Evening star., 1948-02-06
Virginia House
Gives Tax Plan
Priority Today
Five Of Six Measures
In Tuek's Program
Ready for Action
By Alex R. Preston
Sfor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 6.-The
major portion of Gov. Tuck's tax
program to raise an additional $21,-
100000 during the next two years
had top priority at today's session
of the House of Delegates.
Five of the six measures designed
to raise several existing sources of
revenue were set for a special and
continuing order" at 1890 o'clock.
The bills, whose chief sponsor is
Floor Leader E. Blackburn Moore
were reported yesterday during al
session that saw the introduction
of the largest number of bills to
date.
Also reported to the House yes
terday was the controversial Rich
nlond charter bill with its provision
for non-partisan elections of the
City Council left intact. 1t was
approved by the House Committee
on Counties, Cities and Towns by
a vote of to San indication of
the fight that may be expected on
the floor, chiefly over the bills
abolition of political primaries for
the council
Sixth Tax Bill in Committee.
Because the tax measures have
been set for continuing" order,
meaning debate and attempts to
amend them until a vote is taken,
the Richmond charter bill is not
expected to be reached on the cal
endar today. The sixth bill in the
administration tax program, re-
lating to public service corpora
tions, still is in committee.
Among the new bills introduced
were number sponsored by North
ern Virginians or of particular sig
nificance to their constituents.
Delegates j. Hayward Magruder
and George Damn of Arlington in
troduced a bill to give Arlington
County most of the taxing powers
now reserved to cities. It would
authorize the county board to Ii
cense and tax businesses, profess
sions and trades.
The sponsors made last-minute
decision not to include provision
for administering the law, which
is intended to be applied through
the commissioner of revenues office,
because of possible loss of State
revenue to the proposed collection
system.
Auto License Power Sought.
Another exclusive power of cities,
to license automobiles, will be
authorized in bill now being pre-
pared, they said.
Delegates Robert j.. McCandlish,
jr., of Fairfax and Armistead l..
Boothe of Alexandria introduced a
bill to authorize the Board of Re-
gents of Gunston Hall, Fairfax
County, to organize as a corpora
ton. The board would continue
to carry out requirements of deed
which Donated the historic estate
to Virginia from Louis Hertle in
1882. ....
sSenator Charles R. Fenwick of
Arlington was joined by Senator
Andrew w. Clarke of Alexandria in
sponsoring a bill to amend the
child labor law. Among its objec-
tives is to make possible the COM
pletion of high school by all chill
dren. 1t would make the labor law
conform with the compulsory school
attendance statutes.
. An identical bill was introduced
at the same time by Delegates
Robertson, Magruder, Boothe, Ed
munGs and four others in the House.
Delegates Damn, Magruder and
Williams Joined Lewis A. McMur-
ran, jr., of Newport News in spon-
soring a bill applicable to Arling-
ton, Henrico and Warwick Coun-
ties only.
The measure gives the governing
bodies of those counties the same
authority to close roads and rail-
road crossings, when no longer
needed, that the State Highway
Commission now has. These three
are the only counties out of the
100 in the State that remained out
of the so-called Byrd road plan"
in 1882. Closing of streets for 81
counties is determined by the High
way Commission and the bill, ac-
cording to Mr.. McMurran, would
place the remaining three counties
on an equal footing with the others.
Delegate c. C. Louderback of
Warren and Page Counties was
among seven co-patrons who signed
a bill to increase from so to 80 cents
the per-pupil ALLEGATION to localities
for free school text books.
Sales Tax Again Proposed.
A new sales tax proposal was
dropped into the hopper by Dele
gate Samuel E. Pope of South
hampton County. 1t would impose
2 per cent levy on all sales of
more than Is cents and give mer-
chants 3 per cent of the revenue
for making the collections.
Delegate Frank P Moncure of
Stafford and Prince William Coun-
ties Joined E. T. Haynes of Rich
mond in presenting a bill to compel
millers to enrich flour with minerals |
and vitamins.
The Senate Finance Committee !
has set public hearing for 10 am
February II on Senator Fenwick's
bill to impose 1-cent per pack
cigarette tax to finance hospital
construction under the Federal Hill
Burton Act.
The House Committee on Schools
and Colleges killed bill by Dele
gate John B. Boatwright of Buck
ingham County providing for a
method of referendum and recall
against school officials.
The Assembly will meet in the
restored State House at williams
burg tomorrow to hear sneeches nv |