The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-03

Constitution TO the effect that tho
General Assembly shall have full
! power 10 enact loca! option or dispcn-
sary laws or any other laws control
lins, regulating or prohibiting the man
! utactura or sale OF intoXicu ting
| hHuors' The power OF tn. General
! Assembly To enact such laws, ne said.
is admitted hut 1t is objected that thu
| same power does not extend to the
| people.
| The very presence OF an express
clause in relation 10 the right Of pass.
! ing prohibitorv law, when authori
I ties admit that the General Assembly
| would have had that power without II.
! ne thought, was clearly an Indication
! that the trainers of tho Cons. itution
| recognized the Importance of ..uaran
! teeing such right and sought n avnid
| All possible question BY stating it.
Rcmnins Legislative Act.
70 refer a proposed law to I vote by
! thc people, argued Senator Walker
! does not rob 1t of its distinctly lecis-
/ iativa character. He quoted Cooley 10
| tue effect that IL is not at all essential
mat statute he In every way com
/ plctcd by the Legislative body onac;i,,--
| IT, ana that II may be made to depend
! Tor it's legality upon subs ,n,,eni
! event, Conditional legislation H.. de-
! h"ced from this authority, may be en-
acted, depending for It's enforce mon,
! upon the will of the people whom IL
I will affect
! In NV York case. he said, when II
( was charged that an act similar IN
! me ono now proposed involved q trans
ieS OF the lawmakinr power from the
LEGISLATURE to the voters at the polls,
ny t"u''s heid tha' such was no, true.
hhd distinguished between tn. po,vcr
OF initiating Legislation and :ranInt.
IL ana the altogether distinc, mower ne
comforting upon ii the quality OF low
by act of approval.
IS fcrsonni I'rohtbitionIst.,
senator folkes, Speaking against the
Measure confessed surprise that 20
5000 constitutional lawy - az The
senator from northumberland .bo,,i1
nrs.i!pt TO Justly so illogical an inter
FF"'alon or The legislative povcr IIa
incurred the Govcrno: OF tho S,at. ,tp.
"fAuVeiy sitting in the window of nj.
"'"Sc pF"poundlms ayes ana noes 70 his
p t!uly. he exclaimed ..tho
most rcmariSab!e Interpretation Of rnr
'eST ih,ht'E. government ever adva need .
am IN peculiar position snid
senator Tolkcs. 81 shall yor,. s,, go.
nc enabling act because | don'i h.
NcFc II is either constitutional az
! H't'Huiious yet, AT the same titno /
am Il prohibitionist am nor.
sonai prohibiiIon'st--w need a ,nv. :,
INC Richmond senator had no foI,h
IN Tie ability OF prohibition IN nro.
Hl"''. II" did not believe il was nos.
H'''" l" lesi"iatc thirst out OF cxis,
rhc'' ana was convinced that n. ,nuch
liquor would be CONSUMED undcr =
pf"hihitory law. as without II. win
Tue difference that there would h,. ,cs.
lolicc supervision and no revonu.
nus ne SAID was all item nor 10 he
ignored. since the liquor b;,sin.s.
brings enough money into tho Stntr
peasury to Pay tbs interest on the
prbl'c debt.
,NuI Not stop Sale.
prohibition does not proh,b,t no
we'll as regulation regulates" ala
Senator F'oihes. 'You may pe,s IN
the rrchibitory laws you please. bu,
the sale of liquor wiil contine II
VIII he dispensed in the same reEortr
where it is now dispensed Illegally. in
much greater quantity. and Will serve
only az q net to dra7 into degrade tior
the young men and young women o.
the State.
II say this or my honor a. a man
concluded Senator Folkes with are y
am firmly convinced Of iii. truth God
help us from the delusion Of such NJ r
nic!ous and damnable legislation
senator Royal expressed regret q
the strong language which the senate
from Richmond has found il n.ccssgr.
| To employ in discussing ineasur,
| which was So near to the heart. OF :,
iisany Of his friends.
| Majority OF The Minority,
| II have The distinction " said Senate
Royal "of belonging TO the ni.norit-
cf the minority. since am the oul,
| Republican in this Senate who will vot,
for tho enabling act. am proud /,
| held that distinction. for am convinc
cd that the measure is right from III
| moral as well as tho economic stand
| point"
He warned the Senate that the peopl
OF Virginia win hold il responsible -
It's vote or this question, and will ex
| act payment from every Senator VIII,
ventures to sacrifice 4 principle FOR :
policy The report OF the Cdmmitte
on Privileges and Elections, he though,
counting among its moInbcrs only on,
or two lawyers carried little weight
by what right" lie ASKED, do Inc,
declare this bill unconstitutionalY'
Senator Royal prophcsicd the doom
OF the Democrats party II tho ,naiori,,
OF its leaders persisted in the nolic,
OF ignoring the wishes OF the peoeple
~ Ne Ia ,Se