The Senate approved the conferees'
report on the judiciary bills earlier.
but the House delayed action until
tonight AS agreed by the conferees,
differences between the Senate and
House on the Supreme Court and Cor
poration Commission were compro-
missed. They recommended the salary
of the chief justice be fixed at $500
compared with the present $1,000, Of
the associate justices at $500 instead
Of their present pay Of $500, and Of
the chairman Of the Corporation Com
mission at $3.50 and associate mem
bers at $4,000. They now receive ST.
200 and $1,000, respectively.
Both members OF the Supreme Court
and the Corporation Commission
would be allowed to retire on two
thirds pay instead Of the three-fourths,
as provided in the bills as they passed
the Senate and the one-half provided
In House amendments.
The soil erosion control bill, passed
by the House with amendments late
in the afternoon session, and several
other lesser measures on which the
two Houses differed also went into
conference for the negotiation Of
agreements.
Jail Reform Revived.
The closing hours Of the session
brought defeat for last efforts to re-
vive the Page Gather Tuck bill call
ing for complete revanping Of present
methods Of dealing with misdemean-
ants and abolishing the fee system,
but saw the question Of new jail
legislation revived for the session by
1910.
The House, by vote of IS to 56,
rejected a motion by Delegate Leon
Bazile Of Hanover to discharge the
Courts of Justice Committee, which
had killed the Jail bill, but q few
hours later the Senate adopted a joint
resolution referring the whole jail
Council for further study.
The resolution, introduced by Sen
ator r. r. Parker Of Wise. provides
that the council shall submit q report
to the Governor so days in advance
OF the next session and also provide
each member Of the Assembly with
. copy Of its findings.