Evening star., 1950-02-22
Richmond 10 Act
On Assessment,
Annexation Bills
Real Estate Measure
Faces Uncertain Fate:
Urban Study Asked

the attention of the Virginia
General Assembly today.
The reassessment proposal
which some consider the heart of
the State Tax Study Commission
report made last December
brought on prolonged and
bitter battle in the Senate yester-
day when efforts to have it sent
back to the Finance Committee
failed by a narrow margin.
The bill was advanced to third
reading and an uncertain fate
today. Sponsored by Senators
Garland Gray of Waverly, chair
man of the Tax Study Commits
sion; Lloyd C. Bird of Chester
field, and Robert o: Norris, jr., of
Lancaster, the bill calls for a re-
appraisal of county land values
every six years for tax purposes.
Two-Year Ban Sought.
Up for advancement to third
reading in the House of Delegates
is the Williams compromise bill
to stay annexation proceedings
for two years. The bill carries an
amendment by Delegate Louis Lee
Guy of Norfolk exempting ter
ritory sought in pending annexa-
ton cases.
Also before the House is the Nc
Murran resolution for a commits
sion to study and report on all
problems of urban growth and
their impact on rural areas. The
House County. Cities and Towns
Committee is holding several other
bills dealing with annexation.
Yesterday was one of the busiest
days both houses have had during
the current session.
The House killed, 81 to 25. a
resolution by Delegate Frank
Moncure, of Stafford, to give each
Delegate $500 for expense money.
Two years ago a similar resolution
was adopted without a recorded
vote.
Physician Measure Passed.
The House passed and sent to
the Governor these bills:
10 provide borderline reciproc-
lty for physicians so that doctors
In Washington and other neigh
boring jurisdictions could follow
their patients into fringe areas OF
this State.
requiring physicians to make
blood tests for syphilis in all preg-
hant women they treat.
Giving the Health Department
access to hospital records for a
compilation of reports on cancer.
The House passed and sent to
the Senate a bill permitting the
Game and Inland Fish Commits
sion to set different seasons east
and west of the Blue Ridge Noun
teins and measure by Delegate
Stilson Hall. Leesburg, to permit
school boards to dispose of per-
sonal property not valued at more
than $500. in any manner they
see fit.
The Senate passed and sent to
the Governor bill by Delegate
N. c. Bailey, revising the charter
of the town of Orange.
Clarke Bills Killed.
1t passed and sent back to the
House with amendments a bill
revising the charter of Waynes-
boro, by Delegates Felix E. Ed
munds. Waynesboro, and George
Cochran, Staunton, and bill by
Delegate Armistead Boothe OF
Alexandria requiring certain en-
gineers to show certificates OF
registration before licenses are
issued them.
The Senate Committee on
Counties. Cities and Towns killed
three bills by Senator Andrew w
Clarke, Alexandria, at his request
They would provide optional forms
of government for Fairfax County
and were strongly opposed by a
delegation of citizens of that area
at hearing last week.
BY a vote of 27 to 9, the Senate
passed a Tax Study Commission
bill to have the State Board o1
Education administer tests every
two years to find out what public
school children in Virginia have
learned.
Phone Legislation Wound Up.
The House wound up legisla-
tive action on the bill permitting
establishment of non-profit tele-
phone co-operatives when il
passed this and a companion
Senate bill requwing utilities tt
secure certificates of convenience
and necessity from the STATE
Corporation Commission.
One Of the major legislativ,
developments yesterday was tn
action of the House Appropria
lions Committee in reporting tn,
general appropriations bill amount
ing to 1925, ,OOO-an increas,
of S785, 900 since it was introduced
The committee actually grantee
about $685. 900 of the more thai
$40 million additional requested
over the original $597.5 million
budget But it trimmed $2.8 mil
lion Of the first bills appropria
tions and used all but 1925 ,00'
of an unappropriated surplus o
ST million in the original bill.
Howard H. Adams of North
ampton, chairman of the Appro
priations Committee, said al
figures were approximate since tn
amendments in committee still ar
subject to recheck. He said tn
bill probably will reach the foo
of the House Monday, or possibl,
Saturday if the House meets tina
day.
The committee sliced off $100,
900 originally proposed for salar,
increases for State officials; Gu
81 million in funds for the pro-
posed new State office buildin,
and S1.700.000 for the PROPOSED