Evening star., 1944-12-15
Quick Passage
Seen for Virginia
Convention Bill
Administration Beats
Down Moves for
Unrestricted Call
6y the Associated Press.

I1S11MoINO, va, dCC. 1O.- L ilc
administration bill for a referendum
on a constitutional convention lin
tied to abolishing registration and
poll tax payments for servicemen
appeared headed for quick passage
today in the General Assembly.
A fight over broadening the scope
of the contemplated referendum, Sc
that the electorate may vote on COM
plete scrapping of the poll tax for
all citizens, loomed on an amend
ment which Senator Leonard Muse
Roanoke, announced he would offer
but test votes yesterday indicated
the administration forces were pre-
pared to shove the bill through
without substantial changes.
Adjournment of the Assembly was
predicted by tonight by leaders in
both Senate and House.
Governor Asks Limitation.
The administration bill was of.
fered in both houses yesterday
shortly after Gov. Darden, in 6
brief address, urged the Assembly
called in special session for the pur.
pose, to submit to the people imme.
diately a referendum on a consti-
tutional convention for the sole
purpose of enfranchising Virgin
ians in the armed forces. The Gov-
ernor asked that the referendum
be so arranged that the people
themselves might limit the powers
Of the convention.
He expressed the view that nc
far-reaching constitutional changes
should be attempted while so many
Virginians are away in the service
Of their country and unable to par
ticipate in the changes. The Gov
ernor told the legislators he had no
quarrel with those who seek by
legal means to advance principles
of government in which they be-
lieve, but that he did not want to
see them make impossible the thing
for which the ponderous constitu-
tional machinery is being set in
motion, namely enfranchisement OF
Virginians in the service.
He expressed grave doubt the
people would be willing to call a
constitutional convention without
placing limits on its powers. He
said he was unwilling to recommend
it.
Under the bill as introduced, the
Governor would call a special cleo
tion on a constitutional convention
within 80 days. The people would
vote for or against a convention
limited to the one purpose of re-
moving registration and poll tax
requirements.
Poll Tax Repeal Barred.
After q fight in both houses, the
Assembly yesterday adopted a joint
resolution offered by Senator John
S. Battle. Charlottesville, which pro-
hibits consideration of any bill or
resolution not recommended in
by the Governor or offered
with the unanimous consent of one
Of the houses. This effectively pre-
vented several members, including
Senator w. N. Neff of Abingdon
and Republican Senator Ted Dalton
Of Radford, from offering resolu-
tions for a constitutional amend
ment to repeal the poll tax.
Mr.. Neff and MIR. Dalton both
hoped to get through resolutions,
which, if also passed at the 1916
regular session, could be submitted
to the people in a referendum. Sen
ator Edward L. Breeder, jr., and
Delegate j. Hoge Tyler, both of Nor
folk, were leaders in the unsuccess-
full fight against the Battle reso-
luton.
Another source of opposition to
the Battle resolution was Delegate
]. N. Garrett, Norfolk County, who
wanted action taken on the report
of the special House committee
which investigated law enforcement
and vice conditions in the county
The committee recommended that
the Governor call a special session
Of the Assembly to consider removal
from Office of Judge A. B. Carney
Of the Norfolk County Circuit Court
Mr.. CARROTS only hope of getting
action now lies in persuading the
Governor to recommend it in
writing.
Elect Judges Today.
Scheduled for today is election OF
a member of the State Corporation
Commission and judges nominated
at Democratic caucus last night
This will be done by joint order In
the two houses.
The joint Democratic legislative
caucus last night nominated STAN
ford L. Fellers for judge of the Law
and Chancery Court of Roanoke.
L. Mccarthy Downs, State auditor
was nominated for a vacancy on
the State Corporation Commission
Nomination is equivalent to election
Other nominations included that
Of Kennon G. Whittle, Martinsville
to succeed the late Judge j. T. Clem-
ent in the 7th judicial district, ano
j. Hume Taylor was named to sue.
ceed the late Judge James U. Goods
on the bench Of the Norfolk Corpo.
ration Court.
Judge Frank A. Kearney was nom-
mated in the 18th circuit and Judge
G. E. Mitchell in the 34th circuit
to fill the unexpired terms, respec.
lively, of the late Judge John Wey.
man and Needham S. Turnbull
Both men had been named to thu
vacancies by the Governor for term.
to expire 80 days after the meeting
Of the Legislature.
Revises Election Laws.
Another bill revises Maryland
election laws, clarifying and sim.
plifying the present laws without
substantial change.
Other recommendations included
Amending the marriage laws tc
permit members of the Merchant
Marine to obtain marriage lisences
without waiting 48 hours and max
ing all licenses valid for six months
from the date of issuance; provid-
Ing for licensing of hospitals, ex-
empting Baltimore City from the
State milk law; amending the nom
profit hospital service plans to ex-
tend such insurance to medical and
&I H.