Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-04
Offers
Census Bill 10
Speed Funds
Schools and Roads
In Fost-Growing
Areas Would Benefi
By Alex R. Preston
Ster Sfeff Correspondent

RICHMOND. Feb. 4.-Dele-
gate Omer Hirst of Fairfax
County today proposed legisla-
ton for the General Assembly to
give, his county a larger share
Of State revenues to keep
abreast of rapid population
growth.
There's no reason why fast
growing areas in Virginia, such
as ours. should have to wait 10
years for a Federal census be-
fore we get the money we need
to meet our school and road
problems" Mr.. Hirst said.
Population figures reported in
the official United States census
every 10 years are used in COM
putting funds received by coun-
ties from such State sources as
the gasoline tax and Alcoholic
Beverage Control Fund.
Mr.. Hirst is drafting a bill to
provide that when the governing
body of any county believed
there had been an increase of
at least $4,000 inhabitants. it
could ask for an official Census
Bureau count.
Bars Reckless Requests.
ut is my purpose, he said, "to
prevent counties from calling
reckleSsly for a census. because
the cost Of the population count
would have to be borne by
county. But when a county like
Fairfax is assured of population
increases far beyond the rate of
others. it should get State aid
in meeting its problems.
After all. the new residents Of
Fairfax are citizens of Virginia
who contribute their share to the
gas tax. The ABC fund and in
come tax. to mention a few. I
don't see why We should have
to wait until the 1860 census to
get benefits we are entitled to in
1854"
Meanwhile, Mr.. Hirst Joined
his colleague from Fairfax, Dele
gate John C. Webb, in sponsor
ing bill yesterday to authorize
surveyors to 60 on the lands or
waters Of others to make surveys
for subdividing. coming or for.
carrying out coming ordinances.
$500 Exemption Bill.
Senator John A. K. Donovan
Of Fairfax dropped in a bill de-
signed to equalize the State in
come tax burden so that relief
would be provided for those with
large families and, at the same
time. no revenue loss would be
experienced by the State.
His bill, in effect, would give a
$500 across-the- board exemption
for man. his wife and for each
child.
At present, $1,000 is allowed
for the taxpayer. an equal
amount for the spouse and 5000
for each dependent.
For instance. a married couple
with one child now gets a $4,000
exemption. Under the Donovan
proposal. the exemption would be
$2,10O.
But the more children a couple
has. the higher the exemption
would be. At present, a couple
with two children gets an exemp-
ton Of $4,000. Under his pro-
posal. it would be $4,000. And
so it would go-$700 for each
dependent.
Mr.. Donovan. a reader of the
comic strip Pogo" in The WASH
ington Star. likes to refer to the
legislation as the tad bill"
which-for the uniformed
means "tadpole.
The greater the number of
"tads," the smaller the amount
OF the tab" said the Senator.
Checked With Morrissett.
He said he had checked with
the State Tax Department and
the commissioner, c. H. Norris
sett, had calculated that the bill
would not reduce the States
revenues. Mr.. Morrissett Endorsed
the bill as good equalization"
law, Senator Donovan said.
Delegate Tom Frost of War
renton. an automobile dealer, in
troduced legislation to permit
dealers to use only one State
license tag on new cars, instead
of two.
Mr.. Boothe. an Alexandria
lawyer and member of the Vir-
GINA Code Commission, intro
duced bill to appropriate SIS
600 to the commission for pre-
pairing and publishing the new