Evening star., 1950-04-08
Batt|eSignsBi||s
On Tax Refunds
And Annexation
Two-Yeor Moratorium
On Merger Plans
Provided by Law
By the Assoeioted Press

RICHMOND, April Gov.
Battle has signed two of the most
controversial bills debated in the
1850 General Assembly.
One puts tWo-year moratorium
on new annexation proceedings as
OF July l. The other provides for
provisional tax refunds - when
general fund revenues exceed
500 million next year.
The Williams Swanson bill
signed by Gov. Battle yesterday
provides:
mo city of the Commonwealth
shall, prior to July /, 1852, insti-
, tute any proceedings for the an
nexation of any territory not in
cluded in any proceedings insti-
tuted before the effective date of
this act unless the governing
bodies of the affected areas agree
thereto"
City Officials Asked Veto.
Several city officials, including
Roanoke City Manager Arthur
Owens. requested the Governor to
veto the bill, which was in effect
part of a city-county compromise
and was the only one of several
annexation proposals to get out of
the Legislature.
After he signed the bill, Gov.
Battle commented:
This question of annexation has
been one which has given members
Of the Assembly very great concern
over the past several sessions. I
know of few things that have been
so troublesome in the field of local
government.
The Assembly passed a resolu-
ton providing for establishment
of commission to make a thor
oughgoing examination of the
whole picture and I hope they will
come up with some constructive
suggestions.
No Harm Expected.
In the meantime, I do not feel
any real harm will be done by the
cessation of this type of litigation
over tWo-year period. OF course,
the bill does not affect proceed
ings which have been instituted"
The commission to which Gov
Battle referred was created by
joint resolution which provided an
11-member body to consider an
neXation problems and all matters
involving urban development and
It's impact on rural areas. +
Members of the commission
have not yet been appointed.
They are to be named by the Gov
ernor, Lieutenant Governor and
the Speaker of the House. The |
commissions report is to be made
for consideration of the 1852 Cen
eral Assembly.
The tax-cut plan. introduced by
State Senator Harry F. Byrd, jr.,
provides for 10 per cent tax cut
if the general fund is $100 million
to SOB million. Is per cent cut
If it's $103 million to S1O5 million
and a 20 per cent cut if it goes
above that figure.
No Effect This Year.
Present estimates are that the
general fund revenues will be sos
million annually for the next two
fiscal years.
The Byrd bill will not affect this
10 thocn lttn iv,
fall-but may affect next years.
There was no vetoes from the
Governor yesterday but he still
had under advisement several
measures he had been asked to
veto.
Among them were the city of
Hampton Roads bill, a measure
defining new and used cars. and
one requiring correspondence
school contracts to be printed in
plea or larger type.
Gov. Battle also still had not
signed the 1950-1952 budget bill
He indicated he may veto a few
items in it-but only because they
duplicate appropriations also
made in separate bills. The net
effect would not be to eliminate
any approved appropriations.
Gov. Battle still has approx
mately so acts yet to be signed
or disapproved.
Under Virginia's constitution,
next Tuesday. April II, is the last
day for bill-signing. Any not
signed on or before Tuesday die
automatically.