Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-19
|Darden toUrge
Poll TaxAction
|At'46Session
Small Constitution
Convention Asked
On Service Vote
BY the Associated Press.


RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 49,
Gov. Darden told special ses-
sion of the General Assembly
today that he intended to rec
ommend to the regular session in
January that the question of i'm
position of a poll tax as a pre-
requisite to voting be submitted
to the people.
On the question on which the
special session was called, the Gov
ernor recommended a constitutional
convention of 40 delegates elected
from senatorial districts to provide
for valid servicemen's voting law.
He also asked for Improvements in
the public school system to cost
81, 1873 800 year Approximately ST.
100000 of this would go to teacher
salaries.
Poll Tax Study Urged.
The Governor said his poll tax
recommendation was prompted by
the sharp differences of opinion on
the levy. It had been reported that
the poll tax issue would be forced
before the special session.
Before the repeal resolution Is
submitted, study should be made
of the changes thought desirable, y
the Governor said. This will en-
able the people to know what quail
fications, if any, are to be required
Of those who participate in our cleo
tons in event the poll tax Is re-
pealed as a voting requirement.
IF it is deemed advisable to write
these qualifications in the constitu-
ton they should be submitted along
with the provision for the repeal of
the tax. I think this determination
beforehand of what changes are to be
proposed most important, because of
the wide division which exists
among our people as to the course
we should take, and therefore I ask
your careful consideration of this
suggestion. I recommend that a
commission of nine-five from the
Assembly and four from the State
at large be appointed and charged
with this task
School Recommendations Made.
The executive renewed a recon-
mendation made last January that
the absent voters law be overhauled
to prevent abuses, and he suggested
that the Poll Tax Commission or
the Advisory Legislative Council I'M
dertake the task.
The educational recommendations.
which took up by far the greater
part of his message, included a
recommendation that the State ap-
preparation and teacher salaries be
raised from 5000 to s1050 a year-a
total of S2,200,00O Approximately
$1,l20,000 was recommended for i'm
proVement in visual aids to educa-
ton, with cities and counties to put
up 81 for each 50 appropriated by
the State.
Quick Action Sought.
The 1914 General Assembly ses-
sion attempted to waive poll tax and
registration requirements for service
voters but the State Supreme Court
ruled that act unconstitutional.
State officials are seeking quick
action on the amendment to the
constitution so that a valid war
voters bill might be enacted in time
for service personnel to participate
in the election this fall, at which
Virginians will choose a Governor
and other State and local officials.
Two Senators have announced
that they plan to introduce a poll
tax repeal proposal in the form of
constitutional amendment.
They are Senator Leonard G
Muse, Roanoke Democrat. and Sem
ator Ted Dalton. Radford Republi-
can. They expressed the belief that
unless Virginia acted promptly. Con-
gress might force a Federal repeal
act on Virginia and the six other
Southern States which retain the
poll tax as qualification for voting
Delegate Beecher E. Stallard
Richmond, said he plans to offer a
similar measure in the House OF
Delegates