Imperial Valley Press

Legislators Face Relief, Budget, Census Battles

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Mar. 3 (UP) - The California legislature reconvened today for the last half of the 54th biennial session with the prospect of a short meeting despite a crowded calendar.
Only perfunctory opening action was scheduled today, with the real work getting underway tomorrow and later in the week.
Both the assembly and senate are controlled by opponents of Gov. Culbert Olson. They hoped to reduce bickering to the minimum and adjourn the session within the constitutional 100 days for which legislators are paid. The 1939 session lasted a month longer and there were five special sessions in 1940.
Here are the highlights of the session ahead:
1. Disposal of Olson's $552,000,000 biennial budget. The assembly ways and means committee held hearings all last week, decided to remove relief for separate handling and hoped to chop out about $20,000,000.
2. Reapportionment of assembly and congressional districts on the 1940 census. Los Angeles county wants one of the three new congressmen awarded California and two of the three assembly districts apparently lost by the north. Another congressman is earmarked for the south and the third in the San Joaquin Valley.
3. Return of relief control to the counties has county supervisors worried and noncommittal. The Phillips-Daley joint relief committee advocates county control, with the state paying two thirds of the cost. It is a moot question if the legislature can override the governor's veto of such a plan.