The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-13
PROHIBITION BILL
OFFERED IN HOUSE.
Referendum Is Proposed
on Petition Of
Voters.
CONVICT LABOR
ON PUBLIC ROADS
Governor Urges Increase of
Highway Forces-Oficers of
State Elected by Legislature.
Congressional Redistricting
Bill Is introduced by
A Bowman.

With James r. Jordan of Isle OF
Wight az Its patron, a bill was intro
duced yesterday In the House of Del
eghtes providing for referendum on
die subject of Statewide prohibition
1t was referred to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, which has set
January 81 as the day for public
hearing.
The bill sets forth that upon petition
OF 20 per cent. Of the electorate. duly
certified by clerks to be qualified vct-
ers. with their poll taxes paid the
Governor of Virginia shall call an cleo
lion TO decide whether or not liquor
shall! be legally sold In Virginia. The
ballots used are TO be printed FOR
License and against license"
IL the majority of votes cast are
against license" 1t shall thereafter be
una" tui for any court TO permit the
tale OF intoxicating liquor In the
state. BY proclamation the Governor
Is to announce the result Of the cleo
non thus giving It the force and effect
OF law.
The measure is short. having none
OF the qualifications OF the strobe bill,
which originally allowed the sale oil
liquor In drug stores on physicians
prescriptions. The day for the hea ring
Will be during the session In this city
of the Antisaloon League of Virginia.
Governors Siessagc
Employment of as many convicts as
possible on the public highways or
The SUITE is advocated by Governor
Mann In apecial message transmit
ted yesterday to the General Assem-
bly,. No radical change is suggested
"a ig Irr,n hf
lore the Legislature the facts he anu
his assistant secretary, Rivcs b. Hardy
have collected. The questions OF asri-
culture. lime grinding, road building
and convict labor are treated in tho
message. 1t was not read In either
house. but will be printed.
Several suggestions arc made. One
ia that the road forces might BIO In
creased by say 700 thus taking ali
available men from the penitentiary
This would leave about 600, some OF
whom could be used in planta for
grinding lime. II the establishment or
such an institution Is agreed upon.
some forty would be required to maze
clothes for tho conv!cts, and in this
tho women could be utilized, some for
work on the State Farm, and the re-
matnder might be hired for work II inc
penitentiary upon such terms and suo-
Ject to such limitations and conditions
40 iiioS We dSfeGu
A reward system for observance Of
an honor rule Is discussed, with the
suggestion that 1t might be gradually
put into use Considering the loss OF
revenue from shoe factory hire me
Governor thinks IL viii be necessary
II the contract is not renewed TO d.
vert most. IL not all, OF the State good
road fund for the first year
Committees for the Senate were an.
nOunCcu yesterday
Committee. There were no surprises
as to chairmanships of principal COM
mittees, Senator Echois heading
Finance. and Senator Holt Privileges
and Elections.
officers Are Elected.
The sessions yesterday, while rather
long. were without interest. The
houses elected the officers nominated
In the Democratic caucus OF Thursday
night. the Republicans putting up no
candidates and voting as a rule Tor
the Democratic nominees S. t. Dono-
hoe was elected Auditor for the un
expired torn; C. Leo Moore for the
new term: Roosevelt Page as Second
Auditor, and Judge Stafford c. WhittIe
to the Supreme Court. Roll calls were
required In each case, including the
Judges. The Senate adjourned TO Mon
day: the House to to-day
Committees in the House arc already
getting TO work y public hearing
was decided upon at yesterdays meet
ing of the Finance Committee on the
bills to pay the 10 per cent. deducted
from the pension checks of 1911 This
hearing will be had on Monday morn
ing at 10 o'clock. The Roads Commit
tee of the House also met YESTERDAY
and set the rolling stock bin as
special order for next Wednesday
morning.
RcdistrictlnE Bill.
The first of what is expected to he
series of redlstricting bills was Of
fered yesterday by A. NJ. Bowman. OF
Roanoke county. 1t takes Smyth
county from the Ninth District and
puts IL in the Fifth. and restores Craig
to the Ninth. This would. however.
make but little change in the uncuuai
population there. Halifax is taken
from the Sixth and put in the Fifth;
James City and Williamsburg are
taken from the Third and put In the
First, while Goochland and King Will
liam also leave the Third This would
leave only Henrico, Hanover, Chester
field. Charles City and Now Kent, along
with Richmond. in this district.
Botetourt goes to tho Sixth. Louisa
to tho Seventh and Prince Edward 10
tho Tenth, while tho Eighth gains
King William. King and Queen, SPOT
sylvania and Fredericksburg. It Is
realized that any bill offered will meet
with plenty of opposition
Modern Doctrines.
incorporation of the principles OF the
Initiative, referendum and recall in the
Constitution is contemplated by a Joint
resolution proposing amendments, Of
r Of