Evening star., 1944-02-12
Sales Tax Bill Dropped
lin Virginia Senate
Due 10 Houses Stand
Finance Group Reports
Three Bills to Creute New
Arlington Circuit Court

RICHMOND, Feb. l2.-The ques-
ton Of "sales tax now" appeared
today to be dead issue for the
1914 Virginia General Assembly be-
cause OF the decision by Senator Y.
Melvin Hodges, South Hill, to ask
dismissal Of his 2 per cent "pay-as-
you-go school" bill.
1t appeared unlikely that the
issue would be revived in the light
of Senator Hodges belief that his
measure would have no chance of
passing the House of Delegates.
THE action of the House Of Dele
gates in adopting the appropriations
bill and its action in referring the
sales tax question to the Legisla-
tive Advisory Council" Senator
Hodges said, convinced me that
the sales tax now will not pass.
Refuses to Waste Time. -
Il see nothing further to be &C
complished by taking the time of
the Senate of Virginia in arguing
a bill which obviously cannot pass
the House, and I am asking for its
dismissal" ~.
Senator Hodges said he would
ask cancellation of the public hear
ing Monday night on his bill which
had been granted at his request by
the Senate Finance Committee.
His bill, calling for 2 per cent
tax on retail sales, was designed to
raise money for school purposes
and to relieve the burden of local
taxation on real estate.
Three Bills Reported.
The Senate Finance Committee
reported three bills sponsored by
Senator William D. Medley, Arling-
ton, to create a new circuit court
for Arlington County.
The House passed the Moore HUH
House bill empowering the Gov
ernor to regulate the speed limit
between IS and so miles per hour
as conditions warrant, except In
Arlington County. where speed shall
be under control of county authori-
ties.
The Senate was called into session
today, for its first Saturday meet
ing since the Assembly convened
January IL, in an effort to clean up
pending business prior to consid-
Grafton of the important appropria-
tions bill, passed by the House
Wednesday.
The big money bill, together with
the House-approved amendments, is
being reprinted on a Senate-ap-
proved motion of Senator Aubrey G.
Weaver chairman of the Finance
Committee.
Surplus Bill Endorsed.
Meanwhile, bill pending In the
House and providing for a $3.50
split between State and localities of
any unobligated surplus for the
next biennium was promised fair
sailing on the strength Of the in
dorsement of administration leaders.
The measure, referred yesterday
to the House Appropriations Com
mittee, was described by Gov. Dar-
den as a bill tending to. strengthen
local government by providing the
localities with funds with which
they may carry out some of their
own programs as soon as the war
will permit"
Senator Weaver expressed the be-
lief the bill would pass the Senate
If adopted by the House. 1t would
serve, he said, to still the cry about
recurring surpluses' in the States
general fund.
The House, which already has
held Saturday session, was well
advanced with its work and did not
meet today.
Joint resolutions the Senate re-
ceived yesterday were one designed
to effect study of and get recon-
on a health and acci-
dent insurance program for the pro-
tection of State employees, and one
asking the State Advisory Legis-
lative Council to conduct a study of
health conditions in the counties,
cities and towns of the Common