Evening star., 1946-02-21
Charter Hearing
For Arlington
Slated Today
Virginia House Unit
Also Moy Discuss
Annexation Curb
By the kssccioted press

NAtiCS anu 1oWuS has ScneQuleQ q
hearing this afternoon on the bill
to permit incorporation of Arlington
County as a f1rst-class city.
Another bill which may come ur
Tor consideration at this time would
forestall annexation of any part oil
Fairfax County by Alexandria OF
Arlington until all land which for
merly was a part of the District OF
Columbia Is taken in it's entirety
into one or the other.
This bill, by Delegate Edwin w
Lynch, Fairfax. would in effect re-
qulre Arlington to "annex" a sub
stantial part of Alexandria, or Alex
andria to annex all of Arlington be-
fore either could expand elsewhere
Vote Revision Passes.
Meanwhile, the full program oi
revision of Virginia's suffrage laws
recommended by the Campbell
Commission passed the House OF
Delegates yesterday and was speed
ed to the Senate.
The program includes a resolu-
tion for series of constitutional
amendments to abolish the poll tax
and substitute a system of annual
registration of voters. Before il
can become effective it must be
passed by the Senate at this session
by both Houses in 1948 and then ap-
proved by the voters in a 1948
referendum.
In addition there are six. bills for
immediate enactment at this ses-
sion which would create a bi-parti-
sam three-man State board of elec-
tlofls to have overall supervision of
the election system, provide for
fllllng vacancies in local Offices by
election, substitute $50 am. to 6 80
pm. voting for the present sun
rise to sunset" law, setup special
three-Judge courts to decide elec-
ton contests, and generally
strengthen election laws, including
the absentee voters statue. PEN
alties for violation of election laws
would in many instances be more
severe.
Amendments Is Rejected.
The whole program received
House approval just as it came
from the Privileges and Elections
Committee and after rejection of a
substitute for the resolution which
would have submitted repeal of the
poll tax to the people without an
nual registration and without crea-
ton OF bipartisan State board to
supervise the election system. The
three-man State board, while estab-
llshed in one of the bills, would also
be embodied in the constitution un-
der the terms of the resolution.
The House action followed two
days OF debate which forced post
ponement until today of considera-
ton of the s319, 100000 general ap-
preparation bill.
The Senate held a brief session
and passed the Battle-Stephens-
Neff bill authorizing the State Con-
servation Commission to issue bonds
for self-lquidating improvements to
the State park system.
Both houses adopted a resolution
calling on the controller for a full
report on revenues of the highway
department and expenditures on the
primary and secondary road systems
from 1943 through December, 1945
The resolution was sponsored BY
Delegate John B. Boatwright, Buck.
ingham.
Includes Gas Tax Boost.
The program includes an increase
from to cents per gallon in the
gasoline tax, repeal of the gross re.
ceiptS tax on trucks, a reduction ir
the license tax on private passenger
cars and an increase in truck
licenses.
The House adopted resolution
for commission to give thorough
study to reorganization of Virginia s
government as recommended by
Gov. Tuck, asking that particular
attention be devoted to possible
changes to simplify and make more
efficient the existing government
structure.
The Moore bill to prevent ano
abate pollution of Virginia's streams
was set as a special order in the
House today, but may not be
reached.
Joint Democratic caucus last night
nominated the following judges
whose election by the Assembly will
be formality:
Justice C. Vernon Spratley of the
Supreme Court of Appeals for a new
12-year term beginning February
1947.
Judge H. w. Bertram, 25th circuit;
Judge j. r. H. Alexander, 26th;
Judge B. D. White, 28th; Judge Ed
ward Meeks, 29th; Judge S. Duval
Martin, Lynchburg Corporation
Court; Judge j. Hume Taylor, Nor
folk Corporation Court Part II;
Judge o. L. ShackIeford, Norfolk
Law and Chancery Court; Judge
Richard T. Wilson, Petersburg Cor
poration Court; Judge Willis D
Miller, Richmond Law and Equity
Court; Judge Herbert G. Cochran
Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Re-
lations Court; all for new terms be-
6%AAAA6 SSA ooA l., 4oft.
Soil Bill. Passed BY.
The House Agricultural Commit.
tee, after hearing yesterday from a
delegation Of Fauquier and Loudour
County farmers on bill to amend
the Soil Conservation Districts Act
passed the measure by indefinitely
1t also passed by indefinitely the
Dalton Senate bill to require the
enrichment of flour and a second
House bill making two and one-hal1
per cent commissions, plus 25-cent
basket charges the maximum hurley
warehousemen may charge.
The Senate General Laws Com.
mittee set Monday at 3 pm. fol
consideration of the controversial
Moncure-Locher bill to prohibit re.
employment of public employees fol
five years who go out on strike.
The bill passed the House after it:
original prohibition on re-employ.
ment was reduced from permanent
one to five years and new provision
was made for appeals.
Jovcees to Hold Donce