Evening star., 1952-02-20
Delegate Lynch
Urges Study Of
Weekly Papers
Mergers and Failures
Cited in Resolution
In Virginia Assembly
By Alex R. Preston
Stor Stoff Coyrespondent

independent newspapers go out o1
business or merge with others will
be asked of the General Assembly
: today by Delegate Edwin Lynch
Of Fairfax.
A resolution calling for an In
quiry into what measures may be
necessary to ENSURE an independ-
ent and vigorous press throughout
the State" was to be offered in
the House of Delegates.
Mr.. Lynch said he has in mind
particularly the smaller weekly
newspapers, whose business has
been hurt by the shopping journal
type of publication. which takes
away advertising.
"I have had number of re-
quests to introduce a bill on the
subject" the Fairfax delegate said
'sbut I confess I don't know
enough about the matter now to
be willing to go that far until,
perhaps, after study is made.
His resolution went direct to
the Virginia Advisory Legislative
Council to look into the subject
and consider the matter of rev.
enues from advertisements ano
laws relating to newspapers.
Financial Reasons Given.
"For financial reasons" the
resolution declares, many news
papers have had to close down OF
consolidate, thus reducing the
number of independent publica-
tionS."
A major development yesterday
was Senate committee approval OF
q bill to revise the annexation
laws. introduced by Senator Rob-
ert Y. Button of Culpeper, it car
ries out recommendations Of a
special study commission.
The 1850 Assembly froze, for
two years, all annexation proceed
ings not already filed in court
Another bill with this same objec-
tive went into the House on Mon
day. There are four other bills
relating to annexation, includ-
ing one by Senator Charles r,
Fenwick of Arlington to permit
counties for the first time to take
in additional territory.
The Button bill. however, rep
resenting the thoughts of study
commission, has been given the
best chance of passage, although
it is sure to provoke hot debate.
Limits Number of Suits.
It's principal features would
prohibit annexation suits more
often than one in five years. per-
NIT cities to decline to accept new
territory for economic reasons.
keep the special three-judge
court constituted for five years
to enforce its order and permit
annexation proceedings to be
initiated by a county to rid itself
of territory to an adjoining city
The commission also proposed to
reduce from 66 to Is square miles
the amount of territory that must
be left in a county, but a COM
mittee amendment would keep
this minimum at the present fig
ure.
Senator John A. K. Donovan
Of Fairfax yesterday amended his
bill to authorize the Fairfax
supervisors to appoint a county
attorney, in compliance with a re-
quest last week from the county
body.
He reinstated the powers of
prosecuting violations of county
ordinances to the Commonwealth S
attorney, instead of placing this
duty with the proposed county at
torney. The latter would take on
the duty of advising the super
visors, drafting ordinances and de-
Tending or bringing civil suits.
Tax Move Fails.
A Donovan bill to increase in
come tax exemptions for depend
,ents from 5000 to $700 met its
death at the hands of the Senate
Finance Committee. This was
after State Tax Commissioner c.
H. Morrissett testified the meas
ure would cost the State several
million dollars. He admitted the
exemptions for dependents is rath-
er low, but he said the law grants
q, $1,000 exemption each. for the
taxpayer and his wife.
Senator Donovan said the tax
payers are mystified by the 5000
figure and added that cit is OBJ
vious that the cost of maintaining
q child or dependent is more than
$780,"
Bill Cuts Merchant Tax.
Among bills passed by the House
and sent back to the Senate with
amendments was one to cut whole
sale and retail merchants taxes
by 100000 a year. The original
bill would have cut only the whole
salers' rate from 20 to 13 cents
per .$100, but House amendments
include retailers and would make
the rate for both groups Is cents
Action was taken over the pro-
tests of Delegate Armistead Boothe
OF Alexandria, who argued the bill
should be deferred until after the
$697 million budget bill reaches
the House. The budget has been
approved by committee and should
be before members later this week
li Mr.. Boothe warned that the
merchants tax reduction would
Kemove about STA million from the
Epdget during the next two years
This, he argued, is the exact
amount Of an anticipated surplus
by July !. 1854.
1hHe suggested that the reduction
not take effect until July l., 1854
so the pending budget bill woulc
not be thrown out of balance.
The House, however, passed the
bill. SO to 4.
PTA PIons Card Purty
A card party will he sponSore6