Evening star., 1948-02-15
Gov. Tuck Faces
Opposition 10
Reorganization
Action Due in Week;
Sportsmen and Farm
Groups Critical
BY q stoff cers.pondeosof Tn. ssor

BY Sfoff SorreSpondeptof Inc Sfof
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 14.-As
Gov. Tuck today disclosed plans to
give the General Assembly his
program for the reorganization OF
the State government next week
some objections already were being
raised to the proposals.
The major portion of the plan
to telescope u administrative de-
partments into II agencies will be
sought by amendments to the huge
bill to recodify all the States laws
That measure now is pending before
the Senate Courts of Justic Com
mittee.
To pave the way for introduction
of the amendments, the Governor
will have a conference with men,
bers of the Courts of Justice Com
mittees of the House and Senate
Wednesday afternoon.
Fisheries Change Opposed.
Objections first were raised by
sportsmen's and conservation Or
ganization to that feature Of the
reorganization program that pro-
poses to abolish the Commission OF
Game and Inland Fisheries.
That agency Is maintained on
funds received from hunting and
fishing licenses and. the money is
earmarked for wildlife and fish re-
stocking and conservation. The ar
gument has been raised that the
Highway Department, which also is
supported by specialized revenue
sources-gasoline and automobile
taxes-would be left intact but the
fish and game body would be abol-
ished and its functions transferred
to a proposed department Of con-
servation and development.
The new department also would
take on the functions of eight other
commissions, agencies and boards.
including water control, Commission
of Fisheries, certain functions of the
State Port Authority and those du-
ties Of the State Corporation Com
mission relating to aviation develop
ment.
Medley Writes Delegates.
william D. Medley, member Of
the Arlington Fairfax Chapter
Izaak Walton League, wrote the
Arlington County legislative delega-
ton opposing the proposed abolition
of the Commission on Game and
Inland Fisheries.
Mr.. Medley, former State Sem
ator from Arlington, said, 1T seems
to me that such an arrangement
would be detrimental to the wildlife
and fish resources of the State and
1t is difficult for me to agree that,
any greater economy or effcienny
would result" sSsss.ss s,ssssss.l;s,as:sjl,. j.s
Chairman Edmund T beJafnetts
of the House Committee on Game
and Inland Fisheries said today he
also is opposed TO this feature Of
the program. 3;sss's'ss sE
Equally strong protestations are
beginning to be heard from other
quarters, many of whom are In
agencies that would be abolished.
Farm Groups Critical.
In addition, the board of direc-
tors of the Virginia Farm Bureau
Federation has expressed its opposi-
ton to any move to transfer inspec-
ton and regulatory activities of the
dairy and food division, as they
affect the dairy industry, from the
Department of Agriculture to any
other agency.
The board also has adopted
resolution opposing any change in
the present status of State Milk
Commission.
Action of the Farm Bureau direc-
tors parallels similar moves by
other farm groups, including the
Virginia State Dairymen's Associa-
ton and the Virginia Dairy Prod
ucts Association.
tn reorganization plan is the
third major recommendation of
Gov. Tuck to the present session
of the Legislature. The other prin-
cipal projects are his $500, ,000, 900
budget and a $14,0000 900 annual tax
increase program. The Governor
estimates his reorganization pro-
gram would save the State about
$500, 900 year.
Delayed by Apperson Death.
The death of Attorney General
Harvey B. Apperson two weeks ago
delayed introduction of the last
major portion of his legislative pro-
gram. The reorganization plan
offers such great possibilities for
promoting efficiency and economy
that I hope the General Assembly
may give it prompt consideration" "
he said.
Senator Robert o. Norris, jr., of
Lancaster County and Delegate
E. o. McCue, jr., of Charlottesville,
head of the two committees that
will 60 to the Executive Mansion
Wednesday where representative
of the administrative consulting
firm of Griffenhagen g. Associates,
which did the technical part of the
study, will explain the program.
While Gov. Tuck's tax program
all but the bill dealing with the tax
on public service corporations
heads for the senate next week,
another group of tax matters will
come up for hearing.
The House finance committee will
take up the three general sales tax
bills that have been introduced in
the House at pm. on Wednesday.
A hearing will be held at 2:30 p m.
Wednesday by the Senate finance
committee on bill by Senator
Charles r. Fenwick of Arlington to
tax cigarettes and use the proceeds
for hospital construction. The hear
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