Evening star., 1942-01-30

Virginia House
Starts Work on
Penal Reform
BN to Estoblish
Corrections Unit Due
To Pass Today
BY the Associated Press.

BY tne RS6OCldleQ fTeSS.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 30.
Penal reform, perennial subject of
animated but fruitless maneuver-
ing in recent sessions. of the Vir-
ginia General Assembly, progressed
through the legislative mill again
today-this time with brighter
prospect of passage because of Gov.
Darden's support.
The bill to establish a Depart
ment of Corrections-one of re-
lated series of bills sponsored by
the Legislative Advisory Council for
accomplishing the broad objective
was on the House calendar ready
for passage, with no opposition ap-
parent.
This measure would create a FIVE
man commission, headed by an ap-
pointee of the Governor drawing up
to $500 a year. to take over all
duties of the present Prison Board
and similar penal administrative.
The commission could establish
regional prison farms and prescribe
standards for local jails.
Other Measures in Committee.
Other proposals composing the
legislative framework for penal re-
form were reported likely to come
before the Senate Finance Com
mittee today, with the possibility
that a strong movement might de-
velop for extensive amendments.
The Finance Committee is keep
ing a Tatchful eye on proposed
appropriations outside the budget
bill. Chairman Aubrey G.. Weaver
Joined yesterday with Chairman
Frank Moore of the House Appro-
priations Committee in warning
that a quarter million n-dollar operat-
ing deficit might develop during the
1894 biennium.
While the State will have an
estimated s13,000000 surplus next
June 30, the budget contemplates
holding about s11,000000 OF this in
reserve for postwar emergency.
This would leave only S2,000,000 OF
the estimated surplus, and the two
chairmen said that only two OF
many proposed appropriations out
side the budget-State aid to coun-
ties for school bus operations and
wartime bonuses" for State en-
ployes-would devour the margin, if
approved.
Liquor Tax Repeater.
However, aside from the surplus,
but allowing for a loss of 81 200, 900
from expected repeal of the 10 per
cent liquor-wine tax, estimated cur
rent revenues for the general fund
aggregate s64211. $50, against bud
geted appropriations of $64 ,45l ,42S,
or S239 ,678 excess of expenditures
over revenues.
At the hearing by the House Fl
nance Committee, however, which
yesterday ended in unanimously
favorable report for the iquor-wlne
tax repeal bill, Chairman Hunter
Miller of the State Liquor Board
said stimulation of sales resulting
from the repeal would offset the
actual loss in returns from the tax.
Committees of both houses re-
ceived a flood of new bills
Five House members yesterday in
troduced a measure empowering the
State Compensation Board to fix
the salaries of county trial justices,
as it does for. other local officials.
The State would bear the full cost
of the trial justices salaries, now
paid in part by the counties, but
in return the State would receive
most of the fees these courts col
lect.
Administrative Agencies Curb.
A group of five bills entered at
the same time would carry out
recommendations of the Young
Democratic Clubs of Virginia for
curbing issuance of rules and regu-
lations by administrative agencies
Of the State government.
The bills would establish elabo-
rate checks on such rules and regu-
lations having the force and effect
of law, partly by requiring publlca-
ton of such rules in two proposed
periodicals, the Virginia State
Register" and the administrative
Code of Virginia" and partly by
of Commission on
Administrative Agencies" headed by
the Speaker of the House and COM
posed of 10 Delegates and five Sena-
tors. This commission would have
to approve such rules and regula-
tions, although the State Corpora
tion Commission and the Liquor
Control Board would be specifically
exempted from this provision.
Another important new House bill,
carrying out one of Gov. Darden's
would divorce the
police and licensing functions of
the Motor Vehicles Division.