Evening star., 1953-11-15
Legis|atorsLaud
0n-Spot Studies
In Virginia
Pruise New Law
Providing Visits to
Stote institutions
By Alex R. Preston

A Slgn1fcanC cnange IN the
thinking of State lawmakers is
taking place in Virginia.
A new law providing for the
first on -the-scene inspection of
public institutions by those elec-
ted to the General Assembly was
being hailed by the lawmakers
as the most constructive piece
of legislation ever enacted in the
State.
Author of the law at the 1852
session was E. Blackburn Moore,
of Berryville, speaker of the
House of Delegates. The idea
brought unanimous praise from
the men and a woman now tour
ing the State.
Il had been seeing all of these
things for years." Speaker Moore
said, "as a member Of the Bud
get Advisory Committees to sew
eral Governors. It struck me that
it would be good plan if all OF
the members who have to pass
on tax matters and spend money
had the same advantage as l
have had. 1t shows what we are
doing and what is needed. That
seems to me to be good govern
ment."
Most Hospitals Inadequate.
At the halfway mark of the
tour-after having viewed Is
institutions in Eastern Virginia
last week and with Is ahead of
them in the Western and South
western portions of the State
a pattern already was beginning
to form:
Penal institutions and cor
rectional schools and farms have
made phenomenal progress in
the very recent past, both as to
physical plants and as to per-
sonnel.
Contrastingly, mental hoSpi-
tails and other institutions for
those similarly afflicted. are. for
the most part, traglcally in
adequate. They have small stats
making valiant efforts to care
for helpless humans. In some
buildings that actually are fire
traps. patients are pitifully
crowded.
This last situation seems to
have carved the deepest i'm
preston.
Just what the effects will be
will not be known until the
General Assembly convenes in
January. But it seems virtually |
certain there will be the strong
est demand ever to improve
mental hospitals.
Some Regret Tax Plan.
An ironic situation has de-
veloped. Remarks frequently were
made by those in the group last
week that more could have been
done if the State had kept the
surpluses which have been going
back to citizens under an auto
matte income tax reduction law
first enacted in 1850.
State Senator Harry F. Byrd.
jr. is the father of the tax plan
under which some $40 million
has been rebated through this
year. Yet, it may be that the IN
spection tours, sponsored by
Speaker Moore, who is a wheel
horse in the Democratic organi-
zation headed by State Senator
Byrds father, will culminate in
the strongest sort of pressure at
the 1854 session to repeal the
automatic tax reduction law.
Some legislators - including
those from the nearby area
have publicly stated they favor
repeal. Others, including mostly
newcomers elected for a first
time, expressed similar sentiment
privately or said they had their
doubts about how the problems
could be met.
Gov. Battle and his budget ad-
visors have completed the fiscal
plan which he will submit to the
General Assembly 1t is expected
to exceed the $700 million over
all figure for the current bien-
mum. But. Gov. Battle has said
he will not recommend any in
crease in taxes.
No Tax Rise Promised.
Thomas B. Stanley was elected
as the next Governor less than
two weeks ago on a platform
which also promised no tax rise
Most of those who watched chill
dren and old people crammed
into ancient mental institutions
with insufficient staffS, also had
campaigned variously with taxes
as an issue.
That's why repeal-or at least
suspension" of the Byrd auto
matte tax plan was frequently
mentioneds
The lawmakers who have OBJ
served these thingS-both good
and bad-at first hand, are ask
ing, How can we balance hui
man values along with the
budget?"
Harrison Mann, Delegate ELECT
from Arlington, said, 1T has
been a week of sharp contrasts.
"On the one hand we saw the
finest in the way of penal facili-
ties and rehabilitation programs
for women. men. boys and girls.
We saw an outstanding institu-
tion for teaching of the Negro
deaf and blind. Virginia can oe
rightfully proud :.
"On the other hand the shock
ing overcrowded conditions, lack
of adequate facilities and treat
ment in our mental institutions
are beyond description. While
there is evidence of progress. it
is diStreSsingly SLOW"
Tour Seen as Great Idea.
Omer L. Hirst, newly elected
Delegate from Fairfax-Falls
Church, said
1.-The recent inspection has