Evening star., 1947-01-18
Special Session
Nearing Finish
|At Richmond
Utility Strike Bill
And Rent Control
| Still on Calendar
By Alex R. Preston
star staff corrsspondsnf

By Alex R. Preston
s,ar siaff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Jan. 18.-The Gen
eral Assembly moved toward ad-
lournment Of its special two-week
session today with rent control and
the utilities labor bill remaining on
ltA calendar IN the closing hours.
A six-hour session by the House
Yesterday ended with unanimous ac-
ceptance of Senate amendments to
the Governors S6,500,000 teacher
pay raise appropriation with 81 ,000,-
600 added to be spent at the discre-
ton OF the Chief Executive, pro-
viding the money is on hand in the
next fiscal year.
The Senate change was accept
able to Delegate Robert Whitehead,
Nelson County, who has led an all
out effort to give the teachers more
money than Gov. Tuck asked for in
his call for the special session. AS
the bill left the House it would have
required Mr.. Tuck to pay the 81 ,00O,-
600 If the money were on hand, but
the Senate addition leaves the Gov
ernor~ discretion to spend only a
part or none of the added amount
If he feels conditions warrant such
action.
Labor Bill Hits Snag.
Final passage of the Governors
bill to prevent sudden Interruptions
in vital public utilities as a result
OF strikes or lockouts was pre-
vented by parliamentary snag.
AS sent to the Senate, the House
bill would have penalized utilities
rs per cent of their profits during
the time the State has control,
pending settlement of labor dis
putes. The upper house reduced
the States take to Is per cent.
Some members indicated they
felt the House should insist on it's
original figure and send the bill to
conference. The vote for accept
ing the Senate amendments was
68 to 18. The House voted to re-
consider when it was pointed out
four-fifths majority was required
because of an emergency clause,
which would make the bill effective
upon signing by the Governor.
Northern Virginia Vote.
A companion labor bill, also asked
by the Governor, to prohibit closed
shop contracts in Virginia busi-
nesses, already has been given final
approval
The Northern Virginia vote on
the utilities bill was as follows:
For accepting the Senate amend
ments: Norman C. Bailey, Orange:
George Damn, Arlington; Stilson
Hall. Loudoun; J. Maynard Ma
gruder, Arlington; E. Blackburn
Moore, Winchester and Clarke;
James o. Stickley and G. w. Talia-
ferro, Harrisonburg; L. Lake Trip
lett, Fauquier, and w. Selden Wash
ington, Alexandria. william R.
Shaffer, Shenandoah, said later his
affirmative vote was cast mad
Ivertently.
Those against were Delegates c.
G. Quesenbury, Waynesboro; Edwin
w. Lynch, Fairfax, and William G.
Gibson, Fredericksburg.
Not voting: c. c. Louderback,
Warren and Page; Frank Moncure,
Stafford and Prince William, and
D. French Slaughter, Culpeper.
The rent control bill failed to pass
the House because it also required
"a four -fifths vote to suspend con-
stitutional readings and send it to
the Senate. The count was 50 to 90.
Slaughter, Hall Do Not Vote.
The Northern Virginia delegation
voted as follows:
For: Delegates Damn, Gibson, LOU
derback, Lynch, Magruder, Moore,
Stickley, Triplett and Washington.
Against: Delegates Quesenbury,
Shaffer, Taliaferro, Bailey and Mon
cure.
Mr.. Slaughter and Mr.. Hall did
not vote. The bill will come up
again today.
Under the bill the Governor
could proclaim an emergency rent
control area any time after Fed
eral rent restrictions are lifted July
l, but not in any area not already
under Federal restrictions
The bill provides for local rent
control boards of five members who
would volunteer their services. The
boards would be permitted to au-
thorize area rent increases up to
Is per cent of the original freez-
ing date levels and could provide
for individual adjustments based
on fair returns on investments. The
bill excludes from its provisions
new construction after January /,
1947.
The proposed law would expire
July /, 1947, thus giving next years
Assembly an opportunity to ex-
tend it if necessary.
Button Bill Is Passed.
Other legislative action yesterday
included House passage of the bill
by Senator Robert Y Button, Cul-
pepper, permitting the State literary
fund to charge more than per cent
for loans on which securities must
NC oUlu W Vic otdGc ISeGuelilSIlL
Board; a bill by Senator Andrew
w. Clark, Alexandria, for new
voting registration in his city this
year and the Moore bill authorizing
Frederick County farmers to kill
deer that damage crops.
The House killed the bill to re-
quire labor unions to file annual
financial statements and reports.
Among measures passed by the
Senate we're the Bailey bill to per-
nit Orange Town Council contri-
buttons to war memorial civic
center; the Magruder-Damm bill for
an Arlington referendum on abolish
ing the present stagger method OF
electing the County Board; the
Magruder- Damn bill extending the
County Retirement Act provisions
and the Clark bill for Fairfax bond
issue for central water system.
The Senate Courts of Justice Com
mittee killed the Lynch House joint
resolution calling for a commission
study of governmental and other
problems confronting the Arlington-
Alexandria Fairfax area.