Evening star., 1944-03-02
Virginia House
Passes Soldier
Vote Measure
Bill Goes to Senate
Unit for Study Of
ConstitutionoIity
BULLETIN.

RICHMOND, Va. R.-The
McCandlish naturalization"
bill was killed by unanimous
action OF the Senate Privi-
leges and Elections Commit
tee today after a brief hear
ing. The measure would have
required a new resident to
file a declaration of inten-
ton" one year before he
could vote.
By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 2.-The
problem Of extending the voting
privilege to Virginians in the armed
services rested entirely with the
Senate today after the House of
Delegates gave unanimous approval
to the revised American Legion
sponsored bill.
Formal opinions differing on the
question Of the constitutionality of
the measure together with an iden-
tical Senate bill were referred for
study to a subcommittee of the
Senate Privileges and Elections
Committee.
American Legion leaders have
advocated their bill as a surer means
OF giving servicemen vote for both
State and national Offices than the
Weaver Senate bill. The latter
would limit such voting to national
contests, they argued. They have
asserted that the Weaver bill, based
on the Soldiers and Sailors Voting
Act OF Congress, is on less certain
grounds constitutionally than the
measure backed by the Legion.
Poll Tax Provision.
The bill passing the House YES
terday appropriates $3.50 for each
Vrginian in the armed services and
makes the treasurer their agent for
personal payment of poll taxes with
these funds unless they raise OBJ
lection.
The differing opinions on constitu-
tlonallty came from Attorney Gen.
eral A. P. Staples and from Collins
Denny, jr, and Col. Christopher B.
Garnett, each former assistant at
torney general. The Denny and
Garnett opinions were presented by
John j. Wicker, jr, representing the
Legion.
The Attorney General said that If
the plan suggested is constitutional,
then it is within the power of the
General Assembly to abolish entirely
the poll tax as voting qualification
by appropriating the amount of tax
to every adult citizen of the State
and directing its payment"
The Denny and Garnett opinions
held constitutional the Legion plan
for appropriating morley for the pay
ment of poll taxes for the service
voters.
Full Calendars in Both Houses.
Both the Senate and House were
called to meet at noon to consider full
calendars. The House still has pend
ing the Coburn bill to divide on a
$3.50 basis between State and To-
callties any surplus remaining in
the State treasury at the end of the
biennium.
The Senate yesterday disposed of
a majUr controversial measure in
passing the Daughtrey House bill to
give the State $75O,000 as its initial
share of the State liquor profits and
to divide the remainder two-thirds
to the localities and one-third to
the State.
It rejected amendments offered by
Senator w. M. Minter of Matthews
to have the State retain an addi-
tional $2,205, 1000 and to appropriate
from this 81 100000 to raise the State
aid per teacher unit another $50.
The House Appropriations Com
mittee reported out unfavorably the
18-patron House resolution to in
crease the compensation of members
Of the House by $3.50 at this session
because of the higher living costs in
Richmond.
Action was deferred by the COM
mittee on the Whitehead bill to ap-
propriate 81, ,764 900 to give a bonus"
to school teachers.
Action also was deferred on the
Senate bill to allow the State to
take over the Slemp Museum in
Wise County. with the Slemp Foun-
dation to provide for upkeep.
Federal B6IIof Provided