The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-06
Passage by Senate With Claus
es Tackled on Making Meas
ure Unsatisfactory Regarded
as But Partial Victory.
Important Work Remains to
Be Done in Naming of The
Conference Committee From
the Senate and House
Question is Delicate.

When the enabling act, loaded down
as it is with amendments placed there
by the senate, comes to the house of
delegates, probably this morning, it
will be rejected as a whole and sent
TO conference committee. composed
Of three members from each body of
the general assembly. This was freely
stated on the floor OF the house yester-
day as soon as the result of the ballot
on tne blll was announced.
The question now that arrests the
interest OF tho legislators and people
Of the State is, who will compose the
conference committee which Is to pass
on which amendments are To be ac-
cepted by the house and which are to
be rescinded by the senate. The ques-
ton is i delicate one and much specu-
latlon has been INDUCED as to who
President j. Taylor Ellyson would APP
point from the senate and Speaker Cox
from the house.
The enabling act was passed by the
house, practically as it was drawn by
the Anu-Saloon league. by Il vote of
practically four to one. That is when
those absent had been lined up and
their sentiments expressed. the vote
was 10 to q in favor OF the measure.
This strong sentiment on the part Of
lot of the senate, rejecting itself in
Inc overwhelming majority by which
the bill was passed yesterday.
Selection of Committee.
Mr., Cox, elected to the position OF
the speakership by u unanimous vote
ny the house, 1t is said, will appoint
IS members of the committee those
who are for the bill. and not those who
merely voted for it. The house com-
mittee will he made up probably of
Judge Williams, patron Of the
measure, chairman of the COMMITTEES
on privileges and elections and floor
leader of the dominant party; second.
4 member Of the opponents of the bill.
through courtesy. and = third. a menu
her of the advocates of the enabling
act and who is thoroughly in sympathy
with the principle for which the bill
stands.
In the senate. the same program
will prekaA4Fbc followed. Either
senator Mapp or Senator Walker.
/ who actively led fight in both the
committee and on the tloor of tho
senate for the bin viii be chosen.
and ono nenFper from the opponents
and the third from the advocates OF
the measure.
The bill viii then he presented to
this committee for conference. to
decide on the amendments. which
they shall retain and which they
shall throw away According to
members OF the house, the two
amendments objectionable to the
Anti Saloon league and proponents OF
the bill will probably he stricken out,
and the b.ll will he accepted with the
other amendments by both the house
and the senate.
Objectionable Amendments.
The two amendments that are par
ticttlariy Objectionable to the advp-
Gates of the enabling act, is that one
changing the date of when the bill
shall take effect from May /, 1915, to
( May /. 1917 and the ether is the
amendment by Senator Wendenburg.
allowing the operation of breweries
within the State. after 1t has gone
dry for the purpose of selling to
other states
These amendments, according to
the friends Of the enabling act. are
strictly against the principles of the
measure, and will he fought to the
last ditch. 1t is said that the sem
ate conference committee will prob
ably agree with the house committee
and these amendments changed or
taken out.
The fact that the enabling act 10
to come back to the house today has
aroused great interclt among the
people, ana IL IS expected t8idt u ihI ~
number WITT be on hand to protest
against the amendments tackled on by
the senate.
That the sentiment expressed by
the house will have it's effect Is cer-
tain Practically every member came
to the legislature virtually instructed
by his constituents to vote for tho
bill The sweeping majority in the
house showed the spirit there. and 1t
is this spirit. it is said, that will APP
peal to Speaker Cox in making his
selection of the committee.
Mr.. Cox, as has been stated. was
elected to the speakership by urlar-
imous vote. When he made his In
augural address as speaker, he de-
clared that he would rule fairly and
sauarely on every question giving ad-
vantage to none. This he has follow
ed ont to the letter, and it is this
that has led the members TO say
that he would probably select the
members of the conference commit
tee from the house as was stated
above. The house awaits with great
interest the proceedings today.