The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1954-02-26
State Legislators
Struggle To Fit
Needs Into Budget
Fuel Tax Increase
Finds Rocky Road;
Carter Bill Dead

The major committee task of
the 1854 General Assembly near
ed an end this week as the House
Appropriations group FASTENED
revisions OF the Battle budget to
lit Governor Stanley's inaugural
recommendations.
Chairman Howard II. Adams. of
Eastville, and his l6 colleagues
have waded through a maze of
suggested amendments in tailor
ing the budget to the size of APP
proximately 1921 100000 of Gen
eral Fund revenues expected to be
available in the two years begin
ming July l One Of the toughest
hurdles has been the method for
distributing state school funds
which will be increased during
the new biennium by approx
mately $l6.O0O,000.
Postponement Of a Senate de-
cision TO this week on the Cover
nor's motor fuel tax increase re-
commentator sidetracked mo-
mentarily one of the major issues
of the session The Senate, after
receiving the bill by vote of 1876
from its Finance Committee. de-
ferred further action. Every in
dication pointed to a close Senate
vote.
Absent Voter Law
The House of Delegates Will
vote during the week on amend
ments to the Absent Voters Law
also endorsed by the Governor
and designed to guard the law
against fraud and abuse. The
Privileges and Elections Commit
tee reported the bill unanimously
after minor amendments. The
legislation carries out recon-
mendations of the Virginia Ad-
viSory Legislative Council.
The same committee killed a
plan advanced by Delegate Walt
err Page OF Norfolk and others for
repeal Of the poll tax. A some
what similar resolution still
awaits action in the Senate Com
mittee but legislative prophets
foresaw little likelihood of favor
able consideration during this
session.
Carter Bill Killed
Removed from the list Of pend
ing legislation was a bill by Dele
gate Stuart B. Carter of Bote-
tour TO suspend the Byrd auto
matte tax credit law for two
years and appropriate for various
governmental activities the ST.
100000 now earmarked or
credits this year to Virginia in
come taxpayers. Governor Stan
ley opposed the measure.
The Senate received for COM
mittee consideration a bill to end
the dilemma of Virginia cities
caught i'll State Supreme Court
decision of 1852 holding that
emergency vehicle, such as fire
fighting equipment. ambulanceS
and police cars must stop for red
lights. The new bill, passed by
the House, 87-l1, would permit
such vehicles to run the stop
lights provided their drivers eXer-
cised proper caution
Holidays Cut
Also before the Senator Courts
Of Justice Committee was the Ad-
ministratlon bin to reduce the
number of State holidays. The
bill. with a House amendment
restoring Lee Jackson day now
would cut tho number Of holidays
from IS to Q. The House approved
the measure last week.
The Senate sent to the House
n controversial sales tax question
when it passed bill. originally
offered by Sen. George Warren
of Bristol for the benefit OF
Washington County. As passed by
the senate IT covered nine coun-
ties, including Washington Buch-
anan, TaZcwen. Russell. Louisa
Goochland Lee. Princess Anne
and Scott counties. all Of which
would be permitted to levy sales
taxes. Another bill by Sen.