Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-07
IN THE. OLD DOMINION
FIRST FIGHT AGAINST LEGALITY
OF LEGISLATION.
snecI,l Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
RICHMOND. Va. May 5, 1905.
The first fight against the constitutional
fly of acts of the last general assembly VIII
be made on the question OF establishing
dispensary for the sale of liquor at Aolng-
don The county is dry. The BILL provio-
Ing for the establishment of the dispensary
was passed by the general assembly, and
81 is said that the several readings of the
measure, as required by the constitution.
were not had. and that. in consequence,
the act is unconstitutional. The matter
is to be tested In the courts, and should
the courts hold with those who are con-
tending that the provisions of the con-
stitution were not complied with. then
there will be another session OF the general
assembly. There are a great many bills
which have been passed, the readings be-
ing dispensed with by a recorded vote. At
least one half of the bills have been enacted
into law by that process What is more,
the acts have just been printed and are
about ready for distribution. making about
coo pages.
One feature of the investigation which
has been on this week at Lexington Is that
which has developed the fact that Gen.
Scott Shipp has incurred the enmity OF the
boys at the Virginia Military Institute by
what they term harsh treatment 1t was
said by one OF the cadet captains that the
outbreak last fall was due to this cause.
the allegations concerning food being the
pretext for the rebellion" Several of the
cadets have also testified that while there
has been an Improvement In the quality OF
food served. Il Is not extensive enough to be
dignined with the term improved" Some
declare that there has been no change and
that the quality Of the meat served Is
poor. There has been no unpleasantness
tn na Nlu+ ~ ha lfU and (st,rf
Ship. however. II is ont known when the
report VIII be made. The committee Will
hnish its work today.
The so-caled social clubs, of which there
are several hundred in the state. are living
q hard life. Under the laws OF the state
they are compelled to obtain retail liquor
license in order to handle liquors for the
benefit OF the members. The evil has grown
20 such an extent that legislation aimed at
them has been fruitless All sorts of laws
have been passed in order to maintain those
clubs which were bona-hde and to destroy
those which were operated for the sole pur-
pose OF supplying those who desired to
drink TO get II. There were a number OF
former saloon men who dropped out Of the
saloon business and organized clubs-the
license being considerably less and the prof
It's c0Frespondingly greater-with the addi-
tionM advantage OF being able TO keep open
seven days in the week. II has been proven
IN court that any person. regardless of be-
Ing 4 member OF the club. could get a drink
az most OF them.
The time for getting license arrived. and
In this city and elsewhere In the state the
judges have been putting the screws to the
clubs Judge Witt has already refused four
teen applications outoet thirty nine nfate 20
Nm. and lac is but1ap little more tliaA half
through the list. Tho same general rule
obtains In other Clties,-sndsin Ia ReteraburK
the warning OF cioslnssss' zs-Tf 0'c4oe& 81 night
has been given. In Manchester the saloon
Aen have been told that they will be held
responsible for order In the saloons and also
In front OF them. And the number of
licenses Is being considerably reduced all
over the state.
Judge R. T. w. Duke, jr., OF Charlottee-
vile, who recently announced himself .
Candidate for governor. has been rendered
and accepted the position of editor OF the
virginia Law Register The publication
WAS recently purchased by the Niche Com
pany OF Charlottesville. and that 10 tha
home or Judge Duke. The new editor u
one or the best known members Of the