Evening star., 1950-02-08

modatlonS as to require rent
controls in the city of Nor
folk"
after Floor Leader Roy B. Davis
Withdrew a motion to recommit
it to the Privileges and Elections
Committee. 1t had been reported
by the Finance Committee.
The law which the bill would
repeal has been declared uncon-
stitutional by Judge Frank A.
Kearney of Hampton and his de-
cision has never been appealed.
Several members said yesterday
that the retroactive feature was a
nuisance and raised practically no
revenue.
Whisky Bills Dead.
Calendars of both houses were
bare of major legislation today
but committees reported several
controversial bills which are ex-
pected to claim action during the
week. These included favorable
action by the House General Laws
Committee on the bill to abolish
Virginia's standby rent control
law and the administration bill
empowering the Governor to seize
and operate coal mines in event
of crippling strikes.
Apparently dead for the session
are the various whisky by-t the
drink bills. The House General
Laws Committee unanimously
killed Delegate Louis Lee Guys
bill for sale of one drink contain
ers and by vote of 8 to 6 turned
down Delegate Carl Spencer's bill
for a referendum in Norfolk city
on the sale of whisky by the drink
in hotels, large clubs and restau-
rants.
Still in committee were the vari-
Gus annexation bills which are
source of perpetual controversy
between the county and city fac
tions. The principal county"
bill Glib TO- would enable the
people of the county and city in
volved in annexation proceedings
to vote.
Compromises Proposed.
Two compromise measures were
introduced yesterday by Delegate
Lewis McMurran of Warwick and
Newport News.
One. resolution, would create
a commission to make a thorough
study of urban growth and con-
fiict with counties which
county champion said would be
acceptable If all annexation pro-
ceedings were stayed meanwhile.
The other, bill, would instruct
annexation courts to arrange
orders to provide that a county
losing territory shall be able to
provide governmental service at
the same level as before annexa-
ton proceedings.
Senate and House Finance Com
mittees. meeting Jointly tonight to
consider tax reduction, frowned on
by Gov. Battle at present, will
have before them a bill to give
Virginia income taxpayers credit
on their returns for income taxes
paid the Federal Government.
The Boatwright bill to abolish
rent control in Virginia came out
of the House General Laws Com
mittee. with a 15-to-2 vote. It
would have the Assembly declare
Federal rent control no longer
necessary and would notify the
Federal housing expediter to this
effect.
The mine seizure bill, asked for
by Gov. Battle in his inaugural
address so that he might continue
the procedure of Gov. Tuck under
wartime powers, was reported
unanimously. It was assailed in
the hearings by the United Mine
Workers as undemocratic and an
effort to break up the union, and
was likewise criticized by T. L.
Kessinger, Democrat, of Alle-
ghany, and j. M. Smith and Mar
shall Looney. Republicans, rep
resenting the mining counties Of
Lee and Buchanan.
A bill giving reciprocity to ply
sicians from borderline States and
the District of Columbia SO they
may come into Virginia and treat
patients was approved by the
Senate Committee on Interstate
Cooperation.
The bill would allow an outside
physician to follow a patient
across the State line without re-
quiring him to take out a license
as Virginia practitioner. How
ever, he would be required to regis
ter and pay an annual fee of ST..
The Senate Education Commit
tee heard but took no action on
the Fenwick bill to provide local
option on a teacher tenure plan
designed to give greater security
to teachers in their jobs.