Evening star., 1942-03-13
Charter Bill
Back in House
For Passage
Senate Approves
Referendum Plan
With Amendments
BY ALEXANDER r, PRESTON.
Star Staf Correspondent.

RICHMOND, March 13.-The Ar
Ington incorporation bill providing
for referendum to determine
whether that county becomes a city
was sent back to the House of Dele
gates today for concurrence in
amendments to the act as passed by
the Senate yesterday.
The Senate passed the bill out Of
regular order on motion of Senator
William D. Medley of Arlington so
as to insure consideration of the
amendments by the House before
adjournment of the General AS
sembly tomorrow night. The amend
mentS added were those attached by
the County, Cities and Towns Com
mittee of the Senate which liberal
lied the law to provide, among other
things, for the formation of char
ter committee to study a proposed
city plan of government.
Before passing the bill YESTERDAY.
the Senate adopted another amend
ment which tends to adjust the
charter set up in the act to the pro-
visions of charters in many other
Virginia cities. The amendment
would permit the proposed city
council, in addition to powers con-
ferred on 1t by general law, to pro-
vide by ordinance a city license on
any business or profession for which
a State license is not already re-
quired.
Business Piles I'm.
The Senate passed only a few bills
Yesterday, conf1ning its activities to
advancing measures on the calen-
oar to the stage of passing today.
There are l09 bills now ready to be
passed by the upper branch, in
Guiding more than a score of meas
ures sponsored by the Northern Vir-
ginia delegation. 1t will have to
conduct fast bill passing" session
either today or tomorrow to clear
its calendar
The House yesterday struck from
us calendar, without a record vote.
the 120-page Walter -Caudill- Bus
tard Senate bill designed to recodify
the fish, game and dog laws for the
first time in IL years.
Bill Killed in Assault.
After an attempt by Delegate
William T. Murphy of Richmond
County to explain the bill the op-
ponents defeated the legislation
partially through scathing denunci-
alton and partially through ridicule.
More than 100 amendments were
offered to the bill which resulted
in such confusion that Mr.. MurpfS
was forced to admit that he did not
know what all Of them meant.
The House and Senate passed a
joint resolution by Delegate Tate B.
Sterrett Of Bath County. memorable
ing Congress not to impose further
taxes on alcoholic beverages The
resolution pointed out that Virginia
already has removed a 10 per cent
tax on alcoholic beverages so as to
increase the States profit and dis
courage bootlegging by reduction
in price
Delegate Hugh w Huff of Pulaski
opposed the measure, saying it would
make Virginia appear ridiculous and
that Congress would pass any legis-
latlon regardless of the Legislatures
wishes
Delegate Robert L. Whitehead Of
Nelson County also opposed the res
olution because it singled out the
Federal tax on liquor as the only
objection.
Massenberg Defends Plan.
Democratic Floor Leader G. Alvin
Massenberg defended the proposal
and asserted: If the Federal Gov
eminent does not stop its policy Of
placing high taxes on liquor, it will
return not only Virginia, but all of
the States to the bootlegginS days
during the period of prohibition"
Those voting against the resolu-
ton included Delegates Maurice D.
Rosenberg of Alexandria. E. r. Con-
ner of Prince William County, c. G..
Quesenbcry of Waynesboro and
Speaker of the House Thomas B.
Stanley. Support was voted by Mr..
Massenberg and Robert J. Mccain
dish, jr., of FaI fax. Delegate How
ard c. Rogers of Loudoun County
was present. but not voting.
Delegate Charles R. Fenwick Of
Arlington County also did not vote
because of absence due to illness.
The Arlington delegate has been
i'll since Monday, but attended every
days session until yesterday, when
he stayed at his hotel to recuperate.
He is expected back in the House
today.
Delegate Rogers, who is also a
member of the State Highway Com
mission, cast the lone dissenting vote
out of 81 to pass bill authorizing
the highway commission to COM
plete the deep-water terminal road
at Richmond.
Among the seven bills signed into
law yesterday by Gov Darden was
the Fenwick bill exempting men in
military service from penalties and
interest on taxes, and for two-year
period thereafter. This measure was
on the legislative program of the
Organized Women Voters of Ar
lington.