Evening star., 1944-03-10
VirgiiniiaHou
ToActT Todayon
Ballot
Appropriation Bill
Amendments to
Be Considered
BY the Associated Press.


ate bills designed to give servicemen
full opportunity" to vote were set
for a special order of business today
by the Virginia House of Delegates,
which had its own Legion-sponsored
bill rejected by the Senate in favor
OF administration-supported meas
ureS.
The House Privileges and Elec-
tions Committee met to report the
bills which the Senate passed unani-
after beating down an at
tempt to have one of the three
substituted by the House
bill.
The House prepared to consider
also amendments adopted by the
Senate in passing unanimously late
yesterday the $235 100000 general
appropriation bill.
The Senate action on the big
money measure, adopted with little
change as reported by the Senate
Finance Committee Tuesday, was
igh-ighted by futile attempt on
the pant of Senator L. U. holland.
Newport News, to raise the State
aid for schools from 5000 to $1,000
per teacher unit.
School Proposal Opposed.
To do this the Newport News SEN
ator sought to have utilized for
schools the $2,935 900 appropriated
for dormitories and other capital
outlay at the University of Virginia.
This was a sum, he said, only S. 900
less than the amount which would
be needed to increase the school unit
to $1,000.
Senator Aubrey G.. Weaver, chair
man of the Finance Committee, op-
posed the holland proposal. He said
such an appropriation would be-
come a recurring expense, and point
ed out that the General Assembly
already had passed two bills to re-
turn more than $2,0OO,0 900 a year to
the localities. This money, he added,
could be spent for schools by the
cities and counties.
Senator holland appeared to be
the only voter in the affirmative in
the voice vote rejecting the amend
ment.
The Senate adopted budget bill
amendment, requested by the Gov
ernor, which would allow the Chief
Executive to use surplus funds, if
any, for the relief of any depart
ment, institution or agency of the
State government which may need
money because of the emergency
war conditions" to function properly.
War Voting Bill Rejected.
In addition, an approved COM
mlttee amendment provides that the
Governor shall expend sum suf-
1cient" to provide for the proper
operation of the State institutions
If higher learning which have suf-
.ered reduction in revenues because
If the war.
The Senate rejected by voice
1ite the House war voting bill which
said offered a more direct
and simple procedure for soldier
voting" than the Senate bill.
Senator Marvin Minters, Math-
ews, who offered the House bill as
and Senator Y. Melvin
Hodges, South Hill, said the Legion
backed measure was less "cumber-
some" than the Senate bill. Both
the measures provide for payment
Of the serviceman's poll tax, the
House bill automatically" and the
Senate bill on written request.
Senator John S. Battle, Abe
marie, speaking in defense of the
Senate bill, said the only criticism
of the measure seemed to be that it
was cumbersome.
He contended that the procedure
set up was neither cumbersome nor
that no payment of poll
tax or registration of servicemen
would be required for the national
election this fall because of con-
gressional action, and that there
would be a whole year in which
to complete" the poll tax payment
and registration for subsequent elec-
tions.
Legion Assails Measure.
John j. Wicker, jr., representing
the American Legion in the fight
to have the House bill passed, said
in a statement that "after careful
study OF this Senate legislation = +
we are convinced that Senate Bill
269, as passed by the Senate, is so
full of unnecessary complications
and red tape that it will actually
discourage most of our servicemen
from even attempting to vote"
The House yesterday almost COM
pletely cleared its calendars of con-
troversial legislation by passing SEN
ate bills fixing the small loan inter-
est rate at 2l2 per cent, consoli-
dating the Radford Teachers College
with Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and freezing the minimum teacher
units in the counties.
Passed by vote of 81 to 81 was a
Senate bill to eliminate sessions of
he Supreme Court at Wytheville
with an amendment that it is to
become effective this year.
The House struck from the calen-
lar the Senate bill to permit the
supreme Court to promulgate rules
'or practice and procedure in civil
actions and to name a committee to
assist it in preparation of the rules
Game Bill Passed.
The Stuart Long Stephens bill
clarifying authority in the Game
was passed.
The small loan bill as it passed
he Senate provided for split rate
n lieu of the present rate of "a per
cent, with 36 per cent charged on
he first $3.50 of loan and "a per
;ent from $3.50 to $500. The House
insurance and Banking Committee
it to a uniform 80 per cent
ate, or 212 per cent per month, and
t passed the House in this form.
The measure will go back to the
Senate for concurrence.
The RadfordVPI merger bill
passed the House by 76 to 5 vote
after Delegate John Spiers ex-
planned that the House committee
amendments, which were adopted
provided for complete consolidation
Uithin four years. During this time,
le said, no new undergraduate
uopoan will ho aGp,ittaS IN tla NJDT