Evening star., 1952-01-19
Caucus Slated
On Judgeshiips
Monday Night
Assembly Democrats
To Consider Virginia
Interim Appointment
A-24 THE EVENING STAR
*** Washington, D. C.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1852
By Alex R. Preston
Sfog SfoH carvasnord.n.

py Alex Il. PRESTON
Stor stoff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Jan. 18TH,
General Assembly was in week.
end recess today, but it's Demo.
cratic members will return Il
caucus Monday night on confirm.
ing several judgeship vacancies
filled by Gov. Battle since the 1856
session.
Several other judgeships due
to expire in the next two years
also will be filled in the dominant
Democratic Party caucus. Elec-
ton by the entire Assembly will
follow. probably Tuesday.
Among interim appointments
made by Gov. Battle were Circuit
Judge Lemuel F. Smith of Char
lottesville to the Supreme Court
of Appeals to fill vacancy
created by the retirement OF
Justice Abram P. Staples; Lyttle-
ton Waddell of Charlottesville, to
fill Justice Smiths former circuit
post there, and r. Watson Sadler
of Charlottesville, to the City
Corporation Court to fill a va
eancy created by the retirement
Of Judge A. P. Dabney.
Score of Reappointments.
These were the only Northern
Virginians among eight interim
appointments. The three were in
Gov. Battles home city.
A score of other judges are up
for reappointment. The only
Northern Virginians on the list
are Judge Floridus S. Crosby, for
the. 18th Circuit, embracing
Staunton, Waynesboro and Au-
gusta County, and w. Marshall
King of Fredericksburg, to the
State Corporation Commission.
A bill containing only one short
sentence, but relating to interim
appointments by the Governor
was introduced in the House yes
terday. It bore political over
tones from the days of the late
Gov. James H. Price.
Would Repeal Section.
The measure, by Delegate j.
Bradie Altman, an administration
supporter, would repeal section
of the code enacted in 1910, mid
way through the administration
Of Gov. Price. That was the last
time the dominant Democratic
faction headed by United States
Senator Byrd lost control of the
States highest office.
The section which would be re-
pealed requires the Supreme Court
first to certify a need before the
Governor can fill judgship. It
permits refusal of certification
provided the total number of Cir
cults does not go below 25.
At the time. it was enacted on
the representation that it was an
economy measure to avoid main
tanning useless circuits.
Prevented Filling Vacancies.
The effect of the law, however
was to prevent Gov. Price, who was
outside the organization, from fill
ing vacanies without the court S
approval. The court itself was
made up of men appointed under
prior administrations.
When the General Assembly re-
turned. however, it could fill va
cancies at will.
A bill by Delegates George
Damn and j. Maynard Magruder
Of Arlington, to include marijuana
among drugs listed in the Uniform
Narcotics law.
They also proposed companion
bills to amend the search and
seizure law to permit condemna-
ton of contraband dope and
seizure of personal property, such
as cars, employed in its distribu-
ton.
Earlier, they had introduced a
bill requiring a minimum three
year sentence for any one con-
victed of conveying narcotics to
minors.
Sanitary Property Tax.
Two bills were introduced by
Delegates George M. Cochran ot
Staunton and Felix Edmunds o1
Waynesboro. One would authorize
the Augusta County supervisors te
impose a property tax within
sanitary districts for sewer anC
water facilities and permit spend.
ing from the general fund ii
anticipation of revenues from thi.
source.
The other would authorize thu
Augusta Circuit Court Judge tt
appoint a trial magistrate from
outside the county to sit on cast
where the regular magistrate dis.
qualities himself.
Mr.. Damn and Mr.. Magrude
sponsored a bill to abolish a IS
cent fee collected by commission
ers of revenue-a carryover from
the days before the fee system
was abolished about 20 years ago
The fees have been going to tn
State, however.
Other action yesterday in
cluded a decision by the Hous
Courts of Justice Committee II
draft a bill easing divorce re
quirementS.
Ev,inn Enrnraefe e Rnnef