The Lincoln times., 1955-03-03
INCREASE IN BILLS

The past week brought a no.
ticeable increase on the intrOduc-
ton of bills sponsored by State
departments and agencies. BY
mutual consent, the two houses
sponsored by State departments
and agencies. BY mutual consent,
the two houses have agreed to
hold Friday sessions late enough
in the day to permit committees
to meet in the morning. The
president pro tenn, Senator Jones
of Pitt, reminded the senators
on Friday of their rule requiring
introduction of all local bills by
March and all bills prepared
by State agencies by March TO-
On Thursday afternoon the Joint
Appropriations Committee heard
several members suggest ways of
reducing the spending recon-
mended by the Governor and Ad
visory Budget Commission. This
was the first clear indication
there may be more than token
efforts to balance the budget by
some method other than increaS-
ing revenues. AS expected, the
water resources and higher edu-
cation bills mentioned in earlier
/ bulletins have aroused Substan-
Stal interest.
MOTOR VEHICLES
In each session of the General
Assembly motor vehicles anc
highway safety are favorite sub
poets for new bills. The 1855 Cen
eral Assembly is no exception
and each week finds additional
proposals affecting the motoring
public being offered. Last week
the Department of Motor We
hicles primarily through the
two roads committee chairmen>
began introducing its legislative
program. Just as in each session
since 1947, a compulsory mechani-
cal inspection of vehicles has
been proposed. The 1855 version
is almost identical with that of
1858: 1t calls for annual inSpec-
ton of a limited number of safe
ty features on cars, to be done
by licensed private inspection
stations. Other Department bills
would make multiple changes in
the title and registration laws
the Financial Responsibility Act
and the Driver License Actin
/ cluding one which would have
the effect of extending the life
of vehicle license plates until
Feb. Is Gnstead of Jan. 81 as is
now the case). but the sale Of
plates would not begin until Jan
l, a month later than the usual
starting date ..
SB 1874 makes evidence obtain
ed through chemical analysis OF
the amount of alcohol in de-
fendant's blood admissible in
evidence upon a charge of drunk
en- driving. sets out preSumptlonf
| of gilt or innocence depending
upon the percentage of alcohol
i'll the blood, and permits suspen-
sion of the defendants driver Ii
oenSe for refusal to submit to the
chemical test. HB 385 authorizes
the Motor Vehicles Department
to set up point system for driv-
Ell license suspensions. Convic-
tons for motor vehicle violations
would be assigned points depend
ing upon the seriousness of the
offense, and the Department
would suspend for an accumula-
ton of a certain number of points
within a year (the Department
is to determine this number and
publish it,. Most widely publi-
cized of all motor vehicle bills is
the "whammy" bill, a proposal
to curb use of radar and speed
clocking devices. A House judi
ciary committee held public hear
ings on the bill, and by a split
vote, reported it faverably. At
ter a time consuming wrangle on
the floor, the House first defeat
ed a motion to send the bill to
the Roads Committee for further
consideration "a move to kill
the bill, proponents charged ,
and then reversed itself.
REVENUE
Thus far, removal of sales tax
exemptions is the major alter
native to the new taxes proposed
in the Revenue Bill. On Monday
night the second bill on the sub
ject was introduced; this one
! predicted to produce about $1S
million a year, would retain the
pct. rate, remove the exemp-
ton from sales Of food, and sub
stitute for the present SIS tax Ii
NIT a graduated scale providing
| for a maximum of Sl00 for any
| single item Retail stores that
collect penny tax on each 10c
sale are often criticized because
| they are required to return to