Evening star., 1948-02-19
Bill Asks Land
Assessments on
Current Basis
Arlington Measure
To Be Introduced
In Assembly Today
BY Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff Correspondent

Stor Stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Feb. ia method
by which Arlington could maintain
assessments on land values current
with each tax year-instead of every
four years-is provided in legisla-
tion to be introduced in the General
Assembly today.
At present general reassessment
of real estate every four years is re-
quired by law. If enacted, the bill
will require the commissioner Of
revenue to reaSsess land imme-
diately after it is subdivided into
lots and after changes in coming.
Delegates George Damn and J.
Maynard Magruder of Arlington are
sponsoring the measure, which
would apply only to their home
county.
The proposed system would not
replace the four-year general reas-
sessment plan, they said, but would
permit the county to receive addi-
tional revenue by keeping assess
mentS current with land values that
change with improvements through
coming and subdivision development.
Parkway Fund Support Sought.
Under the bill. the county board
would be required to keep Com
missioner of Revenue Harry X.
Green informed of zoning changes.
The sponsors pointed out that the
bill could work both ways and If
land values were decreased the
commissioner could reduce the as
sessments.
Meanwhile, County Manager A. r.
and Commonwealth At
torney Denman T. Rucker. both of
came here last night to
visit Gov. Tuck with the county's
legislative delegation today. They
will seek his support of proposed
appropriation of $125,000 to match
a similar amount from Arlington for
construction of unit of the George
Memorial parkway. This
project will run from Spout Run,
north of Key Bridge, upstream on
the Potomac River to Chain Bridge.
The money from the county and
State will be matched by $250,000
from the Federal Government.
The two Arlington delegates yes
terday introduced another bill pro-
viding that allocations of road funds
shall not be impaired if Arlington
becomes city and that the money
be spent in Arlington to the same
extent as if it had remained
county. The measure was surprise
for other members and is expected
to run into opposition.
Lottery Measure Killed.
The House yesterday killed a bill
by Delegate Frank P. Moncure Of
Stafford and Prince William Coun.
ties, to permit volunteer fire COM
panies, veterans, civic and fraternal
groups to hold lotteries.
Other members, including E. o.
McCue of Charlottesville, contended
the measure violated the Constitu-
ton. The House refused to advance
the bill to a stage of passing by a
vote of 56 to 81.
A bill by Delegate Edmund T.
DeJarnette, Hanover County, to in
crease the automobile inspection
fee from Is to so cents, was passed,
rs to l3. Four members announced
they had Inadvertently voted for
the bill.
Meanwhile, indications that sales
tax legislation is not to be con-
sidered too seriously at this session
of the General Assembly were given
at public hearing before the House
Finance Committee yesterday.
Few Witnesses on Hand.
Few witnesses appeared. Those
who did spoke on the presumption
that the committee was not serious
ly considering favorable action on
this type of legislation.
Delegate Samuel E. Pope, South
ampton County, who sponsored one
of the 2 per cent sales tax measures,
said that in view of previous
adoption of most OF the Governors
tax program and because his bill
was designed to replace that pro-
gram, he would not take the COM
mittee's time to explain the bill.
He did urge, however, that the bill
not be killed until the Senate takes
final action on the Governors tax
program. so a method would be
available to raise more money in
the event the Senate failed to act.
Delegate Jack w. Witten of Taze-
we'll spoke in behalf of his proposal
for per cent sales tax. A third
bill, by Delegate Floyd Yates, Pow
hatan, would impose 2 per cent
tax for two years only 1t was not
taken up at yesterdays hearing. A
fourth bill, by Senator Charles T.
Moses, Appomattox, now is before
the Senate Finance Committee.
Fishery Bill Offered.
Among new bills introduced yes
terday was one by Delegate w. r.
Broaddus of Martinsville to permit
the Commission of Game and In
land Fisheries to set the trout sea-
son from April to September Is and
increase the limit to IL a day.
Senators Charles r. Fenwick. Ar
lington; Andrew W. Clarke, Alexan-
dria; Benjamin r. Pitts. Fredericks-
burg; Robert Y. Button. Culpeper,
and John S. Battle, Charlottesville,
yesterday introduced bill author
izing the State Highway Department
to build the Monticello highway be-
tween the Jefferson Memorial in
Washington and the third Presi-
dents home near Charlottesville.
Senator Curry Carter, Staunton,
sponsored measure authorizing the
highway department to proceed with
plans for bypass at Waynesboro,
providing that city does not have to
match the expense for portions OF
the roadway within its recently ex-
panded borders.