Evening star., 1948-07-27
Special Session
Pleas Attacked
By Gov. luck
Charges Organized
Drive in Virginia
For Tax Changes


A movement for a special session
of the Virginia General Assembly,
in which Fairfax and Loudoun
Counties have joined, was described
yesterday by Gov. Tuck as part of
IAN organized, concerted campaign"
for tax changes he cannot now
support.
The Governor, vacationing at
Virginia Beach. appointed a 90
member commission to make a
comprehensive study of State and
local taxes, saying it would be a
grave mistake" to reconvene the
Legislature at this time.
School and county governing
bodies in number of Virginia
counties have petitioned Gov. Tuck
to call the Assembly to enact sales
tax earmarked for school construc-
ton.
Lack Full Information.
In a statement yesterday, the
Governor said Senate joint reso-
luton calling for appointment Of
the study commission directed the
commission to report no later than
November Is, le49. He was quoted
by the Associated Press as saying:
1T would be q grave mistake to
take any action on so important a
matter without benefit of full in
formation which certainly Is not
now available"
The commission Is made up of 4
members of the Senate, 5 members
OF the House of Delegates and II
others representing points of view
OF the State government, the farm.
ers, the localities, business and in
dustry. 1t includes Delegates J.
MAYNARD Magruder of Arlington
and Delegate E. Blackburn Moore.
Berryville.
Robert Whitehead, Delegate from
Nelson County and one of the first
to urge the calling of a special
session to provide additional reye-
nue. for local school construction.
was one of the five named to the
commission from the House.
Thorough Study Ordered.
The Governor appointed the
group under authority of a resolu-
ton introduced by Senator John S.
Battle of Charlottesville at the l948
session. The resolution directs the
commission to make a thorough ex-
animation and study of all State
and local taxes and, in addition, all
revenues, receipts and State expen-
dltures, ALLEGATIONS and grants in
AID and present and potential
sources OF revenue. 1t also will look
INTO the propriety of any ALLEGATIONS
and grants in aid.
senator Battle discussed the con-
tents of this resolution with me
prior to its introduction, and
Wholeheartedly concur in its pur-
pose" the. Governor said.
AT that time there were various
complaints offered during debate on
the la48 tax increase program that
certain segments of the tax-paying
public and business and industry
were carrying more than their fair
share OF the tax burden.
The comprehensive study by tina
commission I am now appointing
will deal carefully with all these
questions.
Sees Organized Drive.
Since the adjournment of tbe
General Assembly an organized con-
certed campaign has been inau.
gurated to create demand for a sne-
clal session. A number of local oov.
erning bodies, ilf response to this
campaign, have adopted resolutions
urging me to call a special session
OF the General Assembly to increase
stlli further State taxation and
thereby increase the amount of
funds available for schools. nartic-
ularly for school construction
The resolutions so adonted bv
these local boards have not taken
INTO consideration the full picture
OF State and local revenues and ex-
penses. I am requesting the COM
mission to look particularly into
this matter"
Named to the commission were.
State Senators Garland GRAY
WaVerly; Morton Goode, Dinwiddie:
Robert o. Norris, Lancaster, and
Lloyd c. Bird, Chesterfield. Ali were
co-patrons of the Battle resolution.
Delegates Magruder and Moore,
Landoh r. Wyatt, Danville: Robert
Whitehead, Nelson: j. MAYNARD
Magruder, Arlington, and John
Warren Cooke. Mathews.
Other Board Members,
Other members are Jonathan w.
Old, jr, city attorney of Norfolk:
William B. Speck, secretary of the
League of Virginia Counties, Char
lottesvilles J. H. Bradford, director
OF the budget: Overton Dennis of
Richmond, representing mercantile
interests; Henry E. McWane, Lynch
burg, president of the Virginia
Manufacturers Association; Charles
w. Wampler, Harrisonburg, presi-
dent of the State Board of Agricul-
ture
Also William L. thinner III. Rich
mond, chairman of the State Bar
Associations Taxation Committee;
DR.. w. H. Stouffer. research di-
rector of the State Chamber Of
Commerce; Dr. Upton r. Snavely,
University of Virginia; Dr. Robert
H. Tucker, Washington and Lee Uni
versity, and DR.. Raymond B. Pinch
beck, dean of the University of
Richmond.