Evening star., 1944-01-17
Legislature
Awaits Introduction
OF Appropriation Bill
Both Houses Prepared
To HondIe Avalanche
Of New Measures
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Jan. 1.-THE vir-
ginia General Assembly, converting
today for its first full business week,
found interest chiefly ,centered on
the introduction before the House
Of Delegates Of Gov. Darden's rec
ord omnibus appropriations bill en-
bodying expenditures recommended
by the Governor in his proposed
budget of more than $235, 900 900 for
the biennium.
Delegate Charles c. Louderback,
Page County, chairman of the Com
mittee on Appropriations, was ex-
pected to introduce the bill.
Committees in both Houses have
completed preparations for han
ding an anticipated avalanche Of
legislation, but do not expect to
begin serious work until Wednes-
day.
Soldier Vote Action Due.
Three matters which are expected
to come up early are the soldier
vote, air traf7ic regulation and the
boiler inspection bills. At the same
time 1t Is indicated that two school
reform measures may be sent to
the Assembly for early action. One.
the teacher pay proposal, however,
probably will sawait action on the
appropriations bill The other Is a
proposal to raise the minimum age
for compulsory school attendance
in Virginia from Is to 16 years.
The soldier vote bill provides tho
payment of $1-a-year pensions to
Virginia servicemen in this war to
allower their participation in COM
ing elections without payment Of
the required capitation tax. No
serviceman pensioned by the State
is required to pay the poll tax.
It was introduced into the Senate
by Senator John 8. Battle, Char
lottesville, and five other members
Of that chamber.
Air Measure Held Vital.
The air traffic regulation bill pro-
foundly affects Virginia's air COM
merce over this Stase, proponents
of the measure say. .
Two measures on boiler inspection
are before the legislators. On the
opening day the House and Senate
received identical bills unde, which
six-man board controlling boiler
inspection rules would be formed.
Members would be appointed by
the Governor and the sixth would
be the commissioner of industry
and labor.
Also scheduled to come before
the Assembly today is addenda to
the Governors budget message in
which an appropriation of $2,200,.
600 Is recommended to provide ad-
ditional vocational training facil-
tiles on various sections of the
State to be designated by the State
Board of Education.
Stresses Training.
Gov. Darden, in the 6,OOO-word
addition to his message, emphasized
the necessity for expanding training
facilities because of the recent
shortage III skilled labor in nearly
every trade, art and craft.
I'VE are now and shall continue
to provide reasonably adequate
higher educational facilities for the
boys and girls graduated from our
high schools" the Governor said in
his addendum. But we have for
some time recognized deficiency in
facilities for training our young men
and women In various vocations
which are indispensable in our pres
ent economic and social system" he
added.
Other major matters before the
Assembly this week will include NOM
ination and probable election of un-
contested vacancies, including
judgeships, to be decided by the
Legislators. These elections are ex-
pected to come before joint caucus
at pm. tomorrow in the hall of
the House of Delegates. Heading
the list of such candidates will be
former Senator Harvey B. Apper-
son, Roanoke, who is to be elected
to the State Corporation Commits
sion to succeed the late Judge Will
1io m Mool In Az