Evening star., 1944-02-21
Action Expected Today
by Virginia Senate
On Wine Tax Boost
Ministers AssoiI Plan
To Provide School Funds
From Liquor Revenue
Ey the Associater Press.

Gs lne ASSOCIATE. Fress.
RICHMOND, Feb. 2l.-Interest Of
the Virginia General Assembly, re-
convening today after the weekend
recess, was centered on the fate OF
an amendment to the Stuart-Long
wine tax bill, before the Senate for
action today. Earmarking the pro-
ceeds Of the tax for school-aid pur.
poses.
The amendment was offered Sat-
urday by Senator w. N. Neff of
Abingdon as the bill reached the
floor for its second reading.
Considerable debate is anticipated
on the measure which provides an
additional tax of IS cents gallon
on the sale of wine from wholesale
to retail dealers, the revenue to be
earmarked for school purposes.
Supporters of the plan see it as
means for aiding materially in
increasing State appropriations for
public instruction to $1,000 per
teacher unit, the aim of the State
Department Of Public Instruction in
its fight for more pay for teachers,
but it is indicated that some oppo-
sition to this phase of the bill will
develop.
Darden Opposes Proposal.
Gov. Darden already has indicated
he would oppose ear-marking liquor
revenues for schools, and the pro-
posal was protested yesterday by five
Richmond ministers and by an Epis-
copal bishop. Or. Theodore F.
Adams. pastor of First Baptist
Church, and DR.. j. Blanton Belk,
St. Giles Presbyterian Church, said
such action involved moral issue"
Declaring he was as anxious as
any one" to have funds to raise
teachers salaries, DR.. Adams termed
himself as "unalterably opposed to
tying up liquor revenues with the
schools.
II should hate to see as fine an
administration as the Darden ad-
ministration 60 down in history
with that kind of tie-up in its rec
ord" he said.
DR.. Belk said he saw real diff
erence" in the direct appropriation
of liquor revenues for the benefit of
schools, and the use of general
fund revenues which would include
taxes from alcoholic beverages.
Resentment Seen.
Tens of thousands Of people in
Virginia will deeply resent the link
ing of teachers salaries directly
with a tax on alcoholic beverages"
he declared. There is a real diff
ference between receiving a salary
from a general tax fund made up
of all kinds of revenue, and receiv-
ing a specific part of a salary from
a direct tax on wine or whisky.
"On the surface the difference
may seem trivial to some. but it Is
not trivial. Such a specific
designation creates a moral issue
and demands either refusal or COM
promise. The State should not force
this moral dilemma upon thousands
of sensitive school teachers and
| patrons"
Joining Dr. Adams and DR.. Belk
in opposing the proposal are the
Right Rev. F. D. Goodwin, bishop CO.
| adjutor of Virginia of the Episcopal
| Church; the Rev. Churchill j. Glib
son. rector of ST. James Episcopal
Church; the Rev. j. H. Marion,
pastor of Grace Presbyterian
Church, and the Rev. Beverly M.
Boyd, rector of Grace and Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church. -
In joint statement the clerics
declared, I'VE believe this to be
wrong in principal and distasteful to
the overwhelming majority of our
citizens, and hope this amendment
is defeated"
Beverage sales will be the subject
OF a public hearing today by the
House General Laws Committee on
the Massie- Warren Campbell -Dodd
bill to prohibit the sale of beer and
wine in Virginia on Sundays. The
measure provides that such sales be
outlawed in the State from mid
night Saturday until midnight Sun
day.
An unusually heavy program is
expected today as it is the last in
which legislators may introduce
general legislation. Already 579
bills have BEEN dropped into the
hoppers this session. 239 by the Sem
ate and $40 by the House. After to-
day only local bills and legislation
dealing with public revenue will be
permitted to be brought up.