Evening star., 1942-02-20
Virginia Group
Due 10 Return
RedistrictingbiI|
Senute Unit Books
Measure to Reduce
Small Loon Interest
BY the Associated Press,

Small Loon Interest
By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 20.-Three
delegates who have been holding
a legislative "hot potato" for nine
days were expected to hand 1.-THE
bill to redistrict the State-back
today to the House Privileges and
Elections Committee.
E. Blackburn Moore Of Clarke,
H. w. Huff of Pulaski and Tate B.
Sterrett of Bath were constituted
as Subcommittee on February II
to study the bill embodying rec
concentrations of the Fuller Com
mission for legislative reapportion-
ment, in compliance with a require
ment of the State Constitution.
Northern Virginia counties are
among the areas affected by the bill.
Considerable opposition, princi.
pally from Delegates and Senator'S
whose districts would be abolished
or consolidated, was developed at
a public hearing before joint House
and Senate committees February 5.
Gov. Darden, however, has strongly
recommended redistricting by this
session OF the General Assembly.
Another controversial measure,
also urged by the Governor, ad-
vanced yesterday toward enactment
as the Senate Insurance and Bank
ing Committee unanimously re-
ported the Gibson-Quesenbery Bill
to reduce small loan interest rates
from 3h per cent to per cent
a month.
Early Passage Indicated.
The bill passed the House, SO to 0,
and now goes on the Senate calen-
dar. Barring an unexpected upset,
it should reach the Governor well
before the session ends.
The Senate will have to recon-
slider the question of extending the
workmen's compensation law, as
the House bill, as passed. extends
coverage to employers with seven
or more workers, instead of II as
at present. The House reversed its
previous decision to apply the law
to employers with eight or more
employees, then passed the bill yes
terday.
The Senate, before passing its bill,
rejected a committee recommended
ton for the 'seven or more" clause
and made it eight or more" The
Senate bill is now before the House
General Laws Committee, which is
holding it pending Senate action on
the House bill.
The House had on third reading
Delegate L. p. Collins bill adding
a penalty clause in the law pro-
hibiting the practice of medicine
without obtaining authorization
from the Board Of Medical Exam
liners and recording it with the
court clerk. The House debated at
length before voting, 4S to 20, to
advance the bill.
Clarification Sought.
Mr. Collins said the bill would not
injure chiropractors or others but
would merely clarity an 1888 law.
He said the bill was necessary be-
cause Of a case before the Supreme
Court in which an unlicensed prac-
titioner argued there was no specific
against his practicing.
The House General Laws Com
mittee yesterday killed the Rosen-
berg Ferguson bill to abolish the
State Milk Commission and, at the
patrons request, the j. j. Williams
bill to abolish the State Dry Clean
ers' Board.
A bill authorizing sentences up
to 10 years in prison for the theft
of automobile tires and tubes passed
the Senate with only two dissenting
votes and was sent to Gov. Darden.
The Senate also completed action
on two other House bills, one of
which would exempt from the
recordation tax. deeds of trust con-
veying land used as a church site,
and the other would authorize de-
positories Of funds of county treas
urers to deposit securities as COL
lateral with the State treasurer.
The latter bill was designed espe-
cially to apply to Arlington County.
Dry Cleaner Rules Sought.
New legislation offered yesterday
included a bill by Senator William
D. Medley of Arlington to exempt
from the State income tax during
the war the pay of non-commis-
stoned officers and soldiers, and
two bills by Delegates Walter H.
Scott of Roanoke and C. C. Louder
back of Page to prohibit issuance
Of a State inspection sticker to
motor vehicle not displaying the
Federal tax stamp and making it
misdemeanor to operate a vehicle
without displaying the FeGeral
stamp.
Delegates c. G. Quesenbery and
G. D. Hodges of Augusta also Of
fered bill to pay Mrs. Doris Beard
Armstrong, widow Of the late Depu-
ty Sheriff Frank L. Armstrong of
Augusta, $1,000 The officer was
slain while serving a warrant Aug
ust %, 1941.
Delegate Charles r.. Fenwick of
Arlington, Mr.. Scott and Benjamin
Chapman of Roanoke County Of
fered a bill prescribing require
ments to be met by cleaners and
pressers using petroleum solvents so
as to prevent fires.