Evening star., 1950-01-08
Heavy Schedule:
Assembly
In Richmond
Contest in Russell
To Be First Business
On Wednesday
By the Assoeioied Press

wednesday to wreStle with a dock
ct which includes some major
problems in education, finance
and elections laws.
The lawmakers are scheduled to
take up Immediately an elections
contest to determine who occu-
pies Russell County's seat irr the
House of Delegates.
This. in turn, has brought up
a move for repeal Of the absent
voters law. State Senator Harry
c. Stuart of Elk Garden has an
nounced that he will introduce q
bill to accomplish this.
On broader plane is the ques-
ton of what is to be done about
the poll tax. This problem will
bounce back to the Legislature as
a result Of the defeat last Novem-
ber of the Campbell suffrage
amendments, which was a big
package including poll tax repeal
and numerous other changes in
elections laws.
Proposal Made Again.
Several approaches to poll-tax
reform already have been suggest
ed by members Of the General AS
smbly. Delegate Bentley Hite,
Republican Of Montgomery, this
week reiterated a COP proposal
for an early convention to deal
with the poll tax and make other
drastic changes" in Virginia's
basic election laws.
Mr.. Hite thus joined others of
his party who do not want a con-
vention limited to the poll-tax
question, a course advocated by
some Democratic members Of
the Legislature In and out Of
the dominant, conservative DEM
ocratic Party organization.
: A few days ago two organiza-
ton legislators, Senators Robert
F. Baldwin and Edward L. Breed
en-. jr., Of Norfolk, said they in
tended to submit legislation seek
ing a quick referendum on a con-
vention limited to the poll-tax
matter.
Battle Takes No Stand.
Neither Gov. Tuck, who will de-
liver his final message to the as
sembly on the opening day, nor
John s.. Battle. his successor,
have made any public pronounce
ment on what they think should
be done about the poll tax.
| Mr.. Battle takes Office on Janu-
my 18 and ordinarily In an In
augural year there would be lit
tie activity until he presents his
program to the lawmakers.
! This time, however, the Russell
| County contest is to be disposed
Of first. Mrs. Turner A. Gilnaer,
Democratic nominee for the
House, has challenged the elec-
tion Of John w. Fletcher, Inde-
pendent, on a charge of irregu-
larities in the mail-ballot vote.
The education question is moth
ing new for the legislature. Main
ly, it involves two things-in-
creases in teachers salaries and
methods of aiding the localities
In financing school construction.
Many phases Of the school
problem were dealt with In the
recent report by the commission
on State and local revenues and
expenditures.
Other Proposals.
Among other things, the COM
mission made the following pro-
posals on schools:
Establishment of a larger equal
ization fund into which all gen.
eral school appropriations in ex-
cess Of the present level would
go; localities would be required
to contribute to the support Of
schools sum equal to a true tax
rate of 80 cents per $100 of To-
ca1ly taxable wealth in order to
participate in the equalization
fund; selection Of county school
boards by the boards Of super
visors; comprehensive objective
tests by the State board of educa-
ton to determine what the public
school pupils have learned, and
greater emphasis on "funda-
mentals."
An important question is how
much of the burden the State
and the localities will bear. The
commission believed the localities
should carry more Of the load.
While Mr.. Battle has remained
silent on what he will say in his
message to the legislature, his
campaign for governor involved
promises to seek quick action to
appropriate $50 900, 900 from State
funds to distribute as gifts" to
help the localities finance school
construction.
Minimum Salaries Indorsed.
Mr.. Battle also indorsed the
minimum salary schedules advo-
Gated for teachers by the Virginia
Education Association; liberalized
pension benefits for State en-
ployes and teachers, and expan-
sion of agricultural programs and
improvements In health, mental
hygiene and welfare programs.
Two potentially controversial
items which also have been added
for the legislatures consideration
are public welfare budgeting and
rent control.
Charles r. Fenwick, State sem
ator from Arlington, has an
nounced he will propose amend
ments to the Public Welfare Act
to insure that community welfare
budget estimates will be submit
ted to the Governors Budget Ad-
visory Board.
Mr.. Fenwick's welfare proposal
topped suggested legislation In
4 q