Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-28
Gills for four days. Mr.. Moss for four
days, MIR. Jones for five days.

4 "A SonuuHfcaiioH was IeCcifSd noh
Giles Cook, Jr.. rendering his resigna-
ton as member of the County Board
Of School Commissioners Of Warren
comfy, which was accepted.
Mr.. II. NJ. Miller was elected to gil
tine vacancy created.
LOCAL OPTION.
The general local.option bill was an
nounced as special order.
Mr.. Loving offered substitute.
He stated that the local-option bill
reported from the Finance Committee
provides for an election in each county,
city, or town of the Commonwealth ;
and in the event that a county votes
against local option and a magisterial
district in the county should vote for it,
then the district so voting should have
local option regardless Of the vote in the
other parts Of the county that is, it
gives each magisterial district the abso-
lutte right to adopt tby its vote) local
option, but does not give it the right to
reject it. The substitute offered gives
each magisterial district the right to
determine the question for itself, and
the result of the vote in the district
shall be final decision of the question,
irrespective of the vote in the other dis
tricts Of the country.
Mr.. Echols moved to recommit the
bill that it might be put in better shape
before vote is taken.
A number of gentlemen indicated
that at the proper time they should
offer substitutes.
Mr.. A. Fulkerson offered the follow
ing:
l. Be it enacted by the General As
sembly, That after this act takes effect
no license for the sale Of ardent spirits,
wine, malt liquors, or any mixture of
any Of them shall be granted to any
person in this State; and any person
who, after this act takes effect, shall
sell wine, ardent spirits, malt liquors,
or any mixture of them, shall incur the
penalty prescribed by the general laws
for selling the same.
2. This act shall take effect aud be
in force on and after the lst day of
May, 1888.
Mr.. Grimsley was opposed to recon-
mitting the bill. lie thought it would
be better for the House to amend it
where it was defective and vote on it at
the earliest day. He opposed delay.
Mr.. Curlett was in favor of recon-
mitting the whole matter to the COM
mittee.
Mr.. O'Bannon said he thought that
the House was the best place to con-
sider and further mature the bill.
Mr.. Martin said that it looked
like those in favor Of the bill didn't
want to stahd fire to-day; that COM
mittee's duty was only to sift the parts
of bill and to consider them, but that
some Of the committees members al
ways differed from others on a bills
merits or defects. He was in favor of
the bill just as it stands, without sub
stitutes or amendments. He wanted
the matter to come up to-day. "Let's
stay here all day-it's rainy day
and, if necessary, let US take it into
consideration section by section. Now
is the accepted time"
Mr.. Waddill did not wish to be con-
sidered as the champion Of either the
locsl.option party or the opposition.
He was opposed to a recommittal of
the bill.
Mr.. Mayo wished to dispose of the
bill to-day, even if it was raining and
bad day for local option. Laughter.
Mr.. Echols, in regard to his motion
to recommit the bill, said he appre-
ciated the fact that this is an i'm
portant question, and he thought that
it could not receive the careful and
exact consideration it needed in the
hurly-burly and fuss of the House.
Mr.. Porter said if any good could be
accomplished by recommittal to the
committee he would favor it, but he
was sure that it would come back in
precisely the same condition it is now,
and it would only cause useless delay.
Mr.. Thorne hoped the House would
not agree to recommit the bill, for it
had already been given due considera-
tion by the Finance Committee. The
bill, as reported from the committee,
without regard to politics, creed, or re-
ligion, is the bill that the temperance
people want. He supposed that all
had been submitted in good
faith, but thought the effect of them was
only to put the bill off and defer it un-
til it was too late to consider it-there-
by killing ii.
Mr.. O'Bannon moved the reference
of the bill to the Committee on Coun-
ties, Cities, and Towns, instead Of the
Committee on Finance. Lost.
Mr.. Hay moved to pass by and print.
Lost.
Mr.. A. Fulkerson moved to amend
by committal of the bill to the Commit
tee for Courts of Justice to ascertain
il is. is constitutional. This Gene
raj Assembly cannot delegate legisla-
live powers to the counties and dis
Iricts, and that is practically what the
bill proposes.
Mr.. Stuart was opposed to the bill
and so were the people in his locality. |
lie moved to postpone aud print in
good faith, desiring to see the bill put in |
proper shape and condition. That it
needs number of amendments is agreed |
On all hands.
Mr.. Mayo said the whole subject had
been exhausted by the committee, and |
further questions should be decided |
here. Some members Of the House,
be said, talked as though local option
vas a new law.
Mr.. Fulkerson was in favor of prohi-
oition and submitting such law to the
people to vote on. He thought that the
Legislature was divesting itself Of its
powers in giving counties, districts, &C.,
he right to decide the matter each for
tself. He doubted the constitution
Ility of local option.
Mr.. Waddill said the people Of Vir.
,inia were not going to be satisfied
With the decision OF the Committee
IN Courts; that there were a num-
,er of members here who would
lot be guided in this matter by the