Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-28
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Reciprocity on
Doctors Sought
Delegation Proposes
28-Point Program
In Virginia Assembly
By Robert c. RoIIines


sembly as part of a basic, 28-point
program. The law-making body
convenes in bienniel session jan
uary H..
The three-member delegation
disclosed the program at press
luncheon at the Washington,
Golf and Country Club yesterday.
At the same time, the legislators
stressed continued opposition to
a sales tax for Virginia.
Under the borderline recipro-
city bill, District physicians would
be permitted to go into Virginia
to treat their patients so long as
they did not set up an office. Dis
trict physicians would be required
to pay a 81 fee for certificate
such as now is given Virginia
doctors who want to follow" their
patients into the District. A
similar plan applies to Maryland
doctors. Virginia law, never
strictly enforced, requires a $50
fee even for the "borderline" prac-
tice.
Local Measures Proposed.
Borderline certificates of Viz
ginia physicians were cancelled
last September by District health
authorities but later were REIN
stated when Arlington legislators
said they would seek amendment
of the Virginia requirements.
At least four of the points pro-
posed by Senator Charles r. Fen
wick and Delegates j. Maynard
Magruder and George Damn ara
purely local in nature while other
tentative legislation would be
Statewide in application.
The purely local measures would
authorize a referendum on self
liquidating, or revenue, bonds OF
100000 for construction OF two
swimming pools; would create a
trial board for paid firemen SIM
liar to that already established for
policemen; provide for reassess-
ment of real estate in 1850 and
every four years thereafter and
appropriate $62,500 for the ball
ance of the States share of land
acquisition for extension Of the
George Washington Memorial
Parkway from Spout Run to
Chain Bridge.
Study Of Crime Causes.
Another bill would request
establishment of a commission ito
study the cause of Virginia's high
crime rate and the laws covering
sex offenses."
Virginia, the delegation said,
has an Unusually high number Of
felony convictions. Then it
asked: "Is there any connection
between this fact and its program
for rehabilitating juveniles who
have been committed to the We'll
fare Department."
The study step is being taken
in a number of States, the dele
CATION members said, and they
have been asked by several groups
to try and get the commission
established.
Three of the proposed bills
would affect taxes. One would
provide for installment payment
of taxes preceding deadline, a
procedure now optional with the
taxpayer. The Arlington delega-
ton said consideration will be
given to providing for payment
of low-interest rates to those pay
ing in advance.
Income Tax Law Changes.
Another proposed measure
would amend State income tax
law to make exemptions and de-
auctions similar to those provided
by the Federal law. This probably
would provide for short income
tax form which Virginia does not
have. A third piece of tax legis-
lation would give taxpayers the
same period of time in which to
apply for refund of overpayments
that the State now has to recover
underpayments - three years.
Under existing law, overpayments
must be recovered within a year.
In the field of medicine and
mental hygiene, the Arlington
Legislators would ask for laws
which would:
l. Provide for expansion Of
mental hygiene and cancer detec-
ton clinics at the local level.
2. Increase appropriations for
adequate stating of mental hos
pitfalls and for capital improve
ments.
3. Revise the law governing
commitment to mental institu-
lions so that the present COM
mitment board of two doctors
and a justice Of the peace would
be subject to review by the judge
Of a court of record, or would
include a judge of the trial justice
court.
4. Establish chest surgery elm
les for tuberculosis at the Medical
College of Virginia and the Uni
versity of Virginia with so beds
each for advanced cases of tu-
berculosis. The clinics also would
act as diagnostic screening centers.
S. Increase facilities at State
medical schools to produce more
doctors and provide scholarships
for dental students in exchange
for agreements to practice in rural
areas.
Drivers Licenses.
Two measures concerning revo-
cation Of drivers licenses also will
be sought. They are:
l, Provide for notice to a per-
son charged with reckless driving.
pointing out that two convictions
or forfeitures Of collateral within
q 12-month period carries q years
revocation Of the drivers permit.
2. Stipulating that where a Vir-
ginia resident has been convicted
of an offense In another State
which carries with it revocation
of the drivers permit, the loss OF