The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-05

but there was strong representation
from tho interests opposed to the bill.
Hostilities began within five minutes
after 1890 o'clock. when the Senate
s!detracked all business TO take UP the
Williams bill as n special and contlnu :
ing order. The supporters of tho bill
grew first blood by defeating the com
mitteo amendment setting the special
election for the fourth Thursday In
June instead OF the fourth Tuesday
Sr!ginal bill
- Attnckc,I by senator Mnpp.
/. The committee amendment was at
lacked by Senator Mapp OF Accomac.
who undertook to demonstrate that to
fermit this amendment TO be incorpor
ateG would make the election rroyi-
I;ons Of tho bill defective. since sum
Client time would not remain between
tho date when the bill became effective
and the date for the election. for Sc
curing tho necessary petition aud writ
Ind hispos'nr Of otho~ p~clirninnrtes
" Senator Walker. of northumberland.
added the further objection that to
hold the special election in June would
violate the spirit OF the general law
which provides that no special cleo
zion shall he held within thirty days
of any general election. An election on
the enabling act the last of June. he
said. would come less than four weeks
before the general city and town cleo
lions.
>, II was pointed out by Senator Hart
in rcpiv TINT the General Assembly can
by enactment call special election
regardless OF the thirty-day rcstrc-
ton Senator Walker admitted the
right OF tho General Assembly to Az
the election for June. but was still
Of the opinion that while II was ont
violation of the law in letter II was
In sririt
senator Hart the strength of
,ff,r- stNfN
and admitted that If the committee
amendment were carried II would
hamper ready compliance with the
provisions of the bill ~ regards the
calling Of the special election. This
disability. lie said. II tho Senate adopt
ed the amendment, would be cured by
!, consequential amendment which
would be offered by Senator Holt,
striking from the bill the requirement.
for petition FOR tho proposed election.
ana calling fairly and squarcly tor an
election on June 90.
With the election thus definitely
rXcd. said Senator Hart there would
he no further preliminnries. All per
SONS qualified TO vote 1T the time OF
thn bilvs passage. together with those
who have become of age since. wouiu
;tave The right TO vote. IL would DC
!rnpossiblc under this arrangement he
said for either side to pad tn" rolls
by forcing the payment OF poll taxes
and the prohibition issue would be
rettlcd BIZ n normal vote representing
the best clements of the citizenship
Bv restricting the right TO vote In the
special election to tho electorate that
+ nov qualified. said Senator Hart,
1either side would enjoy an adNant-
age. 1t would preclude the use or
money to assist laCgard persons In
having ND their poll taxa procedure
that would he invited, he said. If the
election were set for September, ana
time given for further qualification.
Fear Advantage to Cities.
Further objection was entered by
prohibition leaders, who saw in the
Committee plan an attempt TO give the
cities nnti towns--where II was said
the wet elements predominate--an adj
vantage over the rural districts, since
il was stated, the voters OF the cities
and towns are now in large number
qualified for the regular summer cleo
lions, while the absence of such an in
centivc has resulted in a light Qualih-
cation In the country districts.
The pending question was called, and
the chair put the committee amend
ment IL was lost by vote of 81 to
10, the Senators voting as follows:
Ayes-Cannon, Catron. DrewrY, Car
rett. Hartman, Hart, Hobbs. Holt, Les
ner, Massio. Montague. Parr, Paul,
Pxton. Rison. Sowder. Thornton, Wat
kin, WendenburR-to.
Noes-Blanks. Bowers. Brock. Buch-
son Fcatherston, Fletcher, Gayle.
GraVat, Marp. Moncure. Rinehart
Hoyall, Saunders. Smith. Tavcnner,
Walker, West--2l.
The Senate adopted without debate
the committee amendment substitut
ing FOR the ballot marked against
Statewide prohibition" n ballot mark
ed FOR local option." The amend
!ncnt was regarded as mmatcrial by
Inc enabling act forces. Several con
Sequ"ntial amendments carrying out
thlS cnangc in other sections of the
hill. were adopted in rapid succession
me committee amendment propos.
ing 10 limit participation in the special
election TO such persons as arc duly
PHahn"H voters AT the time OF the ap-
fEoNai or the atI 'and .such persons ms
snail become i,f lawful voting ape for
'he rrst time. after the net becomes
chectlVe. was tho storm centre of a
debate that lasted n full hour
IRvcnncr Offers Substitutes
senator Tavenner began tho FRAY ~.
Offering q substitute admitting 10 ,bn
special election all persons that had
qualified FOR the general election last
November, all persons who might he
able to qualify for the elections Of luna
OF this year, as we'll as AL minors who
become OF voting age and quality 10
tho time the special election is hcli
INC amendment WAS opposed by
senators Hart and Holt as throwinr.
'WH me oars Tor general padding
"i me tax rolls The amendment ad-
in't'inS all 5persons who are able 10
qualify FOR the June elections. IT was
"iiectcd' would Invite general cam
iaiFn on the part of both sides 10
round UP delinquonts ana secure thoir
unllhcation ~ The cost. perhaps, OF po-
lltcal cleanliness
After a short consultation with en-
thiins act LEADERS, Senator Tavennor
struck from his substitute the proyi
sion admittins voters not already
GhaHIed. IN its new form the substi-
tute limited the electorate of M. enn.
ciai election 10 the voters who wcro
qualified for participation in the gen.
oral election OF November. 1913. plus
those who were entitled 70 v~o by rca
son or attaining their majority since
The amended substitute Was mn ma
- polied q tie vote. Lieutenant cover
nor Ellyson cast his vote against the
substitute nnd it was lost y Ia 10