Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-29
JORDAN B|LLNOT
RECOMMENDED.
Senate Committee Says il is Unc0n
stituti0nal and Should N0t
be Passed.
DEFAT Is ALMOST CERTAIN.
Two senators Have Changed Tnejf
views and VIII oppose Passage Of
Measure. Vote Expected Shortly.

the Committee on Privileges and Ell
ections with a recommendation that
il do moi pass because it is unconstl-
rutional, the Jordan enabling bill is
now before the Senate OF Virginia.
The committee also requested thai il
he set as Il special order for tomor-
row iFridayJ aL l2:4l o'clock. then
10 be discussed and voted upon.
This request may or may not be
agreed 10 by the Senate as 10 The
hour There is believed 10 be no
doubt that Il direct vote will be had
upon the passage Of the bill. although
the hour may be held TO be as yet
uncertain. The general apDroprla-
lion bill will probably consume about
all of todays sessions. and the prim-
arv and game bills are ahead Of the
enabling bill in precedence or the
calendar.
No doubt is felt by the opponents
OF the Dill lIldl ~ VII '' "|''"'N'
by a decisive majority. During the
last day or TWO the events have made
the issue doubly sure. in their opin-
ion.
Last night the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections gave the
final public hearing on the Jordan
. Enabling bill.
\ delegation came over from Pc
tersburg 10 offer opposition TO the
bill, the speaker for the Petersburg
people saying that they desired TO
run their own affairs and moi be die
taled to by the people from other sec
lions of the Stale.
The principal address for the op-
poncnts of the measure was made b.
Samuel l.. Kelley, who said the bill
was unconstitutional in that it gave
the people the power TO enact law
being the province Of the general as
semblv. He drew contrasts between
the dry and wet States. to show that
prohibition does not prohibit and
urged The committee to consider the
dangers embodied in the bill befor"
sanctioning its passage.
Dr.. James Cannon and Thomas
Whitehead, Of Lynchburg, closed the
argument for the advocates Of the
bill. urging its passage on conStitu-
rional, moral and public welfare
grounds. The committee went into
executive session and will probably
report TO the Senate tomorrow.
Twenty-four Senate votes are now
! claimed by the opposition to the en-
abling act, one other senator having
announced today his intention TO vote
against The Jordan bill.
! This is in addition TO Senator John
B. Watkins, OF Chesterfield and Pow
hatan, who yesterday declared that
he would vote against the Jordan Dill
Senator Brock. representing Prince
! Edward, Nottoway. Amelia. Lnnen
burg and Cumberland. is the --latest
man 10 come out against the enabling
act.
In discussing the matter today NJ
/ said that in his campaign he had de
clarcd that he would obey the vii
of the majority of the people in th'
matter OF Statewide submission. ~
said. however. that he was. and hat
ever been. in favor Of local option.
! Senator Brock declared that he hat
received petitions from the voters o.
the county. but that after deductin!
! the duplicates he had found tina
there were abour - per cent wht
wanted him to vote for the enab!in:
act.
r do not believe that 81 per cen
isa majorityofthe people Of my dis
trict. and so believing shall vnl'
against The enabling act" he conclud
cd.
Senator Brock later added the fol
lowing to his statement:
IF. however, the majority OF TIT
people of my district shall convince
ME in the next day or TWO that the.
want the enabling act and shall Prov
| that to me. I will so vote.
Senator Watkins Of Chesterfield
asked today for any statement h
might desire 10 make in connection
with the Jordan enabling act. and tn
dispute as TO whether he is or no
committed TO either side. replied:
Il have no statement TO max
: whatever. have made none. Tha
is all.