The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-11
No Meeting Last Night Because
Of lndisposition of Judge
Williams-A m n d m nj 8
Due for Pruning.
ONES TO DIE
But One Amendment, That
Relating to Cider. Believed
to Have Even Slight Chance
for Life-Four Dry Members
to Two Wet.

At last the enabling act is in the
hands of a conference comittee, de-
spite the fact that an organized move
ment was on foot yesterday TO keep
this from being done. and meeting
OF this committee Will, be held today.
1t was planned to hold a meeting last
night, but Judge Williams was indis-
posed and the members scattered, and
il was impossible However, steps
are being taken for speedy legislation
and. 1t is said, much pruning Fto the
The personnel OF the committees
from both the house and the senate,
insures victory for the enabling act.
and although it is thought some Of
the amendments will be retained. il
is a known fact that the most OBJ
noxious ones, including the beer
and the extension of time.
will die an unnatural death.
The committee from the senate,
composed OF Senators Mapp. Echols
and Holt, gives the enabling act two
votes.
Has Leader of Fight.
Senator Mapp has been the avow-
ed leader of the hght for the bin IN
the upper branch since the legislature
convened, and will fight for the pas
sage of the bill to the finish.
Senator Echois has also been y
stauneh supporter. as was shown IL
the ballots on the amendments, which
the senate tackled on the measure
Senator Echols. at the session Of 1912
fought the bill, voting against its pas
sage and was largely instrumental III
It's death, but this wear he has carried
the standard and on every amendmen.
with the exception of one. has voted
with the dry side, and also in the
final passage of the bill.
Senator Holt is an open enemy OF
the enabling act. he has fought n
the open, against the passage of the
bill and when the amendments Were
being fought on the floor OF the sen
ate, did his utmost TO tack on as many
rs possible in desperate effort te
kill it.
The house committee is composed
of Judge Martin Williams. of Giles
county, patron of the enabling act
and fioorieader of the dominant party
Mr.. Barley. of Botetourt, AID Mr.
Oliver of Fairfax.
Judge williams. NATURALLY will cham
pion the bill as he has put up strons
fight for his measure, carrying 1t sue
cessfuily by the house by vote Of
nearly four to one.
Mr.. Barley. also is a strong FRIEND
OF the bill. He has consistently voted
for its passage. and when the senate
returned the measure for concurrence
loaded down with amendments. ht
voted for the downfall Of each one.
One Bitter Opponent.
In Mr.. Oliver. however, the bill
has n very bitter opponent. Wher
the measure was first introduced il
the house. MIR oliver lead the figh
against its passage, trying TO tie or
several amendments which were
later adopted by the senate.
His trades have had their effect
and both sides recognize the shrowd
ness of the gentleman from Fairfax
However. as Mr. divers vote in thu
committee only counts for one. lit
tie harm is TO be feared.
The meeting of ne committee. mos
likely, will be entirely executive, al
neither side has expressed a desire Il
he heard, and it is thought little tim,
win be consumed.
The friends OF the liquor interest
have practically given up In despair
1t is freely stated in the lobby o
Murphy's hotel that the bill ID In tn,
hands of its friends. ana the we
members OF the senate were heard Il
express themselves as being thor
oughly defeated.
Against Beer Amendment.
1t lis hard to predict what amend
ments will stand. The fight seems Il
be strongest against the beer amend