Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-14
Defense Plans
Occupy Virginia
Legislators
Leaders Prepare
Emergency Bills
Between Sessions
By the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va. June 14.-Lead-
ers of Virginias General Assembly,
having assigned betWeen-sessionS
tasks to several groups, disclosed to-
day they are studying several legis-
lative proposals relating to the Old
Dominion's defense program.
While numerous legislative COM
missions are holding hearings and
drafting reports on proposals of pre-
emergency origin, Assembly leaders
said they are laying the groundwork
for bills that may be needed by the
Virginia Protective Force. the Fire
Mobilization Committee. the State
Defense Council and other groups.
If the National Guard is to be re-
tanned in Federal service for an
extended period of time the Legis-
lature converting in January may
be called upon for funds for the
v. P. F., which supplanted the
Guard 1t has been financed locally
thus far, except for rifles and the
initial rounds of ammunition OBJ
tanned from the War Department.
Would Enlarge State Police.
There may be move to obtain
legislative sanction for enlarging
the State police force, which already
has been accomplished by executive
action under emergency provisions
Of existing law, but which would re-
vert to its former maximum of $50
men in normal times unless the
AsSemblymen expressly provide for
continuance of the larger force.
The Defense Council may propose
measures for strengthening home
defense should war come. Both
the State and regional councils now
are functioning on a largely VOL
untary, advisory basis
Many proposals which have been
debated in past sessions are slated
for new hearings before the law
makers. including the matter of
House and Senate redistricting. This
was poisoned in 1910 on the ground
that the Assembly should await
the new census figures. These now
are available and a commission
headed by Senator E. R Fuller of
Richmond is working on recon-
mendations for the 1912 session.
One area the commission and
those who have appeared before it
seem to agree deserves greater rep
resentation is Arlington County,
which has grown by the thousands
as Washington has poured its over
flow population into nearby Virginia
and Maryland.
Agency Reform Considered.
Another commission headed by
Delegate E. Blackburn Moore of
Berrvville is at work on suggestions
relating to further reorganization
of agencies of the State government.
The study embraces the proposals
submitted last year by Gov. Price
and many other suggestions from
department heads and members of
the commission itself.
Senator Robert O. Norris of Lively
heads third commission which
is delving into the question of eX-
tending foreSt-fire control to I'M
protected counties and possibly reg
ulating timber cutting as a con-
servatiOn measure.
The Virginia Advisory Legislative
Council has studies in progress OF
a variety of subjects, including the
much discussed penal reform pro-
gram embracing probation and
parole and abolition of the fee sys-
TEN. Others are personnel and re-
tirement systems for State employees, /
election laws, child welfare laws and !
indignation of the States law en-
forcement activities.
The defense program and con- |
greSsional consideration Of new labor |
legislation my revive talk of a labor
relations bill in the Virginia Legis-
lature. A 1910 bill providing for a
cooling period before a strike or
lockout and for mediation and con-
Citation service was defeated.
Study Liquor Tax.
The expected increase in the Fed
eral tax on liquor already has put
Virginia officials to work studying
the probable effects on the State
LIQUOR monopoly, and Gov. Price
has asked a report from a commit
Tee on what course the State should
pursue.
The boost in Federal taxes may
prompt some overhauling of the
present setup which involves divi-
sion of profits between the State and
localities and a separate State tax
of 10 per cent on the selling price,
which goes to the State exclusively.
The boost in the Federal tax auto
matically raises the State tax, and
some have expressed fear pyramid
ing of the liquor taxes would bring
about a condition of diminishing re-
turns
With prospective surplus June 80
of S4,500.000 and indications point
ing to another substantial residue
IN 1912, the legislators probably will
receive recommendations from State
fiscal officers for the establishment
of a reserve fund to cushion the
Il, IL 4l,o