Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-09

Some legislators SpeculaJeo
as early as next June. while
made in massive resistance"
laws at the current session
might hold the line 10 months
or more.
But there were few who be-
lieved the State could get by
another two years until the
next regular session without
meeting again for some major
changes in anti indignation
laws, especially when schools
start closing down as a result
Of present laws.
BY avoiding any significant
change of direction on segrega-
ton at this time, the Assembly
managed to glide through a
harmonious session. in the
minds of those who particle
pated.
There were some outcrop-
pings Of an antagonism like the
time Delegate Frank Moncure
of Stafford County called Mrs.
Kathryn Stone of Arlington an
integrationist.
That was the exception
rather than the rule.
COnciliatOry Attitude
TIL eprevailing attitude was
one of Cancellation. with Gov.
Almond personally pointing
the way.
Republican State Senator
Ted Dalton acknowledged that
harmony prevailed. but only
because "the General Assem-
bly, failed to face the real is
sues" He added:
ION tn ebig issue of how to
save our separate public schools
the legislature puts its head in
the sand. Instead of moving
to hedp the localities provide
defenses to meet impending
court DEGREES, the General As
sembly moved in the opposite
direction, toward cutting funds
and closing schools"
Failure of the rural legisla-
tors to get through a resolution
to hold down urban representa-
ton stood out as one of the
most significant developments
of the entire 60-day session.
The resolution sponsored by
Delegate Jack Daniel of Char
lotte Courthouse and 66 other
House members proposed a con-
stitutional amendment to speci-
fy that land area, as well as
population. should be counted
in reapportioning Assembly
seats.
Filibuster Brings Compromise
Delegate Harrison Mann Of
Arlington succeeded in putting
the resolution to death by wag-
ing an all night filibuster that
brought rural legislators to
agree to a compromise proposal.
When rural legislators began
reading between the lines Of
the compromise" proposal.
they quickly lost interest, realiz-
ing it might actually help the
cities gain representation. They
let the resolution die in the
Senate rules committee.
Senator Byrd's brief decision
to retire was another impor-
tant development on the didn't
hapnen list. Acceding to pleas
of the General Assemble, the
patriarch of Virginia's Demo-
cratic organization agreed to
run again after briefly an
nouncing plans to retire. His
announcement overshadowed
all other activities at the Gen.
eral Assembly for the better
part Of a week.
The course of the blank paper
registration bill demonstrated
the administrations efforts to
mo intain peace and harmony.
AS originally introduced. 1t
would have required prospective
voters to register on a blank
paper without aid. It was toned
down before passing the Sem
ate. and by the time it reached
the House virtually all amend
ments were being cheerfully
accepted in an effort to make
tho controversial measure pal
atable. In its final form. 1t re-
quires registration on a blank
paper, but allows applicants to
keep the registration require
ments before them as they reg
lister.
Probe Blocked
The teaching and textbook
probe that Delegate James M.
Thomson Of Alexandria sought
to incorporate in a continued
race study failed to get of the
ground. He wanted a probe OF
possible subversive influences in
the schools. His proposal was
carved out Of the legislation in
committee. The investigation
Gas confined to possible viola