Evening star., 1944-02-15
Study
by Virginia
Senate Committee
New Judicial Circuit
For Arlington Posses
In Upper House
By the Associated Press,


By the Associated Press
RICHMOND, Feb. 15.-The Sen
ate Finance Committee planned a
meeting today to clear the way for
consideration of the $235, 900 900 ap-
preparations bill as the work of
rounding out the program of the
1914 session of the Virginia General
Assembly awaited Senate action on
the measure.
Chairman Aubrey G. Weaver said
the committee expected to give con-
sideration soon to the appropria-
tions bill itself as amended and
passed last week by the House of
Delegates.
The Senate yesterday passed the
Clarke-Medley Senate bills provid-
ing for a new judicial circuit for
Arlington County. The county is
now in the 18th circuit, which
also includes Alexandria and Prince
William and Fairfax Counties.
Under the bill Arlington would be
the 35th circuit.
Meanwhile, Senator w. N. Nef7,
Abingdon, an outspoken advocate OF
increased State aid for public
schools, expressed belief that Vir-
glnia counties will receive less from
liquor revenues in the future, in
spite of the Daughtrey House bill
providing for larger share of State
liquor profits for localities.
Sees Cities Favored.
Senator Neff said a division of
liquor revenues on the basis of
population, as provided in the
Daughtrey bill, would favor cities
at the expense of counties.
Senator Weaver has said that
under the plan for the distribution
OF the ABC profits, the localities
Will receive practically $4,000 900 in
revenue from the State which thev
never received before and the
counties will continue to receive the
s5O0,0O0 from the State for school
bus transportation"
Senator Neff replied that Sen
ator Weaver cites the 1886 ,666 OF
ABC money which, under a pro-
posed bill, would be sent to the
Iocantles on a per capita basis"
Even with this addition, the Abinp-
don Senator contended, The local
tiles will receive less ABC money
than they received last year" be-
cause OF the decrease in liquor
revenues.
The benefit to schools is problem
atlcal,' he added. How can the
schools expect to get more money
when the localities are getting less?"
This money, if appropriated for
teacher units, would add $50 to each
such unit, but when distributed tn
the Localities on per capita basis
would, If used for the schools, pro-
vide the counties s6135 per teacher
unit and the cities s124.70 per unit
on the 1894 distribution. Whv
should the basis of distribution be
altered SO radically If this money
Is to go to the schools?"
Senator Neff termed Senator
Weaver's statement IAN interesting
effort to justify the anticipated
failure of the General Assembly to
provide more than 5000 per teacher
unit as the State appropriation for
the next two years"
Wine Tax Study Slated.
Senator Neff pointed out that
among Southern States Virginia
stood lowest in the proportion of
money for schools provided by the
State in comparison with that pro-
vided by localities, and declared.
I'VE should not add to this un-
favorable standing by lending
money to the localities with the
express hope they will increase their
contributions to schools, instead Of
adding it to the State appropriation.
This applies with equal force to
the sending of the proceeds Of a
wine tax to the localities instead
of using that revenue to increase
the appropriation per teacher unit"
Scheduled for consideration OF the
Senate Finance Committee today is
the Stuart-Long bill levying 80 cents
gallon on light wines to be sold to
wholesalers for resale, in addition
to the present markup of is cents .
gallon collected by the ABC Board.
Senator Harry Stuart, Elk Garden.
co-sponsor of the bill, said yesterday
enactment of the measure by the
General Assembly would provide
counties, cities and towns with an
additional 100000 in annual rev.
enue.
According to figures furnished by
the controller, this tax will yield a
gross revenue of s1.200.000 a year"
Senator Stuart said. 1T is to be
divided on the basis of two-thirds to
the localities and one-third to the
State. 1t carries an emergency clause
which will make it effective immedi-
ately."
With the revenue now derived
from the markup on wines and the
proceeds Of the 30-cent proposed tax,
Senator Stuart estimated the total
revenue from light wines alone will
approximate $3,600000 for the bien-
mum.