Evening star., 1944-02-01
Daughtrey Liquor Bill
pfor Second Readinu
In Virginia House
Measure Would Assure
Communities Increased
Shore in Sales Profits

Communities increased
Share in Sales Profits
Ey the Associated Press.
RICHMO MOND, Feb. 1.-The
Daughtrey bill, providing for a
larger share of the liquor profits
for the localities, was expected to
come up for second reading in the
Virginia House of Delegates today
after Delegate F. J. Daughtrey,
Emporia, moved yesterday to have
the measure passed by temporarily.
The bill would give the localities
two-thirds Of all ABC profits and
the State one-third instead Of the
present system of s2,50o,O00 to tho
State as its initial share and divid-
ing the remainder, two-thirds to the
localities and one-third to the State.
Meanwhile, Delegate Robert White
head, Nelson amherst, offered esti-
mates to show that collection of a
10 per cent sales tax on light wines
between wholesalers and retailers
would yield approximately 81 100000
a year.
Mr.. Whitehead is sponsor of an
other bill to restore the 10 per cent
levy on all liquor store sales removed
by the last session. This would
more than compensate the State for
the estimated loss of 81 ,666 600 the
State would bear under the division
proposed by Mr.. Daughtrey. Esti-
mates are that such a tax would
have yielded more than $4,000, 600
last year.
Based ON ABC Board Figures.
The estimates furnished by Mr..
Whitehead are based on statement
of wine sales for the calendar year
1943 obtained from the ABC Board.
Figures from the statistical divi.
sion of the ABC Board, Mr.. White
head said, showed that licensees pur-
chased s10,610, ,462.51 worth Of wines
from wholesalers during the first IL
mouths of 1943. Sales for December
were not given, but an ABC official
estimated that they would amount
to 300, 900 gallons.
At present the State receives Is
cents gallon on light wines. This
represents 3 fiat markup In the
price of the beverage, and the
markup is now at the maximum
figure permitted by OPA regulations.
The proposed tax would not come
under OPA jurisdiction.
Boiler Inspection Code.
Arguments pro and con on q
boiler inspection code were heard by
the Senate and House General Laws
Committee for two hours yesterday
but neither committee took action
on the measures discussed.
Delegate James E. Gardner, Rich.
mond, said he planned to introduce
a bill divorcing the present person.
mel system from the Office Of budget
director. He said his proposed meas
ure would amend the 1912 per.
sonnel act by setting up personnel
division and give the Governor
power to appoint, a personnel di-
rector who shall have special per-
sonnel training" -
Expected to be reported to the
House Of Delegates today is a bill
exempting members of the Virginia
State Guard, the proposed new
name of the Virginia Protective
Force, from jury service, which was
approved yesterday by the Commit
tee on Courts of Justice.
The exemption is granted VSG
members under the bill because of
their contributions to the organiza-
ton and their service to the State
during the emergency.
Liquor Referendum Asked.
The General Assembly yesterday
received circular letter bearing the
name Of Bishop James E. Cannon,
Jr., Methodist Church leader, calling
on the Legislature to pass State
wide liquor referendum law.
The letter criticized the State
revenue from alcoholic beverage of
s14 1887 900 which, it said, only indi.
Gates the increase in drinking in the
State.
A study of Virginia's rural school
system was called for in a House
joint resolution offered by Dele
gate Robert c. Bowie, Galax.
One citizen would be elected from
each magisterial district to serve
with Assemblymen and with county
officials on a local committee to
study improvement Of public edu.
cation. These county committees
would submit their findings to q
commission of seven members OF the
General Assembly, which in turn
would report to the Assembly 80
days prior to the next regular ses-
sion.
The House passed the Williams
Yates bill designating certain
periods during which county clerks'
Offices may be closed, the Daugh.
trey bill providing for appointment
of a special policeman by two ad-
joining counties and a town partial
ly in both counties, and the Nc
Candlish bill making 1t a crime to
summon without just cause certain
emergency vehicles or fire. fighting
apparatus.