Evening star., 1948-06-29
450 New Laws
Take Effect in
Virginia Today
Boord Delays Action
On Business and Aut,
Toxes for Arlington

More than 450 acts OF tne virginia
General Assembly, previously signed
by Gov. Tuck, went into effect to-
day.
Although more than $50 measures
were approved by the Legislature,
midnight was the effective date for
all except emergency measures
which were operative Immediately
and laws carrying specified ef1ec-
tive date.
Among those effective today is the
permissive act for Arlington, author
izing the County Board to levy taxes
on businesses and professions and
impose an automobile license fee,
such as only cities have been able
to do.
No Decision Reached.
County Manager A. T. Lundberg
said no decision has been reached by
the County Board on this new rev.
enue source. A few weeks ago the
board received a report from the
Bureau of Public Administration OF
the University of Virginia on fac
tors that would be covered by fiscal
survey it may be called upon to
make. The board has not yet au-
thorized the study.
Preliminary discussions showed
that rates and schedules OF licenses
on various businesses and profess
sions may vary when finally invoked
by the board No decision has yet
been reached on the automobile IL
cense tags, Mr.. Lundberg said.
Among Statewide laws effective
today is one increasing the maxi
mum speed limit from so to SIS miles
per hour ON four-lane, divided high
ways only. The 50-mile limit re-
mains effective elsewhere, except
where lower speeds are designated.
Freight Tax Effective.
Another is new gross receipts
tax on freight haulers, but as a con-
cession the truckers will be allowed
to increase the maximum load limit
on some highways from 10000 to
$4,000 pounds, providing they use
at least four, instead of three aXleS.
Another new law is one prohibit
ing the sale anywhere in the State
of most types of fireworks. This act
does not alter local ordinances in
some counties and cities prohibiting
the sale of all types. Those per-
mitted under State law are small
frecrackers, sparklers, pinWheels
and Roman candles.
One of the legislative acts which
carried a specified effective date
was a bill by Delegate Paul Crock
EFT of Yorktown. increasing the
license fees on hunting and fishing
and segregating the money from
each source for game or fish propo-
cation.
Fees Go Up Friday.
With all licenses expiring Thurs
day, the new schedule. effective Fri
day, is $3.50 year for hunting
license and 50 for fishing. The State
combination license of hunting ana
fishing for $3.50 has been abolished,
but the 81 combination license 1or
one county remains unchanged.
ouC -Sldlt lllGllSC 1CCS nav DNSA'
materially increased.
Other laws affecting Arlington
County only which become ef1ectlve
TODAY include one transferring the
Police Department from the judge
of the Circuit Court to the county
manager-an administrative change
and one establishing Police
Trial Board. The board has not
been established yet.
AS a result of another new law,
Friday will be the first time that
county employees will be able to
draw their salaries on days other
than Saturdays. Many employees
were compelled to return to the
courthouse on Saturdays, when OIL
duty, to pick up their pay checks
after the County Board had ap-
proved the payroll. Now the board
will approve the payroll a day after
fiscal officers have certified and
paid out the vouchers.
Zoning Board Transferred.
Another measure transfers the
Board of Zoning Appeals from the
Circuit Court to the County Board,
for appointment purposes. Mem
bers of the former board submitted
designations effective July IS and
the County Beard has written each
a letter expressing regret and ask
ing if he is willing to accept reap
polntment.
Governor Tuck today reminded
State department heads and mem
bers of State boards that the new
Appropriations Act requires them
to operate strictly within their
budgets during the next two fiscal
years, the Associated Press reported.
Stern provisions written into the
l948 budget bill make board MEM
bers personally liable for deficits ~
Cured without the Governor Spe-
cjfic approval The act makes ex-
cess spending a cause for dismissal
OF any department head.
Cites Deficit Spending.
In a bluntly worded letter Gov.
Tuck called attention to the As
Sembly enactment permitting oeH-
cit spending only lin an emergency.
The legislators declared, further
that no emergency shall be deemed
to exist because of conditions which
by the exercise of reasonable care
and good judgment, could have been
foreseen when the General Assem-
bly, was in session"
If any State department or agen-
cy exceeds its appropriation without
the Governor written consent. the
affected agency head shall be
deemed guilty of neglect of official
duty and be subject to removal
therefor" Any board members who
vote for an excessive expenditure
shall be personally liable for the
full amount of such unauthorized
deficit"