Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-06
Virginia Areas
Report Heavy
Registrations
BY ALEX R. PRESTON


dunn is held January 9.
Yesterday was the deadline for
paying poll taxes without pen
atty, except for new voters who
have until Monday.
Unusually large numbers Of
Negroes were observed at the
tax payment windows in the
nearby area yesterday while
|treasurers and registrars at Rich
|mond and Norfolk told Of heavy
Irushes.
The General Assembly last
week authorized the special ref
Ierendum to carry out the first
step of the Gray Commission
program to prevent enforced In
ltegration in public schools.
| Expected to Vote 'No"
According to statements Of
Negro ministers, civic leaders and
Others. as well as statements Of
spokesman for the National As
ISOLATION for the Advancement
of Colored People, members
Iof that race say they will vote
almost solidly against the con-
stitutional convention.
The convention would amend
section 14l Of the constitution
to permit ,use Of public funds
flor education In non-sectarian
private schools. This would make
lit possible for any student, as
signed to an integrated public
school, to receive State grants
Ito attend q private institution
Iif he SO desires. The funds also
would be available-to both Me-
lgroes and whites-in any area
whose local school board decides
Ito close its system rather than
comply with the Supreme Court
mandate against enforced segre-
cation.
Since Gov. Stanley appointed
the Commission on Public Edu-
cation, headed by State Senator
Garland Gray Of Waverly TO pre-
serve segregation by all legal
means" reports from Southside
Virginia have indicated o strong
drive to qualify Negro voters.
Await Mail Payments
AS the deadline for payment
without penalty passed yester-
day. officials of the nearby areas
were unable to compile results
Immediately, pending receipt Of
some payments by mail.
In Richmond. City Registrar
Vernon N. Davis and Treasurer
! Walter B. Gentry reported "ex-
tremely heavy" activity.
Out Of 252 new registrations
yesterday, 1874 were Negroes, Mr..
Davis said. There also were
about 800 transfers. The regis
tration deadline for new voters
in Richmond. Alexandria and
other cities of more than $4,000
population is December "a. The
deadline for smaller cities and
the counties is December 81.
Everyone qualified to vote in the
November 8 election may vote In
the referendum. The poll tax
deadline next Monday applies
only to new voters.
Rush to Pay Taxes
The Richmond treasurer's Of
flee collected about $500 poll
taxes yesterday. including about
1000 in back taxes, Mr.. Gentry
reported.
| In Norfolk, a reporter said
there was a tremendous" rush
to pay taxes and register al
though no figures were availab
Immediately. A large majority
Qualifying were reported to be
Negroes.
Louis M. Coyner. director of
finance in Fairfax, said poll tax
payments by Negroes have been
above average. although figures
will not be obtainable until the
tax lists are made up next year.
Mrs. Gladys Isdell, Fairfax reg
Iistrar.. said as many Negroes reg
|istered at her Office yesterday "as
normally register in a month"
Gov. Stanley, meanwhile, was
headed for Old Point Comfort
to give personal impetus to the
drive to put the Gray Commits
sion program across, the Asso-
'ciated Press reported.
Mr.. Stanley was to meet with
LIST District members of the Gen.
eral Assembly at noon and later
with I'd District lawmakers at
Norfolk.
Plan Campaign
In Richmond yesterday, Mr..
Stanley met for 31a hours in
private conference with a three.
man subcommittee of the Com
mission on Public Education.
They repeatedly discussed plans
for an organized campaign on
behalf of the proposed consti-
tutional changes.
After the meeting a spokes-
man for the Governor confirmed
reports that Mr.. Stanley will
hold a series of conferences with
General Assembly members in
each of the States 10 Congress
sional Districts.
These get-togethers were ar
ranged for the broad purpose
Of discussing Mr.. Stanley's 1855
legislative program in advance
Of the regular Assembly session
on January IL. However, it APP
peared clear the referendum
question would figure impor-
family in the talks.
Next week Mr.. Stanley will
probably cover the 7th, 9th and
10th districts on Tuesday.
State Senator Ted Dalton Of
Radford, who cast the only vote
against the bill in the Senate,
said he would not participate ina,
campaigns for or against the ref
erendum question.