Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-30
LOCAL OPTION
DISCUSSION IN TIE HOUSE.

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Ceusues or Ds-sric,. Eaaer siay Hss. IN
Law Dinilers 1sf ~ ss sE1pSsd- shall ~
Law Apps 20 Cities:
II is claimed by many that the gene
raj local-opiion bill now pending IN tn
House is the most important piece o
legislation which has been under con
sideration IN the General Assem-.
bly, Of Virginia for years and years
Under special laws q number o.
counties have already adopted 10
cal option but this bill is gene
raj in ITS operations. Under it II one
ffth Of the voters OF q county or corpora
tion tascertained upon the basis Of the
popular vote cast al the preceding No
vsmber eiectionl petition the judge oi
the county or corporation court for q
| special election to decide the question
Of license or no license it viii be his
duty to order il. II in the county or
corporation q majority Of votes are
against Incense. then no liqEor-license
can he granted in that county or cor
poration. II a county or corporation
votes in favor Of license but some Of It's
districts vote against it, then no H.
cense can be issued in those particular
districts.
The House yesterday adopted an
amendment proposed by Nr. EchOls
which viii enable distillers to continue
their business in the counties and cities
that adopt local option.
The most important thing yet to be
decided is as TO the exemption Of cities
from the operations Of tie law.
The House has been crowded with
spectators since this bill has been
up. Great public interest is mani
tested in it, but the discussion
has so far necessarily been frag-
mentary and desultory, as the House
is engaged in disposing Of the
numerous substitutes and amendments
/ 10 substitutes offered for the original
bill drafted by the Local-Option ALI
ance and reported from the Committee
on Finance. The work yesterday was
mainly on the substitute proposed by
Mr.. Loving, and it is possible that i;
will be SO shaped as to take the place
Of the original bill.
The LOcal-Optionists are very strong
in the House-every vote proves that
and there can be no doubt that thev
will pass bill. Exactly who IS their
leader in this measure does not
vet distinctly appear. Mr.. Mayo Re
publican) has so far done most o. the
managing.
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The hour Of 1890 having arrived, the
Speaker announced the special order
the general lOcal-option laT-the ques-
tion being on the adoption OF the substi-
tute amendment Of Mr.. FulkersOn for
Mr.. Loving's substitute for the bill re-
ported from the committee.
Mr.. Fulkerson asked for vote on his
substitute ifayoriDg submitting to the
people Of the State at the election in
November, 1887. the question Of pro-
hibition,. and the yote was taken and
Nj. fulkeTs0n's substitute rejected.
TIE SUBSTANCE.
The question then recurred on Mr..
LoviDg's substitute. The lOcal-option
bill reported from the Finance Committee
provides for an election IN each county.
city, or town Of the Commons wealth
and IN the event that a county votes
against local option and a maglsteIial
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, 1t
gives each magisterial district the absO-
lute right TO adopt 10y Its vote local
option. but does not give it the right TO
reject 1t. Mr.. LoyiDg's substitute gives
each msgisterial district the right TO
determine the question for itself, and
the result Of the vote IL the district
shall be a final decision Of the question,
irrespective Of the vote in the othe- dis
tricts OF the county.
Mr.. Martin said he wished the orig
nal bill to be perfected. and he would
vote against all amendments until the
original bill was reached. and be would
then agree to correct its manifest errors.
Mr.. Mayo had understood that the
substitute was almost word FOR word
the same as the original bill.
Nj. Martin - Then why was the
substitute offered I; "
Mr.. Mayo answered that the bill had
been floating around, apparently With
no one to father 1t. 1t bore the name
O Mr. Pollard a. patron, but he did
not seem anxious to acknowledge its
paternity, and the substitute was well
backed, and was 8 sort Of twin sister
Of the original bill.
PAYING ELECTION EXPENSES.
Mr. Payne moved. a. an amendment
10 the substitute OF Mr.. Loving. that
the parties petitiOning for an election
shEli pay the expenses Of the fitst cleo
uon a. well a. Of all subsequent ones.
Nj. Pollard had not occupied the
floor II this discussion. because he
didn't deem the bill in danger. As 10
bis not claiming the paternity OF the
measure, why be had allowed his frlends
over The way IMess-s. Mayo and Martin
10 enjoy themselves over that. IL had
amused them. and it had amused him.
All here IN this House knew that be
wore his opinions on his arms. He was
not the patron OF the bill. He was not
the author OF il, but it was reported
here from the committee the Finance
Committee, Of which ne is chairman.
as 4 substitute. He was therefore nei-
ther entitled to wear any honors that Il
conferred nor bear any responsibility
that it imposed. But he was heartily
for the bill. Local option, when sus-
tanned by public sentiment. he thought
good thing. He was opposed 10 the
amendment offered by the gentleman
from Fauquier AIr. Payne. Let
tie bill stand. Let the public treasury
bear the expenses Of the first election,
and petitioners paw for subsequent ones. /
Mr. payne's amendment was reject
ed.
BY DISTRICTS.
Mr. Cardwell desired 10 offer an