Evening star., 1948-02-03
Assembly 10 Gel
North Virginia
Charter Bills
Changes Planned
For New Market
And Stephens City
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stcff Correspoodent

Star Sfoff (oTesponoenr
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 3.-Nev
charters to modernize the system O
government in two Northern sVir
ginia towns were being prepared to-
day by members of the General AS
sembly from that area.
Senator Harry F. Byrd. tr., o
Winchester today will introduce
bill to redse the charter of New
Market, first enacted in 1914.
Floor Leader E. Blackburn Moore
of Berryville said he is preparing
a new charter for Stephens Cit.
to be introduced in the near flu
ture.
The New Market plan provides fol
q seven member council, each mem
Der of which will receive an an
nual salary not to exceed S10O
They will be elected June 8 fol
two-year terms. Special counci
meetings may be called by the
Mayor and three councilmen am
business transacted would be con
fined to the purpose for which the
meeting was called.
officials to Be Appointed.
The town clerk and treasurer
would hold Office at the pleasure
of the council. The town sergeant
also would be appointed.
Senator Byrd, who also represents
the same area as Mr.. Moore, sale
the Stephens City charter was SUBJ
mitted by A. R. Mars, clerk OF the
Town Council. 1t was prepared by
Newton w. Borden of Strasburg
and the final terms of the plan
are to be worked out by the legis-
lators here.
Among contemplated changes are
q Mayor and six, instead of four
councilmen; provision for a regis
trar, treasurer, clerk and town as
SCISSOR. The Office of a police judge
also would be created.
Other new provisions include
power to appoint special police by
the Mayor; require publication OF
ordinances; extend authority under
general law to borrow money, i'm
pose licenses, taxes and regulate
subdivisions.
Passage Possible Today.
Meanwhile, the Senate has ad-
vanced to the stage of passing today
a bill by Mr.. Moore to provide a
new charter for Berryville. The
measure already has passed the
House.
New bills introduced yesterday
included:
To prohibit the sale and use of
fireworks, except that local, gov
erning bodies could license pyro-
technic displays for fairs, special
events, ETC., by Delegate E. o. Nc
Cue of Charlottesville.
To replace the automobile 1nspec-
ton law, by Senators Robert F.
Baldwin and E. L. Breeden, .jr., both
of Norfolk. 1t was requested by the
Tidewater Automobile Association.
To permit localities to license
coin-operated vending machines,
by Senator A. E. S. Stephens of Isle
of Wight County.
Bills Passed in House.
Among bills passed were two in
the House by Delegate c. K. Hutch
ins to prohibit unauthorized use of
automobile inspection stickers and
to regulate certain vehicular safety
measures. The bill had been in
tended to make unauthorized use of
an automobile for more than "a
hours felony but its teeth" were
removed by an amendment by the
sponsor on the floor.
The House Committee on Courts
of Justice killed a bill to establish
community property in Virginia,
with members saying they favored
the principle but feared the conse-
quences in other fields of property
laws.
Principle interest in the House
yesterday centered on debate over
a bill by Delegate E. T. Dejarnett OF
Hanover County. 1t would repeat
a 1884 law which prohibits athletes
from participating in sports If they
are more than 20 years and six
months of age on the opening day of
school. If enacted, the bill, in effect,
would permit the Virginia High
School League to set the age limit.
During arguments on the measure
which was advanced to passing
stage for today's session, Delegate
j. o. Stickley of Harrisonburg, read
letter from j. o. Bell. school
superintendent of that city. urging
passage of the repeal measure.
Senate Measures Pass.
The Senate passed a bill by Sem
ator Robert Y. Button Of Culpeper
to validate certain conveyances OF
school properties; bill by Senators
Raymond RI Guest of Bayard, Byrd
and Curry Carter of Staunton au-
thoriZing the Governor to bestoW
the rank OF major general on the
State adjutant general. and another
measure by Senator Byrd requiring
Governors to turn over to the State
Library all official correspondence
before they leave Office.
Interest in the Senate was focused
on brief debate before passage, %
to 4, of a bill by Senator M. M.
Long of Wise County to revise the
absentee voters law. 1t would per-
nit an applicant for an absentee
ballot to submit only a witnessed
statement, instead of an affidavit, |
and would permit the registrar to
receive the application in person
to deliver to the Electoral Board in
stead of sending it by registered
mail.
Landreath Leads Opposition.
Senator S. Floyd Landreth of
Galax, one of two Republican Sena-
tors, led opposition to the bill.
Bills to make women liable for
fury service, originally scheduled for
q public hearing at 8 pm tomorrow
will be heard at 8 pm. Monday in
stead.
The change was announced by
Chairman Robert o. Norris of the
Senate Courts of Justice Commit
lee. All committee meetings planned
tor tomorrow have been changed
because of the funeral at Salem for
Attorney General Harvey B. Apper-
son, who died yesterday.
The Assembly will not meet to-
Fraorrou in memory of Mr. Anper-