Evening star., 1942-01-16
Executions Spur
Virginia Pardon
Board p lea
Action by Assembly
Asked by Gov. Price
As Pair Wait Death
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 16-Execu-
ton of two men at the State peni-
tentiary today gave grim impetus
to Gov. Prices request to the Cen
eral Assembly to take steps to set
up a State Board of Pardons.
Sole say in the matter Of life or
death for condemned felons rests
with the Governor after the courts
have acted finally, and in asking
that this duty be removed from the
chief executive, Gov Price recalled
sleepless hours he had spent in the
dawn hours that men were to die.
1--WE had 18 cases OF the death
sentence during my term of ONCE, u
the Governor told the joint session
Of the General Assembly gathered
to hear the biennial budget message
yesterday, land there are two more
to be electrocuted tomorrow.
guess shall be lying awake think
Ing about them as their hour ap-
proaches. This is too much
responsibility for one mans shoul-
ders."
) Slayers Of Girl Executed.
The electrocution of Charles john
son. jr., 10, and William Henry
Diggs. "a. both colored, for the mur-
der Of Gladys Mae Tyree, 18-year-
old Appomattox High School girl,
in Nelson County last fall, was held
between 7 and 8 o'clock this morn
ing at the State penitentiary, Off
cials said
1t would take a constitutional
amendment to set up State Par
don Board. requiring passage of
legislation by two sessions of the
Legislature and referendum of the
voters. Gov. Price said he realized
such a program could not be ac-
complished in time to benefit the
incoming administration of Gov
elect Darden but lit would be
step in the right direction for the
future"
Reference to the proposed estab-
lishment of a Pardon Board was
but an aside in the Governors
message on the s2l7000 900 biennial
budget, projecting funds for the
operation OF the governmental
machinery and agencies of the
Commonwealth for the two-year
period ending June 30 1914.
Immediately on the conclusion
Of the Governors address, Delegate
Frank Moore of Rockbridge, chair
man Of the House Appropriations
Committee, introduced the budget
as House Bill No. 41-the impor-
tant appropriations measure which
goes in early but comes out finally
for the Governors signature in the
wanting hours Of each session.
No Quick Action Expected.
Mr.. Moore said consideration of
the measure would begin shortly"
In his ca1nmittee. It was conceded
generally, However, that no impor-
tant action on the measure would
be taken. at least until Mr.. Darden
takes ONCE January 21. There Gus
tomarily is joint consideration of the
bill by the Senate Finance and
House Appropriations Committees.
The House committee considers it
further. alone, before it finally gets
to the House for a vote. The Sem
ate acts with equal deliberation
when it receives the measure from
the House and there is further joint
deliberation before passage is final.
Both houses of the Assembly ar
ranged to meet today with a meet
ing OF the Senate Finance Commit
tee set for this morning.
The joint Assembly yesterday
adopted a resolution by Senator
Aubrey Weaver Of Front Royal for
an inaugural committee to consist
of President Pro Tempore Henry T.
Wickham Of the Senate, Speaker
Henry M. Stanley, four Senators
and eight Delegates. Those named
by Senator Wickham included John
S. Battle of Charlottesville and Burr
Harrison Of Winchester. Speaker
Stanley's appointees included Floor
Leader G. Alvin Massenburg of
Hampton and E. Blackburn Moore
Of Clarke.
New Bills Are Listed.
Along with new bills received in
both houses the Senate yesterday
received a report by State Auditor
L. Mccarthy Downs which asserted
that prices at which school text
books are being sold by publishers
in Virginia are as low as those
offered elsewhere when all the
factors relative to handling and
distribution are taken into con-
Sideration"
Bills introduced yesterday in
cluded:
Amending the act providing for
appropriations by counties and cities
for injured policemen and firemen
so as to make its provisions applica-
BILE to f1remen injured prior to
1910 amendment.
Providing for the State to pay
part of the cost of transporting chill
dren to and from school.
Providing that commissioners of
the revenue shall show land books
to owners or agents and providing
for verif1cation of entries.
Requiring statements to be sent
taxpayers irrespective of the amount
of tax.
Restricting the sale of fortified
wines to A. B. C. dispensaries.
Providing for the bonding of re-
tail licensees under the A. B. C. Act.
Providing for an actuarially
sound teachers retirement system.
Reducing the speed limit of autos,
buses and trucks to IS, 40 and IS
miles an hour, respectively,