Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-22
Bills 10 Change
Virginia Voting
Laws Offered
Measures AFFECTING
Northern Section
Also Introduced
By a Star star CORRESPONDENT.

l.o-l.
One of the six would create a
board of elections to supervise the
State elections. Other changes
sought by the bills include: Tight
ening of absentee voting laws to
minimize fraud possibilities by re-
qulrlng afddavitS of would-be alb
sentee voters and physicians certifi-
Gates to subStantiate absences from
sickness; setting up three Judge
courts to try any election contests:
making intimidation, bribery, theft
of votes and other election frauds
punishable as felonies instead of as
mlsdemeanors; provide for elections
to fill local vacancies in elected Of
fees when the unexpired term is
more than Is months; set up safe
guards requiring defaced and spoiled
ballots to be return from the polling
place with the poll books instead of
having them burned with no &C
counting made, and requiring elec-
ton judges to write their names at
the end of the books when the polls
are closed and remove all statutory
uldJGCI ilOW UUSOlcGc.
In the busiest day of the cur
rent session to date, legislators found
time after listening to a lengthy
address by Gov. Tuck to introduce
81 bills in the House and 10 in the
Senate.
Would Ban Flogging.
Included in this number were
whit 81, LII Ii
punishment of any prisoner of the
State by whipping or fogging, pro-
vide for fiat Is per cent reduction
on motor vehicle licenses, a per
cent increase over the chief exec
utive's proposal, and authorize and
require the State Department of
Health to establish a program for
the periodical medical examination
Of all children of the elementary
grades in public schools.
The Senate received bills which
would reduce the hurley tobacco
warehousemen's fees from to 3
per cent of the sales price of the
tobacco, liberalize the present law
on use of funds realized from school
bond issues so as to permit these
bonds to be used not only for the
construction of school buildings but
also for improvements, additions and
acquisitions of sites, and simplify
the law relating to commitments
to the State farm for misdemeanors.
The Senate concurred in a House
joint resolution commencing Sem
ator Byrd and other Virginia mem
bers of Congress for their irtelli-
gent efforts toward solving the
current labor management disputes,
but another joint resolution COM
mending Admiral William fBulD
Halsey for his war services was
sent to committee for likely in
clusion of reference to unsung
heroes of the war. in addition to
the naval figure.
Alexandria Seeks Ban.
Meanwhile, it appeared likely to-
day that the first bill to pass
either House-a measure to restore
primary elections to the first Tues
day in April and to restore the Co.
day filing deadline-would carry an
amendment prohibiting additional
candidates from seeking local Of
fees in the forthcoming Alexan-
dria primary.
The House yesterday waived con-
stitutional readings and unanimous
ly passed bill by Delegate Walter
Hopkins, Richmond, and others, to
restore primary elections to the
first Tuesday in April and 70 re-
store a 60-day filing Geadline.
In many municipalities of the
State, except Alexandria, local of
flcials overlooked provision of the
War Voters Act passed at a special
session of the Assembly in 1945
which advanced party primaries in
80 days in advance of elections and
increased primary filing headlines
from go to 80 days.
In Alexandria 18 candidates have
filed for nine seats on City Council
and Senator Andrew w. Clarke,
Alexandria, Fairfax and Prince Will
liam, said he plans an amendment
to the Hopkins bill to freeze" the
number of candidates who already
have filed there.
All Properly Notified.
Senator Clarke said he had been
requested by City Manager Carl
Budwesky to exclude Alexandria
from the Hopkins bill because all
candidates in that city were prop
erly notified and had opportunity
to file before the December 4 dead
line.
Senator Clarke said he under
stands there are several more can
Sdidates seeking to qualify for local
races in Alexandria. AS of De-
cember 4, Is candidates had filed
for six ward councilmen's seats and
five had filed for the three council
men at large positions.
Three bills local in application to
Northern Virginia areas were intro
duced at yesterdays session. Dele
gate Edwin w. Lynch, Fairfax,
dropped measure in the House
hopper designed to meet a request
of the Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors. 1t would require local
election registrars to promptly
notify" the general county registrar
Of the names of new voters listed.
Senator Clarke introduced a bill
requested by Alexandria City Council
tdramend the city charter to require
AUDITING land owners to construct
ahd maintain at their own expense
sidewalks, curbs and cutters. In in
stances where property owners failed
to provide such improvements the
Council would be authorized to COL
lect from the property owners as II
now collects delinquent taxes.
Delegate G. G. Louderback, Page
and Warren. introduced a measure
to increase the maximum salary OF
the Warren County trial justice from
$2,400 to $4,000 annually. The in
cHmbent is Trial Justice John H
DCwney, Front Royal.
Wants Salary Basis Changed.
Last week Delegate William j.
Gibson, Fredericksburg, introduced
a bill which would permit latest
satisfactory population estimates to
be used in figuring trial justices'