Evening star., 1942-03-12
Virginia Senate
Votes on Patent
Law Bill Today
Redistricting Goes
To Governor; School
Bourd Plan Killed
BY ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.

RICHMOND, March IL. The
Senate is scheduled to vote this
afternoon on legislation designed
to benefit patent attorneys and
agents who practiced before the
examining branch of the Patent
Office, which was transferred here
several weeks ago.
A bill by Delegate Charles r.
Fenwick of Arlington and o. E.
McCue, jr., of Charlottesville would
require patent attorneys and agents
to pay SIS annual revenue license
fee to maintain an Office to practice
patent law here, and would waive
the requirements that they be men,
bers of the State bar The exemp-
ton would apply with respect to
the practice of patent law only.
Mr.. Fenwick, a member OF the
State bar, explained that main
tenance of a Richmond Office is not
essential, since most patent attor-
neys' relations with the examining
division can be carried on by mail.
The Senate held up action on the
legislation yesterday when it con-
fined its work to more controversial
measures on the calendar.
Redistricting Passed.
Among the bills acted on and
sent to the Governor was the Sen
ate legislation, to which a House
bill was attached in the form of
an amendment, to reapportion the
House and senatorial districts for
representation in the General AS
sembly. Only three votes were cast
against the measure.
Nobody can say we didn't get a
redistricting bill" Gov. Darden COM
mented later. And we got a good
bill, too 1t represents an earnest
and honest attempt at rediStricting
and think it is an important i'm
provement over our present situa-
ton"
Also adopted was the FenWick
House joint resolution providing for
a study of administrative agencies
issuing rules and regulations having
the force and effect of law, but
approved an amendment requiring
that this study be undertaken by
the Advisory Council.
The House concurred in Senate
amendments TO the bill by Dele
gate Elliott Campbell of Caroline
County, giving the Commission of
Fisheries jurisdiction over the Rap
pahannock River. and sent the leg
islation to the Governor
The Governor signed a bill by
Senator William D. Medley of Ar
lington, which prohibits the pro-
ration of payments of license fees
Of s5 or less.
School Board Bill Killed.
Meanwhile, the Senate Privileges
and Elections Committee killed a
bill by Delegate Robert j. Nc
Candush. jr., of Fairfax County,
which would have permitted ref
erendum in that county on the
choice of one of the three optional
methods of selecting members of
the County School Board. The op-
tions offered were by the present
method, by direct election by the
people, or by appointment by the
Board of Supervisors.
Registrar Bill Reported.
The Privileges and Elections Com
mittee voted favorably on the Fen
wick bill to establish a central
registrar in Arlington County who
would maintain regular Office hours,
probably at the Courthouse, in ad-
dition to the regular precinct regis
trars who would continue to act in
Arlington.
The House yesterday adopted a
Conference Committee report to
accept Senate recommendations on
bill to place the maximum speed
limit for private automobiles and
buses at As miles an hour
Delegate E. B. Moore of Berryville,
patron of the measure which is de-
signed to conserve tires and gaso-
line, recommended that the House
agree to the Senate provision for
buses after the House passed the
bill originally allowing this class of
vehicles a maximum of 40 miles per
hour. Trucks will be limited to 40
miles an hour.