The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-14

/ no part In this debato: but IL 4. NV
duty to say to this House that You arc
giving an unqualified MONOPOLY OF the
VINE ana beer business to certain oor-
porations for all time. DR.. Winston
| asked some time ago IL the next Dam.
/ eral Assembly could repeal any obnux
ious amendments to this bill without
another referendum to the people.
! nave read much on tho subject of ini -
tiatlye and referendum, and am the ma =
iron OF Il bill pending hore for that
purpose. Tho authorities agree that
where such laws are passed, even un-
| der constitutional provision for n
/ referendum. there would be grave doubt
whether such law could be repealed
Tor amended. except by tho Same pro-
cess rs was followed whom II was
enacted How would you draw a bill
amending this act? Those States that
use the Initiative and referendum have
express constitutional provisions for
repeating and for Amending laws
passed by tho people
i unconstitutional on Its Face.
nave asked q number OF lawyers
as 10 the constitutionality OF this meas
al anu IN Wow OF the monopoly grant
gu certain manufacturers. they have
4 saio that on the face OF 1t IL ,yas nm
constitutional. Do you believe this
LEGISLATURE could pass law that no
more grocery or clothing stores could
DC opened In tho State, but that those
now In business could oontinue-do vo,
4 oelieve any such law would hold p.
4 Sonceding that tho State has the
,it sn. uhaer the police power" oaid Mr..
MeaVer. perhaps To limit tho number.
aho certainly TO prohibit altogether the
manufacture of liquor In tho Stata 40
you believe II In tho province OF tho
General Assembly to DESTROY n part ana
loiscrininate In favor OF another mart
" say 70 tho distiller you must aban-
don your plant and go out of business
and at the same time say to tho brawar
you may continue. and lf you will shin
your product out OF tho state wa will
give you the guarantee Of the State
,na. no iurther competition will be al.
io"ou In your limo OF manufactured"
i Gives Special Privilege
DOESN'T the right to prohibit. speoi
neo IN the Constitution, carry with ii
tho right to partially prohibitr' asked
Mr.. Gordon.
You can regulate or prohibit the
manufacture or sale OF liquor under
section 62 OF tho Constitution" an-
swered MIR. White. but. under ,he
fourth section or tho Bill OF Rights
when says that no man or set OF mon
Is entitled to exclusive or separate
emoluments or privileges from the Dom
imunity-yOu cannot give any clasa of
manufacturers monopoly. Section az
clause Ia. OF tho Constitution, expressly
Gays that the General Assembly shall
not enact any local. special or priyate
law regulating labor, trade, mining or
manufacturing. Brewer!es and wine
cellars arc manufacturing plants. You
can't give this privilege to como and
take II away from others
why allow a man who has n win.
collar In Norfolk TO continue In bust
moss after this act takes effect. and
yet prohibit mo from starting wine
cellar In Rockbr'dge? Why give tho
brewers now In operation n monopoly
and prohibitathe establishment OF COM
peting plants7 appeal to this House
to reconsider this bill and send II back
TO conference thnt these provisions.
which VIII absolutely destroy It's value.
may be stricken out
Dodge to Catch Votes SAYS White
! why do they want these things In
there? To catch votes. They want the
votes OF tho brewers and the wine man
tufacturcrs and the cider manufacture
era All these men will advocate So
called prohibition bill. which gives
them n monopoly In the manufacture
of such goods in this State. IL is n
dodge to catch votes in this State- wide
eiection--only this and nothing more"
Don't you know that this bin Is not
what we want asked Mr. Meetze.
that II IS merely the best we can getY'
II know that the dry mon In the SEN
ate put on these amendments" an
swered Mr.. White. TT was n dry man
who offered tho wine exemption Of his
own motion. II was n dry man who Of
fered the cider amendment. say II Is
a cowardiy makcshift TO catch votes
md nothing more. After the dry PEG
pie had put on tho wine amendment
and the cider amendment, the wet peo-
pie handed up their Gun for beer and
got It. / am not willing to make any
compromise OF principle. Don't tell me
II IS the best YOU can get. when the dry
people put the amendments on. The
bin Is unconstitutional as we have no
plan of initiative or referendum In this
i State. and II Is Unconstitutional because
II creates an absolute monopoly Of Ger
tain lines OF business"
How Can II he Amended
do you claim" asked Mr.. Jordan.
that IL this bill Is enacted and prohibit
ton is enacted into law by tho will OF
the people at the polls. that that takes
/ away from this House the right TO pass
future acts amending IT."
| "All authorities on the subject OF tho
initiative and referendum" answered
Mr.. White. "fVree that the power
which enacted must repeal. The issue
is one that has never boon before the
courts OF this state. II would be
travesty on the Initiative and refer
endum to allow the next General As
senbly 20 como here and. in twenty
minutes, upset what 1t has taken the
people of the State a year to enact.
stand for an amendment to our Con
stitution providing how there shall be
such referendum and how II may
be amended"
Il voted for this BILL" said Major
Stubs, OF Gloucester. because
thought 1t was right, because thought
1T was constitutional and because
thought my people wanted the enabling
act passed l voted against some Of
these amendments, and put myself on
record ] Hand for the bill as II left
this House-the bill that gives prohi-
lbitfon--tho bill 1 promised my people
to vote for do not think the amend
ments ratified to-day are In keeping
with the views of my people OH this
question. This General Assembly cam
not enact a private or local law ne to
one class OF manufacturing that does
not apply to all persons alike"
Senate Action Announced.
ALLOW me to announce" said Judge
Williams, that the Senate has adopted
the conference report" Tho announce
ment caused ripple of applause in tho
galleries and had an evident effect
the attitude of the House
Then the vets have succeeded in
what they want. and the drys have
II. -. III -.