Evening star., 1948-03-15
Virginia \ Studies
First Effects Of
- Consolidating Of 70
u Agencies Into 30
y Set for July !
BY fhe kssoeioted Press


.oficials and employees were study.
ing the prime effects of Gov. Tuck.
reorganization program today with
their eyes on the consultations
affective date Of July /.
As passed by the Virginia Genera
Assembly last week, the reorgan.
azation provides for the States II
departments agencies to be pulled
into 80 administrative divisions.
THE original plan, drawn UP by 6
Reorganization commission, called
for only II divisions to remain
Assembly action resulted in the in.
Grease of 13. Despite that increase
former United States Senator
Rho1nas G. Burch, whu headed the
commission. termed the reorgani-
zaticn major contribution to con-
tinued good cvernment in Virginia.
is So IS Estimated.
/ One of tie major features of the
Reorganization as far as taxpayers
ere concerned is the saving OF
money. Gov. Tuck estimated that
9he full program would have saved
The State about $1;500,000 year.
mo official estimates of the amount
to be saved under the altered ver-
sion Of the program have been
made. However, the House Courts
Of Justice Committee chairman, E
O. McCue, jr., said Virginia would
save a considerable" amount.
. The plan won unanimous ap-
proval in the House of Delegates
when it was offered in the form of
amendments to the bill recodifying
'Virginia's statutes. The House ap-
proved the measure with the
changes included by the Senate and
added these alterations:
Leaving the State Water Control
Board as an independent organiza-
tion rather than putting it into the
Department of Commerce.
Apple Group Independent.
Letting the State Apple Commits
sion remain independent.
Keeping the division of history
and archaeology in the State Con-
servation Commission rather than
transferring it to the State Library
Board.
Transferring the State Certified
Seed Commission to the extension
division of Virginia Tech instead
of to the Department of Agriculture.
Fixing the term of the director
OF statutory research and drafting
at four years, instead of two, and
providing that he may be removed
by joint resolution of both houses
of the Assembly.
The House also set the effective
date of the new code which in
cludes the reorganization plan as
February 1, 1850, instead of Janu-
ary l, 1850. Because of the amend
ments setting UP the plan, however,
the reorganiza ton becomes effective
July of this year.
Changes Are Known.
Although the numerous changes
In the handling of State business
soon to come are known, other mat
ters before the most recent session
raise questions which cannot be
answered at present.
The effects of one of the most
controversial pieces of legislation
will not be felt until election time.
The anti-Truman bill, offered by
the Governor in answer to the
Presidents civil rights program,
leaves the way open for Virginia
Democrats to break away from the
national party if they do not like
the nominee or the platform of
the national convention.
The cost of operation of the
State government may reach an
all-time high. The new budget
bill of SSH 100000 and various sep
arate appropriation bills will put
the operational cost at new and
as yet undetermined level
Tax Increases Listed.
Taxes on individual and corpo-
rate incomes, merchants licenses
and public service concerns will be
higher after July l. The increased
levies will raise an estimated $21,-
100000 during the next two
years and some s14,OOO,0OO each
year thereafter. Individual income
tax payers will not be effected by
the new rates until December, 1949.
Locally elected officials and en-
ployes of the State here have been
voted salary increases. The pay
raises for the local officials will
be largely in the hands of the State
Compensation Board since the leg
islature's action raised salary
brackets rather than individual
salaries.
Cities may find trouble in an
neXing county territory in the future.
Under a compromise bill courts
considering annexation suits must
now consider tine best interests of
the county, the city, and the best
interests of the remaining portion
OF the county. q" The courts
must also consider the effect the
annexation may have on the rev.
enues of both the county and the
city.
"a Bills Signed.
Gov. Tuck over the week end
signed "a bills, IA of which orig
mated in the Senate and 20 in
the House.
Among the bills signed was one
providing that the judge of the
juvenile and domestic relations
Court of any city having a popu-
lation of 10000 or more may at his
discretion destroy any misdemeanor
warrant in any case which has
been tried and finally disposed OF
for a period of at least five years,
He also signed two House bills
which amend sections of the Vir-
gi1ia Workmen's Compensation
Act, relating to occupational dis
eases.
Another approved bill abolished
the State Board of Voting Machine
Commission and vests it's powers in
the. State Board of Elections.