The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-06
PROHIBITION BILL
GETS HARD BLOW
Unfavorably Reported
by House Elections
Committee.
PURE ELECTIONS
BILLS APPROVED
Initiative, Referendum and Re.
call Principle Goes Down in
Dcfeat-House Passes Anti
gambling Bill--Argument
on Treasurers' Amend
ment.

with every member present, the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
OF the House of Delegates, at its meet
ing yesterday afternoon, voted to re-
port the Jordan bill allowing an cleo
| ton on Statewide promotion, with a
recommendation that 1t do not become
law. 1t VIII SO to the House this
morning and be placed on the caien-
dar Win It's unfavorable report.
Members OF the committee agreed
not TO divuigc the vote on the report
OF the bill. and 1t was variousIy stated
10 be to and TO s.
Inc next move of the prohibition
element is unknown. Some days must
elapse before the bill can be reached
IN regular order in the calendar, and
motion to take it up out of its
order would require two-thirds vote.
which. Its opponents say, it cannot
get.
Inc Privileges and Elections Com
mittee had a busy session In addI-
ton to its disposition of the Jordan
enabling att. 1t reported the Martin
amendments to the Constitution pro-
viuins Tor the Initiative. the referendum
tand the recall also with an unfavor-
able recommendation. 1t Is said the
vote In this instance was almost
| unanimous.
Pure Elections Bills.
To further show its activity. this
Same cimmittee reported two OF tho
three bills introduced by aIessrs.
ChaikleH and Robertson. designed to
prevent bribery In elections and to
distranch!se vote-sellers and buyers
and to give absolute immunity to the
informer This was asked for BY Ninth
District leaders, who feel that a halt
| must be called ON the improper use
iof money in elections. and that with
the purity of the ballots there viii
come Democratic success
! Still further, the committee report-
! ed tavora bly, all four OF the companion
bills offered by Speaker BYRD, intcnd-
ed to perfect the registration laws. They
provide for records to be kept of the
| application of each intended voter,
specify means of getting the names OF
| Illegal voters OFF the registration books
and give an appeal from the decision
OF the registrar for impr oper listing
OF citizen. These are to correct de-
| fects In existing laws.
Amendments discussed.
In the Senate yes,erduy, the session
was consumed in cons .oerauon OF the
! proposed amendments to the Consul
tuition designed 10 permit city treasur-
ers and commissioners of the revenue
TO succeed themselves. Senator c.
| e. CdEGIully
| prepared speech against the amend
| ments. which he had not conclude ed
when adjournment came. and the mat
ter went over to special order for
tomorrow. He vigorously attacked
the constitutionality OF tile PROPOSE
| ton. saying that the Legislature OF
! 1910 had full power to submit the
amendments In any way it chose. and
! having selected way, the defeat OF
tho proposition by the voters in the
| election Of November. 1910, disposed OF
| the question. which can only come up
again de novo. His argument in this
respect was apparently effective. The
city treasurers desire the amendment
submitted to the people next Novem
per, since II the matter Ii gone into
| from an original standpoint at this
| session. It will be too late ito save
/ the treasurers," who are 10 be elected
! next year. An argument has been
/ made by attorneys that the submission
! OF the amendment as to county officers
! was legal. while that as to city treas
! urers. submitted in the same way, was
! illegal. and thus saves ali the treas
urers" and eliminates a kick from
county officers. which was imminent
senator Thornton spoke briefly fol-
I the amendment In the Senate
f! Gambling Dill Passed.
The Stephenson bill TO prohibi,
gambling in this State passed the
House of Delegates by vote OF Sc tc
Il. this being the final count after
eight members had changed from ave
to no. Consideration IF the measure
consumed most Of the House session
The Norfolk race-track gambling case
| was brought into the discussion. the
patron of the bill saying he was in.
formed the magistrate WAS fixed be.
: forehand," and asserting that unless
he had been corrupt he would not have
rendered the decision whlcn no made In
the matter.
Amendments made to the bill in com.
i mittee were stricken out. and 1t went
/ through as the patron desired. If Il
passes the Senate, which Is unexpect-
ed. 1t Will be unlawful for any one ir
4 virginia to play at any game, or to
| net or wager for any money, even fol-
{ l cent. Bets on baseball games must
be stopped, while matching for drinks
Will be eschewed by those who desire
to keep out of fail.
| Harmon Is Invited.
The Senate invited Governor Judsou
Harmon, of Ohio, to address the Gem
eral Assembly on any day during the
(: session. The resolution did not reach
!: consideration in the House, as adjourn
! ment came before II was taken up.
| A change of consid erable Importance
| In the tax system in the State Ia EN-
bodied In the spessard bill regarding
income taxes, which was reported fav.
orably yesterday morning by the Com.
J mittee on Finance, OF the House. & II
| makes the amount exempt from taxa.
tion $4,000 q year, instead of $1,000, ae
at present. This would prevent the
collection of taxes Of incomes between
81 900 and $4,000 a year. MIR. Spessard
believes that In consideration Of the
Increased cost of living, $4,000 repre-.