Evening star., 1947-01-19
Virginia Session
EndsWith Tuck S
BiI|sApproved
Governor Praises
Assembly Members
For Fine Service
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT


allied the Virginia General Assem-
,ly into special session two weeks
lgo and sent members home with
/ pat on the back for fine and
yaluable service
In substantially the form he asked
or them, administration measures
,iven decisive approval by the as
;embly were:
Labor bills to outlaw the. closed
hop in interstate industry and to
prevent interruption of vital public
Utility services because of labor dis
outes. The latter carries an emer-
yency clause making 1t effective
when signed.
A s6,5O0,000 teacher pay raise ap-
with another 81 900, 900
20 be added in the discretion of the
governor if the money is on hand
next fiscal year.
A rent control act which the Gov
ernor may invoke after Federal con-
,rols are lifted July l.
A Snake Law" to use against
,ultists in the mountainous western
section of the State who endanger
lives by the use of the reptiles.
Northern Virginia Acts.
Members of the assembly also
,ook the occasion of special session
20 meet local problems. Legislation
applicable to northern Virginia
areas in particular included:
A referendum in Arlington on
changing the method of electing the
county school board; referendum
In 1947 on whether Arlington voters
wish to abolish the present method
of staggering the terms OF county
board members; a purge OF elec-
ton registration rolls in Alexandria
this year and provision for an
new registration OF voters;
for Fairfax County
to issue bonds to finance central
water supply and distribution
system subject to referendum, ana
a bill setting up retirement sys-
tenn for Fairfax County employees.
The rent control act, amended by
Delegate C.. G. Quesenbery Of
to permit localities to
exempt themselves from its pro-
visions, passed the House SO to II
and then won quick Senate ap-
proval, % to, 8, to be ready to be
signed into the statute books.
Signs School Fund Bill.
Gov. Tuck this afternoon affixed
his signature to the $7,500,000 sup
Elemental school appropriations bill,
carving an outright fund Of $6,5OO,-
600 for expenditure during the next
l8 months and an additional Item
of $1,000 900 which can be released
by action of the Governor for use
during the school year 1947-48. OF
the unconditional sum, $5,841 600
will go directly to boosting teachers
pay :,
other measures still unsigned
when the Assembly ended its work
today will be signed by the
Lieutenant-Governor and speaker OF
the House January 20, when the
extra session will come to an official
close. The To-day interval allows
time for the bills to be prepared
for signatures.
Among the major items that fell
by the wayside was bill which
would have required labor unions to
register with the State Commits
sioner of Labor and file annual n
nancial reports. The Governor did
not recommend this bill and took no
position on 1t. A..
In todays closing session. the
Assembly gave final approval to the
utilities labor bill when the House
agreed to Senate changes,
Show Cause Feature.
When first sent to the upper
branch. the bill would have required
the State to show cause for dis
charging a utility employe while the
state is operating the industry dur
ing a labor dispute. The senate 1ei'
that the State should not be re-
nrired to show cause under such
and, after brief debate,
the House accepted this change p
to II.
The next amendment relating TO
the portion of net income the State
would retain during a period o!
seizure was the principal bone OF
contention. The Senate reduced
from Is to IS per cent the States
nortion. after inserting de1lnltlon
If met income" and providing that
the utility also should reimburse
the State for any costs incurred III
training prospective workers.
The House agreed to the Senate
version, rs to IT, and then the re-
naming amendments were adopted
including the en1er-
yency clause.
Contract Ends in March.
The emergency clause was one OF
It's important features, inasmucn as
the Governor asked the legislation
as a result of the threatened strike
asst spring of members OF the Inter-
national Brotherhood OF Electrlcal
workers (AFL) at Virginia Electric
Z, Power Co. Their current contract
sxpires in March, and without the
emergency clause, the act would not
nave been applicable by that time.
Final House action was given three
measures sponsored by Senators An.
lrew w. Clarke, Alexandria, and
william D. Medley, Arlington, de-
signed to qualify the State for par
;icipating in Federal hospital benefit
'unds under the Hill Act.
The bills appropriate $4,000 for
survey and provide for licensing and
Inspection of all hospitals after this
,ear.
A bill by Senator James c. Car
,enter. Clifton Forge, to authorize
bounty on foxes in Allegheny
County at any time created an up
oar in the House during the closing
moments Of the session. Hardly had
he clerk completed reading the title
yten House members swarmed to
lis desk to add amendments to in
Jude their own counties. In all,
% counties were added to the bill,
Shenandoah, Stafford and
Fairfax
1TA cL~ hl