Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-16
An Informed General Assembly

Those who watched the 1854 Virginia Gem
eral Assembly in action agreed that it was
particularly we'll informed as to the States
needs. The legislators had been guests Of the
State on an inspection tour of State-owned or
State-aided educational. hospital and other
institutions The results of this inspection
were evident in the decisions of the Assembly,
including especially the votes to amend the
Byrd tax-rebate law and to add an extra 50
million to the budget.
Frequently during the bitter and protracted
debate on the proposal to repeal or amend the
Byrd law there were comments to the effect
that while tax reduction is desirable, improve
ments in tuberculosis and mental hospitals and
other institutions are even more desirable.
One after another Of the delegates spoke au-
thoritatively of these vital needs, based on per-
sonal observation of conditions. About third
of the House members had taken advantage Of
1852 law authorizing State-conducted inspec-
ton tours. The act Is permanent one, so
that the tours now are an established policy.
1t was only with the help of the votes of
many of these enlightened legislators that
proponents OF a modification of the Byrd law
were successful. The law originally provided,
that whenever the States revenues exceeded
budget estimates by more than 5 per cent the
surplus must be returned to the taxpayers in
the form Of credits. AS amended the refund
ing will not begin until the surplus reaches 10
per cent-and only half of the surplus will be
paid out. The remainder will be held for ap-
preparation by the next Legislature. Mean
while, the $2-million increase in the budget
tackled on against the advice of the adminiStra-
ton forces-will provide welcome aid to fund
starved institutions and activities Arlington's
Senator Fenwick deserves praise for the leader
ship he has displayed both In the fight to
direct attention to the desperate need in State
institutions and in this successful effort to
reserve some funds to meet those needs.
Governor Stanley met defeat on his sur
prise proposal for one-cent increase in the
gasoline tax, not because the legislators were
not adequately informed as to highway needs
but because Of widespread resentment over
his campaign pledge not to ask for any tax
increases. Even some of his close supporters
broke with him on this issue It is unfortu-
nate that this dispute has wrecked the High
way Commissions program for financing neces-
sary road improvements. This setback is of
concern to the Washington area, because it may
hinder even further Virginias participation in
highway connections with new Potomac River
bridges.
The Assembly, however, passed number of
bills asked by the Arlington Alexandria and
Fairfax delegations In the interest of better
local government. These delegations fought
hard in behalf of Northern Virginia, section
too often kicked around in the past. 1t is to
their credit that they met defeat on only one
major issue, the right of Federal employees to
hold public Office. They won this battle in the
Senate and in House committee, only to lose
final victory on the House floor.
It's hard to see where this New Jersey
woman has complaint against her husband,
who beat her every time the New York Yankees
lost. Suppose he had been st. Louis Browns
fanl