Evening star., 1944-03-09
Wine Tax, Bonus
Measures Face
Virginia Senate
Small Loans and
College Merger Bills
On House Calendar
BY the Associated Press.

bs the ASSOCldleC tTeSS.
RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 9.-House-
approved changes in the contro-
versial Senate measures for tax
on light wines and for a State en-
ployes bonus were ready for the
consideration of the Senate today
as the Upper House prepared to
take up the huge budget bill as
a special and continuing order of
business.
The House, meanwhile, faced final
action on the Senate small-loan
bill and the bill to merge Radford
State Teachers College with Vir-
ginia Polytechnic Institute.
The small-loan bill was amended
by the House committee on Insur-
ance and Banking to provide for a
fiat 2la per cent a month interest
rate in lieu of the Senate proposal
for per cent on unpaid balance
up to $3.50 and per cent on un-
paid balance over that amount and
up to $500 maximum loan allowed,
Whitehead Proposal Defeated.
The Stuart-Long wine tax bill
was passed by the House unani-
mously after prolonged debate over
amendments.
The delegates voted down, by a
vote OF So to 81, an amendment by
Robert Whitehead of Nelson to ear
mark $4,000 in the first year and
$4,000 in the second year Of the
biennium for distribution to schools
as an increase in teacher salaries,
Such amounts would have furnished
about $50 additional per teacher
unit. which in the budget bill is set
at $500.
The House then adopted an
amendment to distribute two-thirds
OF the estimated $4,000 proceeds
from the 35-cents-per-gallon in
crease of the tax on light wines
from Is to so cents) to cities and
counties on per capita basis, with
a proviso that counties must give
a proportionate share to incor-
porated towns which constitute a
separate schools district.
AS passed by the Senate, the funds
would have been distributed on the
usual lquor-profit distribution basis,
or one-third to the State and two
thirds to the localities on a per
capita basis.
House Passes Bonus Bill.
The Senate bonus bill was passed
by the House with a committee
amendment providing for a 20 per
cent increase on the first $1,000 Of
salary and Is per cent increase
on the second $1,000 and eliminate
ing judges of courts from participa-
ton.
The amended bill also provides
that the bonus shall not increase net
compensation to more than 5000.
The Senate measure had set this
ceiling at $500 and had provided
for a straight Is per cent bonus for
State employees on the first $4,000
of income.
The cost of the bonus between
January /, 1914, and December 81,
1945, the effective dates, was esti-
mated by Chairman C. C. Louder
back of the Appropriations Com
mittee at $3.725, 900. Three months
bonus checks for 10000 employees
will be due under the bill on April /.
The $235, 100000 budget bill comes
up for initial floor consideration in
the Senate this afternoon.
Driver Responsibility Bill Reported.
Reported yesterday by the Senate
Finance Committee was the Bald
win-Dejarnette House bill providing
financial responsibility for motor
vehicle operators. The measure
contains provisions designed to
eliminate irresponsible drivers from
the highways. 1t was reported Tues
day by the Senate Roads Committee
and sent to the Finance Committee
for approval of an appropriation of
$l0O, 900 to put the law in operation.
The Bustard Senate joint resolu-
ton looking toward the appoint
ment by the Governor of all judges
now elected by the General Assem-
bly, was reported by the Senate
Courts of Justice Committee. The
resolution seeks amendments to the
constitution relating to the selec-
tion, tenure and qualification Of
judges and justices.
The resolution would apply to
justices of the Supreme Court of
Appeals and to Circuit and Corpora
ton Court judges. 1t would allow
appointment of the judges Ly the
Governor, with Endorsement by the
Senate
At present both houses of the
General Assembly must vote on any
nominee to any of these judgeships.
School Boilers Insured
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