Evening star., 1942-02-24
Offers
Rent Fixing Bill
For Virginia
I'd Measure Would
Convert Arlington
RoiIwoy to Rood
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. pa bill
which would authorize the Cover
nor to create rent-control areas in
the State and appoint commission
ers to fix rent ceilings was intro
duced in the General Assembly
yesterday by Delegate Charles r.
Fenwick of Arlington.
At the same time, Mr.. Fenwick
introduced another measure which
would empower the Highway Com
mission to acquire the abandoned
right of way of the Arlington-Fair-
fax Railway in Arlington County
for highway purposes.
In submitting his rent-control bill,
Mr.. Fenwick said that it would clear
up any doubt as to the Governors
authority and also would give the
executive power to act in all State
areas
At present, he said, exclusive rent
control rests with Federal Price Ad-
ministrator Leon Henderson unless
the State intervenes within so days
after a federally- proclaimed rent
control area is established.
Would Study Agencies.
Mr.. Fenwick also joined with
Delegate Stuart B. Campbell in
Offering resolution calling for es-
adjustment of seven-member
commission to study powers of ad-
ministrative agencies and to deter
mine whether the fundamental
rights of citizens are adequately
protected under present law.
The commission, with $500 for
expenses, would be instructed to re-
port back at the next regular ses-
sion OF the General Assembly. In.
PRODUCTION of the resolution was in
line with recommendation of the
House Courts of Justice Commit
Tee, which few days ago killed
flve bills backed by the Young Demo-
cratic Clubs of Virginia to curb the
powers of agencies to issue rules
with the force and effect of law.
Delegates William Mel. Ferguson
OF Newport News and Maurice D.
Rosenberg of Alexandria Joined in
introducing a new bill to enlarge
the State Milk Commission from
three to five members, with three
OF the members having no connec-
ton with the milk or dairy prod
ucts distribution industry.
Call Public Unprotected.
The two Delegates contend that
the present act does not protect the
public adequately against unwar-
ranted price increases. A bill in
troduced by the same pair earlier
in the session to abolish the COM
mission was killed in committee.
After a three-hour debate, the
lower branch of the Assembly
passed by a vote of 80 to 10 the
Fenwick bill revising present meth
ods of fixing license fees for trucks.
The long and at times acrimonious
debate on this bill ended with the
rejection by voice vote of all amend
ments opposed by Mr. Fenwick. The
bill was forwarded to the Senate.
AS passed, the Fenwick bill would
substitute a gross weight basis in
licensing trucks for the present sys-
tenn of baSing the fees on the man.
ufacturer's rated capacity, eliminate
the so per cent surcharge on licenses
paid by for-hire and contract
carriers, bring these carriers under
the 2 per cent gross receipts tax now
paid by common carriers, with the
first $500 of gross receipts for any
calendar year exempted, and require
all out-of-State trucks operating in
Virginia to register with the State
Corporation Commission and obtain
identification tags from the commits
sion at charge of not more than 81.
Range of License Fees.
The license fees for trucks would
range from a minimum of IL cents
a hundredweight, and a minimum Of
S12 for the hghtest vehicles, to so
cents a hundredweight for those
with a gross weight in excess Of
10000 pounds.
The bill als4 would create an ad-
visory board to the Governor on
matters of reciprocity and authorize
him to enter into reciprocal agree
ments with other States on problems
relating to motor vehicle taxation
and operation. The advisory board
would be composed of the executive
in charge of motor vehicle licensing.
the State highway commissioner and
a representative of the State Cor
poration Commission.
Still another portion of the So
page bill would empower the State
highway commissioner to authorize
40, 600 pound load limits on high
ways which he deemed capable Of
carrying such weights, and also
authorizing him to permit even
greater loads to move over Virginia
roads if raising of interstate limits
makes that advisable. The present
load limit is $4,000 pounds.
Mr.. Fenwick said the bill recog-
nized existing "inequalities" which
favored the heavy tractor-trailer
combinations. and told the House
that his bin would save every private
owner of one-ton truck at least So
in license fees. The bill, he said,
also would benefit farmers who
wanted to do part-time hauling un-