Evening star., 1948-02-26
City Tax Powers
For Arlington
Near Passage
Action by Senote
Expected After
Tuck's Message
by a stoff Correspondent Of The Stcr


with tax powers paralleling those
heretofore reserved only to cities Of
the Commonwealth.
The Senate is scheduled to pass
the measure this afternoon after a
Joint session of both branches at
which Gov. Tuck delivered a special
message dealing with President
Truman's civil rights program.
The bill has been Endorsed by the
Board of Directors Of the Arlington
Chamber of Commerce, but has been
condemned by the Arlington Board
of Trade. introduced by Delegates
George Damn and j. Maynard
Magruder of that county, it would
permit the County Board to impose
licenses on businesses, professions
and trades, but would not require
the board to do so.
Assembly Speeds Up Work.
Both branches are taking steps to
speed UP the drive to clear their
calendars of measures from the other
house so as to insure adjournment
by March 13. To expedite passing
of their own bills, each branch had
adopted special rules to clear un-
contested bills as rapidly as possible
and through the aid OF the electric
voting machines, bills were being
passed yesterday about three or four
a minute.
One development could prevent
the Senate from passing bills this
afternoon. That body has set Tor
special and continuing order con-
sideration of the major portion OF
Gov. Tuck's tax program, incorpo-
rated in five bills, whose chief patron
Is House Floor Leader E. Blackburn
Moore. This rule, unless rescinded,
requires that these bills be disposed
of before normal business can be
resumed.
After yesterdays session. the
House Appropriations Committee
met and increased the Governors
budget to a new an-time high OF
S512,43o977 before reporting 1t to
the House.
Budget Is Increased.
The committee increased the
$5o4 1916, ,o51 proposed by the Gov
ernor by $7,435,926. The increases
leaves an estimated surplus on July
/, 1850, of only $4,672.
Chairman c. C. Louderback said
he would ask the House to set the
big-money measure as special and
continuing order for Tuesday. II
the Senate makes any reductions In
the Governors $4,000, ,000-a-year
tax program, however, he said ne
would have to ask that the bill be
recommitted for some amputa-
tions."
"It is the toughest job I have
ever experienced" MIR. Louderback
told newspapermen when the COM
mittee finished action.
OF the total increase written into
the bill by the committee, So, $685. ,692
was in capital outlays and the re-
mainder for current expenses. Il
decided to earmark $500, 1000 as q
reserve for contingencies.
Deficit Authorized.
The Public Welfare Department
was authorized to incur a deficit OF
5000 900 during the last six months
of this fiscal year and was given
s25o,O00 additional for the next
-biennium for public assistance.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute was
given an additional $240,632 foi
county and home demonstration
agents and specialists, and the
Health Department was voted ar
additional $205,970 for tuberculosis
sanitoria and for inspection Of tour
ist camps provided for in a bill. II
also received 100000 for explora-
tory treatment of inebriates.
Among the top increases in capita
outlaws was s1,500,000 for hospita
matching Federal funds under the
Hill-Burton Act, and 100000 TO,
land and betterments at Virginia
State College at Petersburg, to bt
spent with the approval OF the Gov
ernor.
Virginia Tech was voted $3.50, ,00(
for completion of dormitory fol
$50 men and 100000 was appropri-
ated as matching funds for National
Guard armories::
81 Bills Passed.
During its rapid-fire enactments
yesterday, the House passed 81 bills
and killed /. The Senate passed 18
Among measures passed in the
upper branch was one by Mr.. Ma
gruder, Delegate Norman G. Bailey
of Orange, and others, to prohibit
intercity branch banking. The vote
was 80, to 8. after defeat of an
amendment to freeze branch bank
ing laws for two years while study
Is made.
The indicator lights of the electric
voting machine on the walls of the
House Of Delegates glowed their red
dest to date when that body killed
5 to 88, a bill to provide that we'd
ding gifts shall be the equal prop
erty of husband and wife. The ac-
tion was taken after several bachelor
members made humorous talks indi-
eating the measure would destroy
their chances for obtaining brides.
Among bills passed by the House
6tlU SCilL W tilC oCl1dIC WdS OllC NY
Delegate G. K. Hutchins of Newport
News. Mr.. Damn and Mr.. Ma.
gruder. to extend the State rent
control law. It provides that the
Governor, on action by q local gov.
erning body, may set up emergency
rent control areas If Federal controls
expire.
Other Measures Passed.
Also passed and sent to the
Senate were the following:
A bill to permit local governing
bodies to authorize certain en-.
croachments on streets and alleys
introduced by request by Delegate
Armistead L. Boothe of Alexandria
A bill authorizing the board o.
regents of Gunston Hall to organic
as a corporation, by Delegates
Robert j. McCandlish, jr., Of Fair
fax and Mr.. Boothe.
Also passed, So to 28, was bill b.
Delegate Frank p. Moncure O
Stafford and Prince william 1Coun
ties to give county police authorit.