Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-03
Assembly Gets
Bill 10 Increase
Truck Fuel Tax
By a star star Correspondent

BY star Stau correspondent
| RICHMOND, Feb. 3.-Legisla-
ton was introduced in the
General Assembly today that
would increase the motor fuels
tax on trucks from 8 to 8 cents
a gallon. Weight and length
limits also would be raised.
A package deal. covered by six
bills, is designed to produce a
net increase of $2.9' million in
road funds.
Sponsored by State Senator
Charles T. Moses of Appomattox
land 10 others, the legislation is
understood to have the backing
of the trucking industry. State
Highway Commissioner James
A. Anderson, 1t is said, will offer
no resistance.
In return for accepting the q
cent increase on gasoline and
diesel oil, the gross weight limits
would be raised from $4,000 to
$4,000 pounds.
Length Increase
Also, maximum length would
be increased from As to SO feet.
The motor fuels tax increase
would be paid only by trucks of
more than three axels. That TAG
alone would bring In an estimat-
ed $2.4 million. The weight in
creases would result in license
fees being increased by nearly
$526, 900.
AS a condition Of accepting the
proposition, the truckers pro-
pose abolition of the gross re-
ceipts tax, which would result in
a decrease of slightly over 81
million. This would be offset by
a substitution of fees on for-hire
trucks of more than $4,000
pounds, the added revenue esti-
mated at slightly more than 81
million.
"Lay0ff Pay" Bill
The Senate today passed a
controversial administration bill
that would block operation of
the ''layof pay" labor contracts
/ in Virginia. The vote was IS TO
II, with four Senator's not voting.
An unemployment compensa-
ton measure that would carry
out the Governors recommended
tons for increased maximum
weekly benefits. the bill drew
strong opposition from or
ganized labor because of GER
tain provisions.
The chief objection Of labor
was TO the provision ruling out
State unemployment compensa-
ton benefits to workers drawing
benefits from privately operated
funds such as those under guar
anteed annual wage agreements.
The bill would increase the
weekly benefits from $24 to $2S
and the duration of such bene-
fits from is to Is weeks. Labor
said the extension of disqualifi-
cations would result in lowered
benefits.
Fluoridation Issue
State Senator E. o. McCue's two
fiuoridation bills we're aired yes
terday at a Joint meeting of the
House and Senate Committees on
Counties, Cities and Towns.
The committees deferred ac-
ton after hearing lengthy testi-
mony.
The McCue measures would:
Require a referendum before
any locality could begin fiuori-
dating its water supply.
Require a referendum in Mr..
McCue's home city Of Charlottes-
Vile before the city could re-
sumo fluoridating its water sup
ply.
Many localities in Virginia add
sodium fluoride to their drinking
water--an action aimed at re-
ducing tooth decay.
! Last October Charlottesville
suspended its fiuoridation pro-
gram after antifluoride forces
contended the chemical was a
poison that did more harm than
good.
This same argument was ex-
pounded at considerable length
yesterday. Mr.. McCue began the
hearing with a charge that
sodium fiuoride was "a famous
rat poison"
Advocates of fluoridation at
the hearing. mainly scientists
from the University of Virginia
Medical School and the Medical
College of Virginia, said fiuori-
dalton has been Endorsed by the
American Medical Association.
the American Dental Associa-
ton and the United States Public
Health Service.
The House Education Commit
tee yesterday approved with
amendment resolution author
izing the University of Virginia
to establish a branch in Northern
Virginia.
Delegate Harrison Mann of
Arlington told the committee the
House joint resolution would pro-
vide for the Offering Of two years
OF collegiate work. Only instruc-
tional facilities would be offered.
with no provision for housing of
students.