Evening star., 1952-03-10
Gov. Battle Praises
legislature Work
Al 6O-Day Session
BY the Asseeioted Press

Members of the just-ended 1852
Virginia General Assembly had
the word of Gov Battle today
that their 60 days in Richmond
had been time well spent.
Shortly before it adjourned
early yesterday morning, Assem-
blymen in the Senate and House
received surprise visits from the
Governor and were told by him
that if they had done nothing
more than enact the school pro-
gram, their stay at the Capitol
was justified.
It was natural for men of
strong minds to disagree on some
things, Gov. Battle said, in what
could have been reference toI
the Senate's refusal to do some
thing he strongly urged-tack an
emergency clause onto the redis-
tricting bill so Virginia congressi-
onal candidates could go into theI
early primaries this summert
rather than be all nominated by
convention.
Millions For Teacher Pay.
But on the positive side, the
Assembly could point to millions
more appropriated for school
teacher pay to put a minimum
$2,000-$3, 200 pay scale in effect |
for qualified teachers.
It also appropriated another $50
million to complete the Battle
school construction program which
was in addition to more than SOL
million for teacher pay this ses-
sion.
Mental hospitals and welfare
also came in for substantial boosts,
and legislation was passed putting
State and local governmental en-
ployes, including school teachers,
under Federal Social Security plus
q new supplemental retirement
plan for State employees to boost
old age and retirement benefits.
These were among the accom-
pliShments the governor had in
mind when he thanked and COM
plimented the legislators.
His talk to the House after mid
night interrupted gay, going-away
ceremonies, including a round of
gift-giving to the speaker, vari-
Gus committee chairmen. and
members Of the House. staff. |
But the House interspersed some
important legislating, including
final approval of a new Highway
Safety Act which tightens up on
the penalties for speeding and
revives the motor vehicle COM
missioner hearing program aimed
at getting accident-prone drivers
of the highways. The law in
creaSes the speed limit for pas
senger cars and buses from so to
IS miles an hour but trims truck
speeds from SO to 45-a 10-mile
differential which safety officials
called an important safety step.
Driving Laws Tightened.
It also provides for a mandatory
Today jail sentence for driving
q car after the drivers permit has
been revoked and permits q court
to revoke permit for 10 days on
the first conviction for speeding
where the limit has been violated
by more than 5 miles an hour.
A 60-day license suspension is
mandatory for the second speed
ing offense within year.
The Senate made speeding vio-
lationS. where loss Of permit
could be involved, applicable only
to the open highways where the
speed limit had been set at As
miles an hour or more. as. is the
case In certain restricted areas.
The House agreed to the Senate
changes.
Also given final approval In the
waning hours were resolutions
calling for constitutional changes
to double the population require
mentS for Incorporation Of cities
Of the first class 10000 to 100000
and cities Of the second class
$1,000 to 10000, and to permit
localities to borrow from the new
supplemental State retirement
fund for school construction.
A Senate bill to let courts i'm
crease the present $40 maximum
fine punishment for drunkenness
to $25 and six months in jail for
the third offense within a year
was killed in the House on 80
to-39 tie vote. The sitter penal
ties were advocated as q neces-
sary requirement If repeaters were
to be discouraged. but opponents
mustered the precise vote needed
to block passage.
Acts Of the General Assembly