Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-15
LOCAL OPTION.
THE PROPOSED GENERALLAW

Mr.. ssubbs's Bni Amended and Reported
yesprdsy by the House Finance Com
msttee.
The House Committee on Finance
(Mr. Pollard chairman) yesterday re-
ported "A bill to provide for submit
ting the question Of liquor license to
the qualified voters Of the several coun-
ties, corporations, and magisterial dis
tricts of the State" being the bill Of
fered in the Senate by Mr.. Stubs,
amended by the addition of proviso
which appears at the end Of the first
section. The bill is as follows:
BE IL enacted by the General assembly OF
Virginia. That IL shall be the duty OF the
Judge OF each county and corporation court
In the Commonwealth OF Virginia, when
ever one tenth OF the duly.quallfied voters
OF his said county or corporatiCI shall peti-
tlon, either In term-time or vacation, to
order o special election TO be held in his
county or corporation on the question of
IiQuor.liceDse or no liquor-iicense. The said
Of said petition, certify the fact TO the sheriff
or sergeant OF his county, and II shall be the
duty Of the officer last aforesaid forthwith
TO post at each voting precinct In said coun-
ty or corporation notice OF said election.
and also give notice 10 the officers charged
with the duty OF conducting elections in
said county or corporation: also TO pub
llsh same In some local newspaper for
three weeks prior TO the day OF election (:
said special election shall be held and con.
oucied as special elections for other pur-
poses are held and conducted Provided
that the expenses OF any election after the
fifst election held in any county, city or
town IN the Commonwealth under the pro
visions OF this act shall be borne by the
parties petitioniDg for said election, and
the county or corporation court, as the case
may bs, mBy before ordering said election
require OF the said petitioners bond and ap.
proved security for the payment OF said
expenses: and provided. further, that in
the event That q majority OF the vote cast
IN any county, city, town or magisterial
district shall be cast against prohitlon
there shall not be another election under
this act held in said county, city, town or
magisterial district within the space Of two
years thereafterI
2. The ballots 10 be used In said special
elections shall be respectively as follows
j or License for the sale OF Intoxicating
Liquors, and Against License for the Sale
OF Intoxicating Liquors.
3. The manner Of receiving and canvass
ing the ballots at said election on said ques.
tioD, and making returns and abstracts
thereof, shall conform In all respects to the
requirements OF the general election law OF
the State, except that the certificate OF the
Judges shall be as follows: We hereby certify
that at the election held on the - day Of
-, - votes were cast For License for
the Sale OF intoxicating Liquors. and -
votes were cast Aga inst License for the Sale
OF intoxicating Liquors.
a a. b. n Clerks. f:H. :: f f: Judges
And the proper official canvassers OF the
returns made 10 the clerks office shall can
vass these returns In like manner as other
election returns, and certify for each ma
gisterial district the votes cast for aud
against license respectively and for and
against license In said county or corpora
tion, a copy of which certificate shall be laid
before the county or corporation court as
the oa1 e may be, by the clerk thereof, at
the peXt term thereafter.
A. II II appear from the abstracts and re.
turns OF any such election that in the said
county or corporation wherein the said
election was held majority OF votes have
been cast against license for the sale OF in
toXicating Liquors, then no license shall be
granted 10 any person therein for the sale
Of such liquors; and any person who shall
sell any intoxicating liquors In the said
county or corporation shall incur the PEN
atty prescribed by the general laws for
selling wine, ardent SPIRITS. malt liquors, OF
any mixture OF them, without license
therefor
3. But II IL appear from the abstracts and
returns Of any such election that in said
county majority OF votes have been east
In favor of license, and that a majority OF
votes have been cast against license In any
magisterial district or districts OF said
county, then no license for such sale in any
Of the magisleTial districts so voting shall
be granted; and any person who shall sell
sDy intoxicating liquors in any such dis
irict shall incur all the penalties prescribed
by the general laws for selling wine ardent
spirits, malt liquors. or any mixture OF
them, without license therefor.
@. II any Incorporated town, under five
'housand Inhabitants. shall desire to take
dvantage OF the provisions of this act, that
petition OF one tenth OF the qualified vo-
eTs Of said corporation shall be presented
o the Judge Of the County Court. in term
ime or vacation. having iurisdiction over
he said corporation: and the said Judge
hall order a special election in conformity
with this act.
2. Thatany county or town or magsterial
district now having local option law shall
not be embraced in this act, unless peti
tion he made by the qualified voters as set
forth in This act; then the Judge shall order
q special election in conformity 10 the pro-
visions of this act.
8. This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
This is, substantially, the bill pro-
posed by the Local-Option Alliance.
1t has not passed either house as yet.