Evening star., 1942-02-14
Status in House
.0fVirginiaW Wine
Bill Is in Doubt
Delegates Soy Voting
OfLiberoI Proposal
Doesn't Settle Issue
BY the Associated Press

~ bhC hooONidtcd EIcob
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 14.-Some
legislators questioned today whether
the House of Delegates had settled
the issue of restricted fortified wine
sales or merely postponed it.
Adoption of a proposal by Floor
Leader G. Alvin Massenburg of
Hampton yesterday hberalizing the
E. Blackburn Moore and Charles r.
Fenwick bill, which originally would
have restricted the sale of wines of
more than IA per cent alcohol to
State liquor stores, brought a re-
minder that another bill to impose
the same restrictions was still on the
House calendar.
Although the amended Moore
measure was advanced by a voice
vote to third reading, in position for
final disposition Monday, some leg
islators claimed there was confusion
as to the matter being voted on, and
that a number who favored the orig
inal bill opposed the MasSenburg
which would permit the
sale of strong wines by the drink
with meals in licensed eating eStab-
lishments.
Step Toward Prohibition.
During the discussion of the bill.
Delegate Maurice Rosenberg of
Alexandria termed it a step back
toward "the dark, dreary days of
prohibition" and said it would COM
pei persons who wanted only a
drink of wine to go to liquor store
for a bottle
Should the Moore bill fail to pass,
proponents would then support the
Robert Whitehead bill which also
would restrict the sale of wines of
more than IA per cent alcohol and
is still on the calendar.
Meanwhile, members of both
House and Senate took of Saturday
after busy week.
The Senate completed action be-
fore going home on one of Gov.
Darden's major legislative proposals
repeal of the 1910 10 per cent tax
on liquor and wine.
Put through as one means of low
ering liquor prices and helping to
combat bootlegging, the bill will cut
off some s2,4oo000 year in revenue,
though officials believe that will be
made up in increased revenue in
border areas and by reducing the
price gap between legal and illegal
whisky.
Whatever the results, Virginians
will have to wait until after July !
for the lower price, since the legis-
lation becomes effective on that date.
The Senate will decide Monday
whether to 60 on record as requested
by Senator Robert K. Brock of
Farmville as condemning any prac-
tice requiring membership in a la
Dor organization in order to obtain
a job on Army camp construction.
Mr.. Brooks Joint resolution was
tabled until next week on motion of
Senator Morton G. Goode of Din
widdie.
Speed of Vehicles Limited.
In addition to a number of local
or uncontested bills passed, the
Senate approved the House bill re-
ducing speed limits during the
emergency. That measure must re-
turn to the House for action on an
amendment which fixes the maxi
mum rate for passenger buses at As
miles an hour, as compared with 40
as approved by the House.
Both branches limited automobiles
to As miles an hour and trucks to 40.
Those limits compare with 55 for
automobiles, so for buses and As for
trucks under present law.
The Senate passed. 80 to 5, the
Daughton bill bringing under the
State workmen's compensation law
employers with eight or more en-
ployeS, compared with II at present.
Gov. Darden had asked that the
law be applied to employers with
three or more workers.
With Senator William A. Wright
dissenting, the Senate voted 81 to
for the Stuart Harrison bill restor-
ing to the drunk driving law a
mandatory Jail sentence of one to
II months for a second offenSe.
Among bills passed by the House
were the Fenwick measure to keep
election polls open from am. to Z
pm, instead of from sunrise to
sunset, and bill repeating the 1910
law forbidding the Governor to fill
a Circuit or Corporation Court
vacancy unless the Supreme Court
certified the necessity of an appoint
ment.
The House unanimously concurred
in the Senate resolution, commend
ing Senator Byrd for opposing con-
gressional pensions and urging other
Virginia members of Congress to
join him in seeking repeal.