Evening star., 1942-01-28
Virginia Legislature
Studies Pay Hike and
Liquor Tax.Cut Bills
Stote Employees Seeking
War Bonus; Cost Put
At S, SOC, 900
BY the Associated Press.

RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 28-Sug-
gested salary increases which would
cost the State an estimated $780,
600 by June 80, 1914, and proposed
liquor tax decreases which would
burrow into revenue at the rate of
about s2350,00O a year were be-
fore the General Assembly today.
The salary proposal was submitted
by committee representing $1,000
State employees at the final joint
hearing of the Senate Finance and
House Appropriations Committee.
1t would enlarge on former Gov
Prices suggestion Of paying war
bonus" to State workers earning
less than $1,000 annually by grant,
ing bonus to all" State employees, re-
gardless of their earnings. on the
first $1,000 Of their salaries. Mr.
Prices plan, suggested In his state
Of the Commonwealth message on
the first day of the 1912 session,
would pay a bonus Of 10 per cent
on the first $1,000 of the employees
salary and 5 per cent on the second
81 900. with the bonus not to raise
the total earnings above $4,000.
Darden o. ks Liquor Tax Cut.
The proposed reduction in the
liquor revenue was substitute
measure for the original bills to re-
peal the taxes on alcoholic beverages
imposed during the administration
Of Gov. Price. 1t would repeal the
fiat 10 per cent levy added to the
selling price of hard liquor and wine
but leave unchanged the u cent per
bottle tax charged on beer selling
for more than 10 cents. The beer
tax yielded more than $350.000 Of
the total of about S2700.000 realized
during the first year of the new
liquor taxes.
A public hearing on the repeal
measure, which Gov Darden said
met with his approval. will be held
by the House Finance Committee
tomorrow afternoon.
Gov. Darden's bill for streamlining
the civilian defense organization
under the Chief Executive; another
measure to regulate more closely
operations of small loan companies,
and a resolution calling for a con-
stitutional amendment to eliminate
the poll tax as a prerequisite to
voting went before the Legislature
yesterday.
Defense Bill Drafted.
The new defense legislation was
drafted by representatives OF coun-
ties and cities in conference with
members Of the Assembly. The bill
would concentrate authority in the
Governor and local government Off
cials, but the local officials authority
would be exercised only with the ap-
proval of the Governor.
The new organization would sup
plant the State and regional de-
fense council system set up under
Gov. Price, although councils could
be formed under the new legisla-
ton to serve in an advisory ca
pacity.
Senator Charles w. Crowder Of
Richmond introduced the small loan
bill, which would prohibit the loan
companies from using financial
statements made by borrowers in
any future litigation against them.
Senator Vivian L. Page Of Nor
folk offered the resolution for a
constitutional amendment eliminat-
ing the poll tax as a voting pre-
requisite. similar to proposals ad-
vanced TN previous sessions Of the
Legislature.
Tax Deduction Proposed.
Another measure, sponsored by
Senator Leonard G. Muse of Roam
oke, would permit the amount paid
as Federal income tax to be de-
Quoted from income before figuring
the State income tax.
The Finance Committee agreed
yesterday to increase from $500 to
$4,000 a year the State appropria-
ton to Stratford, the Lee birthplace,
in view of a probable heavy de-
crease in tourist travel and conse-
quent reduction in the usual income
from visitors.
Also reported was bill by Dele
gate Charles r. Fenwick of Ar
lington to require pawnbrokers to
furnish the police by noon of the
following day with a list and
description of property pawned.
United States Senator Byrd yes
terday accepted an invitation to
deliver the principal address at the
Assembly's biennial commemorative
session in the restored Colonial cap