Evening star., 1950-01-20
Assembly Ruling
Due Monday on
Fletcher Seatinq
Authority Of Virginia
Delegates Action on
Election Questioned
By Alex r. Preston
Stor Stoff Correspondent

s"~N ~ 'sSSASh
stor Stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 2o.-Can
the House of Delegates decide il
one of its members has been elect.
ed after he has been sworn and
seated?
This question is to be deter
mined Monday when the General
Assembly reconvenes after three
day recess.
If subcommittee of the Privi-
leges and Elections COMMITTEES
finds the House has authority to
act, it also is expected to deter
mine whether the member already
seated would have to be removed
by impeachment if he loses the
contest.
Among other new legislation Of
fered before adjournment yester-
day were bills or resolutions to
make annexation by cities more
difficult; proposing the sale Of
whisky by the drink; restricting
the rights of Communists, and a
petition to Congress to limit Fed
eral taxation.
Fairfax Bills Offered.
Two local bills for Fairfax
County were offered by State
Senator Andrew w. Clarke. One
would permit the Board of Super
visors to impose tax of $100 a
year on trailer homes, beginning
in 1851, if the vehicles are kept
on property. not owned by the
trailer owner, for more than 48
hours.
The second bill would author
ize a salary of $40 a day plus
expenses for the county's member
of the District Home board in
Manassas, not to exceed $3.50 in
any year, however.
The question involving the elec-
ton contest centers around last
November's balloting in which
John w. Fletcher. Independent,
was declared the winner over
Mrs. Turner A. Gilmer. Demo-
crat. Mr.. Fletcher took the oath
and was seated on the opening
day Of the session, January II.
Delegate John B. Boatwright Of
Buckingham asked Speaker z.
Blackburn Moore to rule on the
question of the authority of the
House to act on Mr.. Fletcher's
qualifications now. Mr.. Moore
declined to rule Immediately.
The Privileges and Elections
Committee. officially appointed
yesterday, took up the question
again later in the day, and Dele
gate Duval Radford of Bedford
expressed doubt that Mr.. Fletcher
could be removed, except by i'm
|peachment, If the contest Is de-
cided against him.
Anti-Annexation Bill.
Delegate Paul Crockett of York.
town dropped in an anti-annexa-
tion bill. The version is httle
different from it's famous prede-
cessor of 1948.
It would provide that on q
petition to an annexation court
OF 10 per cent of the qualified
voters of both the city and Of the
area involved, a referendum shall
be. held on an annexation case.
It a majority of the combined
vote in the city and the area
sought for annexation approve,
the annexation proceeding would
continue. If not, it would be
stricken from the docket and fln-
ished for four years.
The Norfolk delegation spawned
another whisky by the drink bill,
from Delegate Louis Lee Guy.
This one would permit the sale
in one-jigger containers-such as
used in railroad lounges-in liz
censed clubs, hotels and res
taurants. It would be a State
wide local option bill.
Delegate w. Carl Spencer, Of
Norfolk, introduced a similar
measure that would apply, how
ever, only to his home city.
Bills on Medical Care.
Senator w. C. Caudill of
Pearisburg, introduced bills to
carry out recommendations of a
commission which studied medical
care, particularly in rural areas,
They would bring to Is the num-
Der OF medical scholarships at
the University of Virginia, Is at
the Medical College of Virginia,
and five for Negro students at
Meharry Medical College, Nash
vile, Tenn;
Senator Charles r. Fenwick.
Arlington, offered a measure yes
terday to provide seven dental
scholarships ON the same basis,
including one for Negroes at
Meharry.
Norfolk Delegate Spencer intro
duced the resolution aimed at the
Communists, although not mem
tioning them by name. 1t would
amend the State constitution to
take away the right to register for
voting and to hold Office from
persons who advocate any change
by force or violence in the Gov
eminent (of the State, locality
and Federal Government.
States Rights" Resolution.
+. A States Rights" resolution
from Delegate w. Griffith Purcell,
of Richmond City, asks Congress
to set in motion procedure for
amending the Constitution to pro-
vide that limit be set to Federal
income taxes; that 20 per cent Of
the Federal revenue be set aside
for redistribution to the States,
and to freeze into the Constitution
the present income tax exemp-
tions.
During times of defense emer-
gency, the Congress would limit
the rebate to the States. This re-
solution is being introduced in
other States and has passed sew
- L.