The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-23

everywhere. What then will you say;
Having inauSuratcd the principle
could YOU rctuseY
May Vote ON Oysters.
And l will say to my friends froir
the shores OF the Chesapeake that the
time Will come when tho people from
inland sections Will demand at the
hands of the General Assembly Il
ate-widc election on the oyster ques-
tom
Answering Speaker Byrd's argument
with reference TO political expectancy.
Mr.. oliver said that members should
not violate their oaths Tor II matter
OF exped ency. The motto seemed to
be. What's the CONSTITUTION between
friends"
lie could also wish that temperance
De pracnced In language by some of
the temperance people. He told how
nc mad been stopped IN the Capitol by
o woman. who said She hoped his
mother. wife and children would be
taken from him if lie voted against
TINS bill. THIS, however. was not IL
representative of the temperance or
.ganizauons Of Richmond and was not
inuorsed by them.
AS 10 the permission to sell liquor
Tor medical purposes Under prohioi-
ton. he prcdictGd an epidemic OF i'll
ness.
Coming to the constitutional cues
ton Mr. Oliver said that no instance
can be round where - question was
submitted 10 vote of the people OF
the State, except to amend the consti-
tulion or to elect officers. Local optIoE
was always a principle. When grant.
ed power III Il certain way IT was
maxim that all others We're excluded
Tne cities of Virginia. he continued.
AZ per cent of the wealth, pay IL pei
cent. of the gross taxes and rs per
cent OF the net taxes which lind their
way into the Treasury of the Stute.
AL this point IL was announced by
ActiaG, speaker Harwood that the
time al the opposition had expired.
judge Wiliiuuis's Remnrils.
judge Martin Williams, of Giles,
took the floor TO close the debate for
defended tho clergy. saying they are
the greatest force Tor moral ana sucini
upliit in Virginia, He referred briefly
to the interest of country people In
liquor selling in the cities.
The various amendments. he thought
were ludicrous. That OF MIR. Cox
would make absolute prohibition and
he wondered just how sincere its ad-
vocates were. Hill Montague tried to
ION QuGestiOH, anu secured
Judge Wiiiiamss consent. The Rich
mond man did not like TO have his
sincerity questioned. and there wac
some cross-flre on the subject until
the chair was vacated at . O'Clock.
would Avoid Question.
Judge Williams resumed his address
at o'clock. II the opponents Of the
measure, he said. believed IT to be
unconstitutional they would sit in
their seats and laugh In their sleeve.
and not raise the question.
DO you think and charge that men,
'oers, mindful OF their oaths.'' aske
Mr. White. OF Rock bridge, would sit
supinely and see $4,000 spent in hold
ing an election If they believed it
futile?"
There was some further talk about
Judge Willlams's use Of the word
tactics" but ne said he meant moth
Ing personal-"but II my remarks
apply, they apply" he added
III tho gentleman is unable to eS-
plain the word tactics said Mr.. White.
the House may take It into considera-
ton"
The money used by tho opponents
TO defeat this bin during the past two
years. continued Judge Williams,
would pay for holding two or three
elections.
Local Option Lnws.
Taking UP the right of the Lcgisla-
ture To delegate it's power. he read the
first local option law OF 1885, which the
Supreme Court said was constitutional
Then in case only recently decided
Moss against the county of TRzewcll
the court said that in cases OF doubt
the matter must be resolved in favor
of the exercise of power. The local
option principle, applied first to towns,
had been extended TO mag<sterial dis
triets and to cities.
Now" said Judge Williams. "the
idea has gone all over the State, and
we might as well recognize 1t. Other
Legislatures have acted upon this
tide"
From Cooley on Constitutional Limi-
tations, Judge Williams read quota
ton to the effect that while power
was In tho Legislature to make laws.
IL might take the opinion OF people on
n bill already framed by the repre-
sentatives. That was very different
returned Mr.. White, from