Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-13
PROHIBITION
Up For Discussion in the House
Yesterday.
The QssstiOa Debated for -Four Hours
The Maiter.O Gone Up Again
This hOning.

The Joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution Of the State pro-
hibitiDg the manufacture and sale Of intox.
ieating liquors came up in the Honse Of
Delegates yesterday morning at 10 CLOCK.
and was debated during the remainder oil
the morning session and all the atternooa
without q vote being reached. Immedia.
tely after the resolution had been reported
BIZ the clerk, Mr.. White opened the ball by
moving to amend by striking out the words
Resolved By the Legislature Of West NIr.
ginia. tvo-thirds OF all the members elected
10 each House agreeing thereto; that the
following amendment to Article 6 OF the
Constitution of the State, be and is hereby
proposed, to-wit:" and inserting the follow
ing: Resolved By the Legislature Of West
Virginia: That the following Rmendmeut
to Article six of the Constitution, having
been read on three several days IN each
House, and agreed to on its third reading
by two thirds Of all the members elected
thereto. be and the same is hereby proposed
to-Wit:"
Mr.. Lucas said he hoped the gentleman
from Ohio would
EXPLAIS TIE AMENDMENT,
as no one understood the purpose of it.
Mr.. White proposed TO explain it, and
hoped the gentleman would feel enlighten'
ed when be had concluded. Mr.. White
continued BY saying that the purpose OF the
amendment was simply to give the resolu-
ton the manner and form required by the
constitution for amendments thereto. The
form toi such amendments WAS definitely
laid,doWn, and should be followed. he
gave notice that he would call for the ayes
and noes on the amendment.
Mr.. Poynter was opposed TO the amend,
ment proposed, or S1y other. He presumed
the object of the gentleman from Ohio was
to load down the resolution with amend
ments, and thus defeat it. .
Mr.. McWborter thought the House should
meet the question
FAIRLY AND SVrARELY.
The form contained in this resolution
had been used in the adoption OF former
amendments to the constitution, aud what
had held good in previous cases would hold
| good in this case.
Mr.. Sayre asked the gentleman from
| Ohio whether he was willing to stake
his legal reputation on an opinion as to
whether the original form Of the resolution
would not stand.
Mr.. White would answer the question
By and BY. he did not propose to be utter
rogated when he had not the floor to speak,
I ttzuEhter.
Mr.. Lucas thought it simply matter OF
! legal construction.
Mr.. White was sure no friend Of the bill
desired it to pass in an imperfect state. He
| did not oppose the original resolution for
| the reason that had been minated, but he
opposed il because he wanted it to be cor
| r. CT and in such form that no member on
the Aoor could shirk a vote upon it. The
speaker was prepared to vote fairly and
sauarely upon the measure, and he wanted
every other member to take the same
| stand.
/ Mr.. Edwards asked the speaker if he con,
! sidered it manly to submit to the people q
measure upon which he purported to vote
/ negatively. -.
Mr. White thought it unmsnly to submit;
a measure in an imperfect form.
! Mr.. Edwards thought the answer was
! BEGGING THE QUESTION.
! Mr. White did not want 10 impeach sny
mans mauliness in voting on the measure
! Mr.. Laidley thought the question now be
/ fore The House was merely a matter Of form
/ and not a matter Of substance. And il
! merely matter of form, it
NIGHT As WELL BE RIGHT
as wrong.
Mr. Powell called the attention of the
/ House to the fact that the sticklers for
form" we're the opponents of the bill.
/ Mr.. Marshall said that after thorough
/ examination Of the fundamental law, the
friends Of the measure had concluded thai
! the form submitted was sufficient, and il
came with bad grace for the other side to
! make any change in the bill 1t vas even
charged by gentlemen that would not vote
conscientiously in the matter
Mr. White-l will say that cast no re.
| lection upon any one.
! Mr. Marshall certainly understood the
! gentleman 10 say there was some doubt as
to conscientious motions Of members. Con,
/ ,inuipg, he said if there was an error in
the bill. the opponents should be glad Of it
forit gave them a chance to 20 10 the
courts, If the amendment was adopted, AMI
beat the friends Of the measure. The should
be willing to take
/ TWO CHANCES OF SUCCESS,
! instead of one
/ Mr.. McWhorter thought there had been
one Of the finest attempts at hair-spIitting
he bad ever witnessed. From the anxiety
of the gentleman from Ohio to have the
| form Of the resolution correct he took it he
was one of the most earnest friends Of the
measure.
! The hour Of recess having arrived further
( debate went over until the afternoon SeS
sion.
/ On reassembling Mr.. McWhorter con
tiuued his remarks at considerable length
! BIT. Lucas thought the discussion was
drifting away from the point at issue. The
real question was simply one Of legal con
struction.
/ The main question, on the amendment oil
: Mr.. White, was then ordered. The ayes
and nays were called for aud the vote re
suited: Ayes, IA; nays, 81. So the mo
/ ton was lost
Mr.. Lucas then moved to strike out the
work manufacture" in line six so the resO
/ luton would read "The sale and keeping
I for sale of al intoxicating liquors" etc.
This raised another row.
Mr.. Dean opposed the amendment. 1t
/ was in the manufacture of liquor that the
gist Of the trouble lay.
Mr.. Lucas said the object his amend
ment was simply to save the House from
doing an unnecessary thing. In his neigh
boring county Of Berkeley, for every barrel
sold to our citizens one hundred barrels
were sent abroad Did the advocates OF
this amendment imagine for & moment
that the adoption OF this measure would
{ prevent the sale and consumption Of in
toxicants in West Virginia? They mast
all know that il would not.
Why did not the friends Of this measure
have the courage TO put upon the statute
| books of the State laws
CARRYING OCT THEIR wISHES.