The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-21
Amends Enabling Act
Over the Protest Of
Judge Williams.
LONG DISCUSSION
IN LOWER BRANCH
Provision Giving Registered Voter
Right to Petition for an Elec-
ton Stricken Out-Williams
Questions Sincerity of Mem
bers Who Want Legis-
lature to Pass Bill.

Amendments to the enabling act
wcro discussed in the House of Dele
gates for several hours yesterday, and
will be taken up again to-day. The
most important amendment adopted on
the second reading was the insertion,
over the protest OF the patron, Judge
Martin Williams of the term quail
fed voters as applying to those who
may sign tho petition to the Governor
for an election on the question of
Statewide prohibition Judge Will
liams proposed that 1t should read
Registered voters" but the point was
made that there are many thousands
Of people in Virginia who have regis
tered but who have not paid any poll
taxes In years. and who would be In
eligible to vote on the issue itself, even
though they petitioned for such an
election.
Weaver BILL Reported.
The House met at o'clock, hand
some new carpet having been laid in
the hall during the morning Rev. j.
b. Winn led in prayer. The Committee
on Appropriations reported for adop-
tion q Senate bill appropriating S4o,-
900 to pay criminal expenses. the
amount for the current year having
been exhausted. The Committee on
Finance reported House Bill No. 6,
known as the Weaver bill. for the seq
regation of deposits on money in bank
and to fix the rate at 10 cents on 500.
Both bills were placed on the calen-
dar
Chairman Brewer. of the Appropria-
tions Committee, announced that public
hearings would be held each night next
week on requests of State institutions
and departments. The Speaker laid
before the House resolutions adopted
by the board OF visitors of the Uni
versity of Virginia In reference to a
On nr1f a
were referred to the Committee on
sSchools and Colleges. 5z4-,as. .sse.,-
Debate ON gnabItne Act.
The Williams enabling act. known
as House Bill No. Q. came up on it's
second reading and was read at length
by the clerk. Speaker Cox stated the
question as being on It's third reading
and engrossment. and that question
was pending when the House adjourned.
Judge Williams offered series of
amendments, most of which were yer-
bal only, designed to make its mean
ing more clear, but interlining nearly
every section
The bill as introduced provided in
its first clause for a Statewide cleo
ton, whenever such OF the voters of
the State, qualified to vote under this
act in the election herein provided for,
as shall be equal In number to one
fourth of the number of persons voting
q
election shall petition the Governor"
etc. Judge Williams proposed to in
sert before the word voters" the
word registered" striking out the
term qualified to vote under this act
in the election herein provided for"
Follows Old Bill.
The bill was drawn" said Judge
williams, "as nearly as possible TO con-
form to the bill passed by the last
House. 1t has been necessary to make
a few changes to make it conform to
the idea that there should be clean.
clear presentation to the people of
Virginia of the two propositions"
Mr.. Clement objected that a man
might be registered for years and II
his poll taxes were not paid, he would
not be qualified to vote.
LAS j understand your amendment"
said Mr.. Montague, of Richmond, you
propose one electorate to sign the call
for this election and another electo-
rate as qualified TO vote?'
Yes" answered Judge williams.
we regard any man registered as
qualified to sign the petition. but we
do not know who may be qualified to
vote when this election takes place.
1--WE want to submit to the people
Of this State the simple question, do
you or do you not want to have State
wide prohibition, and If the people vote
of Itself"
Voted Down Last Session.
This is not II contest between vets
and drys," said Mr.. oliver. though
vigorous efforts have been made to
make IL appear 50. I presented on this
floor last session some of tile very
amendments Judge Williams has offer
ed. and they were voted down by the
very people who are supporting the
bill to-day. There are fully 10000 men
III Virginia to-day who are registered
but who have not paid one cent of
poll taxes for years. You are putting
1t into the power of these tax dodgers
who contribute nothing to the support
of the government, to call an election
that might result in reducing the reve-
nues of this State more than 100000
n year, and that practically confscates
several millions OF dollars worth OF
property. DO T. understand you to Say
that your amendment allows any regis
tered voter to sign that petition, wheth-
er no has paid any poll tax for the
past five years.
YES" said Judge williams. "The
registered voter is the proper person
to petition tho Governor, whether he
has paid his capitation tax or not"
Not Bound. Says Willis.
II came here to vote for an enabling
act" said Delegate Willis, of Roanoke
County, land expect to vote for q
proper one, but / don't propose to let
the member from Giles lead me into
lany such proposition as this. Because
I promised my people to vote for an
enabling act that would allow vote
on the sale OF liquor, 1t doesn't at all
follow that will vote for any sort OF
a bill that goes by that name. whatever
may .be In 1t. Under that amendmen,
you might make up u petition with q
sufficient number OF names to call this
election and yet not hnye on 1t sin.
(Continued ON Seoond. PnofeS 80