Evening star., 1946-02-03
Assembly Gets
Tuck Road Tax
Bills Tomorrow
Measure to LeeoIize
Pori-MutueI Betting
Also Expected
By ALEX. r. PRESTON,
Star STAFF Correspondent.

BY ALEX. r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. Gov
Tuck said today his four recon-.
mended changes in the road tas
structure, including an increase oi
cent gallon on gasoline ano
repeal of the gross receipts tax or
common and contract carriers
would be introduced in the Genera,
Assembly when 1t reconvenes Mon.
day.
Indications we're received today
that the controversial bill to legalize
horse racing with pari-mutuel bet
ting also may be introduced as a
high light to the coming weeks
lawmaking activities. Other con-
troversial measures relating to labor
and election law reform will be
aired at public hearings by commit
tees.
At his press conference today the
Governor also announced the reap
pointment of DR.. Dabney S. Lam
caster as superintendent of public
pointed September /, 1941, by the
late Gov. Price to fill the unexpired
term OF DR.. Sidney B. Hall, who re-
signed to accept a professorship at
George Washington University.
Fight on Gas Tax Seen.
The proposed 1-cent increase In
gasoline tax probably will be op-
posed by number of Northern
Virginia legislators, who represent
areas within the District of Column
bia price zone.
The 2 cents gallon differential
between Virginia and Washington
prices Is absorbed by dealers and
distributors within this zone, and
some Northern Virginians feel that
a further hike increasing the differ
ential to 3 cents would work too
great a hardship on station op-
orators.
The proposed abolition of gross
receipts tax on common and con-
tract carriers will 60 a step further
than legislation introduced early in
the session by Delegate H. H. Adams,
northampton, to repeal the tax on
interstate carriers inasmucf as the
Governors recommendation would
extend the repeal to intrastate op-
orators as we'll
Truckers exempted from the tag
increase would be those who oper-
ate not more than two vehicles of
$4,000 pounds or less and whose
total income from such operations
does not exceed $4,000 annually.
Reorganization Study.
The Governor also indicated that
within few days another of his
recommendation would be intro
duced in the form of a joint reso-
luton to establish commission to
study reorganization of state gov
ernment.
Indications that the horse racing
bill might be introduced from E.
Sclater Montague, Hampton at
torney and former State senator,
who now Is registered as a lobbyist
for racing interests.
Senator L. E. holland. Newport
News, will be t0 chief patron of
the measure which already has
been prepared, Mr.. Montague said.
? Mr.. Montague estimated that
three and possibly four race tracks
might be developed in Virginia, with
the tidewater area supporting two
tracks and Northern Virginia a
third. Revenue was estimated by
fhe sponsor at $10,000,000, half of
which would go to the State and the
other half to the localities.
Hearings on Labor Bills.
The controversial labor measures
will occupy committees Monday and
Tuesday in public hearings. At 8
PA. Monday, the Senate General
Laws Committee will consider the
joint resolution of Senators Robert
Q. Norris, jr., Lancaster, and w.
Stuart Moffett, Staunton, carrying
sut the Governors recommended
tion to declare it against the public
policy for public officials to negoti-
ate with representatives of union
lied employees of the State or its
political subdivisions.
A much more stringent proposal
will be heard by the House General
Laws Committee at 3 pm. Tuesday
on proposed BLACK list" bill spon-
sored by Delegate Frank P. Mon
cure, Prince William and Stafford.
He would prohibit the rehiring of
any employe of the State or any
OF its political subdivisions who had
participated in a strike against his
public employer.
Virginia A. F. of L. State and
local officials are to meet here to-
morrow to map plans for a fight
against both measures, Horace w.
Sharpe, State Legislative Commit
tee, chairman, said.
Election Law Revisions.
Also at 3 pm. Tuesday is sched-
uled joint Senate and House Priv
ileges and Elections Committees
hearing on the election law revis-
ions proposed in a series of bills |
and joint resolution by Delegate
Stuart B. Campbell, Wythe, who
headed an interim commission to
study this subject.
A feature of the recommenda-
tions to gain national attention is
the recommended abolition of the
poll tax as prerequisite to voting.
Another feature of significance to
Washington's metropolitan area
having to do with opening and clos
ing of polls was proposed to the
commission by Senator William D.
Medley, Arlington.
AT present the law requires OPEN
ing and closing at sunrise and sun
set, respectively, resulting in many
Federal workers residing In Virginia
being inconvenienced or prevented
from voting. AS an example, the
polls under present law will close
in Northern Virginia at sos pm.
in November. The Campbell legis-
lation proposes to have polling
places open from $50 am. to $50
pm. for elections at any time of
the year.
A joint resolution accompanies
the Campbell bills because changes
to the constitution are necessary to
bring about some of the changes.
Northern Virginians will follow the