Evening star., 1946-03-10
Assembly Ends
Session After
Passing Budget
Commission Created
To Study Taxes on
Public Utilities
BY Alex R. Preston
Stor stoH Correspondent

Stof SfofT correspondent
8 RICHMOND, Va, Mar. 9.-The
General Assembly closed its 6O-day
session today after both houses
agreed on the final form of the
budget for the next biennium call
ing for expenditures, some of which
are conditional, amounting to more
than $320,oo0, 600.
In the closing hours, also, the
Assembly acceeded to request of
Gov. Tuck and adopted a resolu-
ton creating a commission to study
and report on public service corp
Grafton taxes.
The Senate, however, killed the
1rvine-Wyatt House bill to increase
the maximum load limit for trucks
from 10000 to $4,000 pounds after
Senator Andrew w. Clarke, Alex
anddria, Fairfax and Prince Will
liam, led the assault.
Refuse to Boost Benefits.
Other highlights in the closing
hours included passage of the Battle
Bill amending the Unemployment
Compensation Act, but in a form
retaining the present SIS weekly
benefit payments instead of $40 as
proposed.
The Brock House bill authorizing
localities to purchase or lease equip
ment for construction of private
access roads on farms at the own
ers' expense also was approved.
The Assembly also adopted the
usual resolution to reconvene March
20 for the one-day constructive
session" At this time members
living within the Richmond area
will put in token appearance while
the presiding officers of both
branches sign legislation to be sent
to the Governor.
The budget bill had been in con-
ference for two days and when
finally reported by conferees it was
only $4,000 out of balance for
the biennium beginning July 1.
The Senate had added more than
Sl,000,000 in expenditures to the
measure as received from the House,
and by making some appropriations
conditional, plus a transfer of $50,-
600 from the industrial fund of the
State penitentiary to the general
fund, the gap between revenue and
expenditures was nearly closed.
Veterans Affairs Cut.
The appropriations bill also car
ries s5O,000 less than originally pro-
posed for the Division of Veterans
Affairs and in urging acceptance
by the House of this change, Dele
gate William j. Gibson, Fredericks-
burg, declared:
Il have been assured and am
stating to the House that should
the $4,000 cut or any part thereof
in the veterans appropriation be
found necessary to properly dis
charge the functions of that divi-
sion, funds can be and will be pro-
vided therefor. Furthermore, I am
OF the opinion that no member
should feel and doubt that the di-
vision will not be able to SUCCESS
fully perform its functions"
The vote against the load limit
legislation was IL to Is after Sen
ator Clarke had quoted from a re-
port of the highway commissio oner
in 1945 warning that upward re-
visions of the existing 40000-pound
limit would endanger State roads.
With reference to past action ap-
proving the Governors road tax
program, the Alexandria Senator
asserted, "The General Assembly
has been as generous to the truck
operators as anyone could ask The
legislatures to the South of us meet
in odd years, and if we enact this
bill, the operators will go to those
States and say Look what Virginia
has done; you are a barrier"
Opposed by Magruder.
Previously, the measure had been
Strenuously opposed in the House
by Delegate j. Maynard Magruder,
Arlington. The Northern Virginia
vote in the Senate was as follows:
For-Senators ]. A. CARRIER,
Harrisonburg, and Burgess Mel
son, Shenandoah Against-Sena-
tors Robert Y. Button, Culpeper;
William B. Medley, Arlington; Ben
jamin T. Pitts, Fredericksburg, and
Senator Clarke.
Both branches approved a joint
resolution by Mr.. Magruder creating
special commission to study and
renorf heforo tho rnvf cocc;o,, ~, Ill
private organizations and associa-
tions seeking public funds and ap-
preparations for medical and health
purposes.
The Senate had by far the greatest
number of bills on its calendar to-
day, since each branch was oper-
ating under rule whereby it would
pass only on those bills introduced
In the other house. Among measures
passed by the Senate we're:
A bill by Delegate D. French
Slaughter, Culpeper, and Norman
c. Bailey, Orange, extending from
6e@to 80 days the time in which
farmers may apply for tax refunds
on gasoline consumed for nom
highway purposes.
y Hunting Bill Passes.
Irwin bill requiring written con-
sent to fish, hunt or trap on posted
psoperty and oral consent in all
cases.
The Gibson Slaughter bill appro-
priating $4,000 for operation of the
Division of War Veterans Claims
for the balance of the present fiscal
year. AS introduced, the bill pro-
vides S45 900 and the House agreed
to the Senate change.
A Cohoon bill providing for the
recodif1cation of all State laws, a |
measure urged for many years by
Senator Medley.
The Cohoon-Spiers bill enlarging
the medical scholarships system at
the MEDICAL College of Virginia and
University of Virginia to supply
rural areas with doctors, originally
instituted in 1912 by former Dele
gate. Charles r. Fenwick. Arlington.
Abill by Delegate E. Blackburn
Moore, Winchester and Clarke,
authorizing disposition of certain
State-owned electric and power
lines.