Evening star., 1942-02-21
S217,000,0O0
Budget Faces
Virginia House
Assembly to Act
On Many Major
Bills Next Week
~ the Associated Press.

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 2I.-Vir-
ginia's General Assembly, enjoying
possibly the last free Saturday be-
fore the 1912 session ends three
weeks hence, looked forward today
to consideration Of its paramount
problems next week.
The House Of Delegates will take
up the $217 900 900 biennial budget
bill Tuesday as special and con-
tinuing order of business, but first
must take up as a special order on
Monday a bill by Delegate Charles
r. Fenwick Of Arlington County and
others to make far-reaching changes
In the present law for licensing and
taxing motor trucks.
Another matter pressing for con-
sideration is the Massenburg bill to
have trial justices salaries fixed by
the State Compensation Board in
stead Of by county boards of super
visors. This measure advanced over
opposition yesterday to third read
Ing, ready for possible passage Mon
day.
Amendment Beaten.
Among those who opposed the
measure was Delegate Maurice
Rosenberg of Alexandria, who said
1t would further weaken home rule.
He offered an amendment provid-
ing that the boards of supervisors
could reduce. within the brackets
set by the bill, a salary awarded a
trail justice by the compensation
board. The amendment was voted
down.
Other bills on third reading for
passage, as soon as disposition Of
the special orders permit, include a
series Of five by Delegate E. o. Nc
Cue and others, granting the Gov
ernor wartime powers correlated
with the Civilian Defense Act now
In effect as emergency legislation.
The bill for redistricting House
representation. considerably amend
ed by the Privileges and Elections
Committee, will take its place on
the House calendar and may be
reached before the week is out. The
amendments LEAVE undisturbed a
provision giving Arlington County a
second Delegate.
The Senate has up for final ac-
ton a bill, with an emergency
clause, for zoning airport areas to
remove hazards to aircraft. under
of the State Corpora
ton Commission.
Small Loans Measures.
Senator Charles w. Crowder's bill
financial statements Of
small loan applicants from being
used against them in future court
action may be passed Monday,
while the House bill reducing small
loan rates from 31a to 2 per cent
month will take its place on the
calendar for action probably later
in the week. -f.,
Meanwhile, the House received
bill prescribing drastic regulations
for small loan companies operating
in Virginia, under supervision OF
the State Banking Commissioner
The new bill is sponsored by Dele
gate William j. Gibson, of Fred
ericksburg, who was author OF the
bill to cut interest rates.
The measure, in addition to giving
the Commissioner of Banking full
authority, provides that borrower
may recover both interest and prin-
cipal as well as an attorneys fee If
he discovers within year that he
has been charged more than the
legal rate of interest. It also gives
the Banking Commissioner author
ity to forbid misleading advertising,
and provides that every company
licensed must have available for
operation at the location specified
in the application liquid assets OF at
least $25,00O.
Public Housing Bills.
Among other bills on third read
ing in the Senate will be three pub
bic housing measures by Senators
Hillard and Crowder. One would
authorize regional housing authori-
ties to build dwellings for low
income farmers; another would
make housing authority bonds legal
investments for governmental sub
divisions, banks and similar busi-
ness, and fiduciaries, and the third
would provide for slum clearance
by municipalities.
With the House reapportionment
bill before the House on recommen-
dation Of its Privileges and Elections
Committee-though with changes
which return six districts to their
status quo-proponents Of redistrict-
ing, who include Gov. Darden,
looked to the Senate committee for
action on bill reapportioning SEN
atorial representation as recon-
mended by the E. r. Fuller Com
mission.
The House yesterday passed and
sent to the Governor the Cary
Weaver Senate bill permitting
women to work up to Sc hours per
week in war industries upon ap-
proval Of the commissioner OF labor.
The bill has the approval of the
Federal Government and Gov. Dar-
den and carries an emergency
clause.
Senate bills providing the high
way department a $4,000, 900 discre-
tionary fund for emergency con-
struction during the war and au-
thorizing the highway department
to bear part of the cost within
city limits Of by-passes around or
through cities and towns, also were
passed by the House.
State Personnel Bill.
Burnett Miller, jr., of Culpeper
and others introduced a State per-
sonnel administration bill, embody-
ing recommendations of the Virginia
Advisory Council, but containing
. proviso that State employees now
In the armed forces would be con-
Sidered as having been employed in
accordance with. requirements Of
the system.
Robert j. McCandlish Of Fairfax
II