Evening star., 1955-06-07
Extra Session
Due in Virginia
On Infegration
| Plans Being Made
| To Convene After
July II Primary

July IL PHmory
RICHMOND, June 7 ga
special session of the Virginia
General Assembly in midsummer
to deal with problems arising
from the Supreme Courts anti
segregation decisions was fore
cast today.
Legislators disclosed that plans
now are being made to call the
assembly into session after the
July IL primary to deal with the
public school problem.
Delegate Harry B. Davis of
Princess Anne, House Education
Committee chairman. and vice
chairman of the State Cotnmis-
sion on Public Education, said
the need for a special session
already has been discussed. Final
details probably will be worked
out in Richmond by Thursday.
A meeting of the Public Edu-
cation Commission is scheduled
to get underway tomorrow night.
State public education officials
and advisers are expected to pre-
sent the matter to Gov. Stanley
June %.
Under the State constitution,
the Governor can convene the
assembly, whenever in his opin-
ion. the interest of the State
may require it.
Formula Sought
The constitution provides that
there must be a public free
school system on a segregated
basis. The Public Education
Commission, headed by State
Senator Garland Gray, has set
as its objective the finding of
a legal formula for preventing
enforced integration.
| Mr.. Davis told reporters that
final decisions yet are to be made
but if the constitution is to be
amended, it should be started by
special session of the Legisla-
lture so that the second step can
be accomplished by the next reg
Iular session in January.
i 1t requires approval by two
successive assembly sessions and
a vote of the people to amend
the constitution.
Formal Request Made
A formal request for such q
session was made yesterday by
the Nottoway County Board OF
Supervisors, which also delayed
action on a school budget fol
Inext year and assured teachers
their salaries would be paid.
1 Board Chairman w. S. Kinch-
eloe of Crewe told about 10C
persons in the courtroom at
INottoway the delay was voted
"in the hope that some break
may come through the State OF
otherwise by which we could
see what to do. I believe the
State has delayed too long. -
| The county has two choices
private schools and segrega-
ton or public schools and in
tegration," Mr.. Kincheloe said,
He said the board intends to
open the schools this fall. but
is trying to "hold control of the
finances of the county"
Compliance Favored
At Williamsburg. Va, School
Board Chairman John L. Lewis
said today he felt it would be a
mistake for the community tc
ltry and evade the Supreme Court
decision outlawing segregation
in the public schools.
Broad agreement from the
other two board members made
Williamsburg the first Virginia
city whose school officials have
publicly stated they would try
to work within the decision
which already has led two coun-
ties to withhold school funds.
Mr.. Lewis said he favored
trying to develop means to solve
the segregation issue" rather
than setting up barriers ol
means to evade the Supreme
Court decision.
Williamsburg, he said. "is per.
,, haps more ready than othel
Tidewater communities for in
tegration."
Mrs. Robert L. Hoke, another
board member, said she favored
"gradualism" in complying with
the integration order.
The third member, B. c
, McCary, said he would not brint
! up the issue of abandoning pub
, lie education there.
) Declaring Negroes would have
to be admitted to the public
, schools if they sought admis'
, sion. Mr.. Kincheloe said thai
"if white students get up anc
| walk out, we want to be in &
position to close the schools-al
/ the schools in the county" HI
said. however, the teachers will
:. be "taken care Of" and theil
/ salaries paid even if the schools
Iare closed.
ersonnI PIen