Evening star., 1948-01-11
Legislator Stresses
Financial Caution Of
Virginia Assembly
Dy the Assoeioted Press

RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 10-A note
Of fiscal caution was sounded today
by veteran member of the House
Of Delegates as members of Vir-
ginia's General Assembly prepared
for convening of the 1948 session
at noon Wednesday.
The chief problems facing the
Legislature this year concern finance
and taxation. It was on this sub
ject that Chairman Charles C.
Louderback of the House Appro-
priations Committee spoke.
The Legislature, Mr.. Louderback
said. in effect, will do It's utmost to
meet the heavy demands for more
State funds, but the chances are
that none of the requests will be
met in full.
Mr.. Louderback, whose views gen.
orally are in accord with those of
the conservative, dominant Demo-
cratic organization, gave what may
be the cue to the majority thinking
in the coming session.
Tuck Message Completed.
His mathematics were: The States
general fund taxes are yielding
about 100000. .000> year at present
or $120,000,000 for the biennium.
Against this, he said, general fund
requests for 1948-50 total some $780,
100000.
Gov Tuck thus far has given no
tangible clues as to what he will pro-
pose. His budget message was COM
pleted this week, however, and it
will go to the legislature January
10.
On Monday, as is the custom of
Virginia Governors, Gov. Tuck will
hold budget preview for the States
editors and working newspapermen
the disclosures of the meeting to
be held in confidence until his
message goes to the assembly
The budget message, expected to
call for some millions more than
the $346, 900 900 accounted for in all
funds, general and special, for 1916
48, but for nothing like the $500, 0,O00.-
600 total of all requests submitted to
him, is one of three major messages
Gov. Tuck will deliver.
Joint Session Wednesday.
His first, covering his general
views on affairs Of the common
wealth, will be given at a joint ses-
sion of the House and Senate at
/ pm. Wednesday. The other, de-
failing his plans for reorganization
OF the State government, will be
submitted personally to joint ses-
sion January %.
While little is known of the de-
tails of the Tuck reorganization
program, 1t is based on the findings
of the Burch Commission and
Chairman Thomas G. Burch of Mar
tinsville has said the groups report
recommended considerable reduc-
ton in the number of State agen-
cies.
Although Gov. Tuck has refused
consistently to be drawn into spec
ulation on tax plans, two general
schools of thought on taxation
have taken shape.
One is based on the general sales
tax, which. with. some increases in
income levies, was Endorsed by the
Moses Commission to finance public
school improvements. The other 'is /
based on opposition to the sales
tax. It's most vocal exponent, Dele
gate Robert Whitehead of Nelson
County, has outlined a plan built
around income tax increases and
new levies on cigarettes, tobacco
and soft drinks as an alternative.
Caucuses Set for Tuesday.
Both the Moses Commission and
the Whitehead plans rest upon the
premise that the State should pro-
vide considerably more money than
1t is now appropriating for public
schools, public health services, well
fare work, mental hospital improve
ments and other expansions.
AS a preliminary to Wednesdays
formal opening, Democratic ma
jorities of both House and Senate
will caucus in their respective halls
Tuesday night to nominate officers
for new terms.
The 1948 Assembly will see 90
Democrats and eight Republicans in
the House and 38 Democrats and
two Republicans in the Senate. In
the House, SO members were re-
elected from the 1946-47 body, "a
are newcomers and seven are for
mer members reelected after vary
ing lapses of tenure. The Senate
includes II new members, of whom
five have had previous legislative
experience.