The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-11
Liquor Lobby Fighting to Last
With Back to Wall, Killed
When Senate Voted for Con
ference Committee.
HOUSE QUICK
TO FOLLOW
Dramatic Turn Marks Stage Of
Fight That Means Defeat for
Lobby When Edmonson l.
Borne in From Sickbcd to
Vote for Conference.

Ousted from every position ON
which it has made Stand. driven
It's back 10 the wall, snarIias .ts hate,
it fought to the last, the LiqaoT
Lobby, which has tried every tniiu-
ence possible to secure legislation 10
impede the progress OF the enabling
act, was killed yesterday wnen the
senate voted for a conference COM
mittee. in which the amendments Of
the measure VIII be discussed.
rhe house at once agreed to tho
conference, and the following we're
appointed.
from the Senate-Messrs Holt
Mapp and Echols.
From the House-Messrs- Williams.
Oliver and Barley.
The personnel of the conference
committee insures victory for the
measure as adopted by the house, az
Senators Mapp and Echols have
thrown their weight in all important
points with the drys. and Delegates
Williams and Barley have done The
same in the house,
one of the most dramatic occasions
ever witnessed in the senate came
when. fearing that the insiduous
lobby might make a telling assault
on the measure in his absence, Sem
ator Edmonson caused himself to be
borne froa. bed of illness to the
senate chandler, where he voted for
the conference committee. The ap-
pearance of the suffering face OF tina
senator was the signal for the defeat
OF the lobby. and its members threw
up their hands and left the field when
he took his seat.
Gave Tn the Fight
Never was the tension in the Cap
ttol so great as it was just before the
senate convened. Eumors of last eff
forts of the opponents OF the bill took
various forms, but the Most insistent
was that the vets had gathered q
majority in the senate who would
vote to refuse 10 ask for a conferences
committee, thereby indefinitely post
poning action on the measure.
At the last moment, however hope
for the success of this plan was aban-
doned. and when the mat.es came
up for discussion Senator Holt moved
that conference committee be ap-
pointed. In his motion for the APP
pointment of such a committee Sena-
tor Holt moved first that the senate
not recede from its position.
Showing the hopelessness Of the
situation of the opponents of tho
measure. the senate adopted Senator
Hollis motion by viva voce, not =
Nay" being registered.
Senator Holt was appointed by
President Ellyson to represent the
senate in asking the house for a con.
ference.
--- EeAaIs Is Named
Shortly after the announcements
made In the house by Senator Holt.
Mr.. Williams, of Giles. entered thu.
senate chamber and announced that
the house would appoint members OF
conference committee. 1t was nor
however, until the close of the dayas
session that the committee was an.
nounced
When President Ellyson announced
the committee Senator Echols asked
TO be excused from serving. He said
he felt sure that his associates real-
lied that it was not his custom to
shirk any duty or responsibility, but in
this particular matter he preferred to
he excused and hoped the presiding
officer would appoint some one else
In his stead
lleutenant-Gov Ellysbn in re-
ply said that he had given great cara
and thought to the selection Of this
committee and he felt that Mr.. Echols
would be a valuable member His
long experience. his ability. his clear
Judgment and his character combined
W especially 1T MIN Tor the uetlC&E0
task. The lieutenant governor said
further that he thought the service OF
Mr.. Echols on the committe would
help to make its decision satisfactory
to all parties interested.
The West Fee Bill.
The West fee bill was the subject
of an interesting fight in the. senate
and consumed practically the entire
session without a,vote being reached.
Mr.. West made a speech supporting
the bill which had come from the sem
ate finance committee, recommending
that 1t be adopted. There was ono
point on which he had disagreed with
the committee. The bill provided
that it should become operative IN
1916, Senator West wanted It moved
up to July /. 1918. He believed that
with the correction OF the abuses ex-s
listing the State Of Virginia would save
not less than $4,000 . year.
Mr.. Montague wanted the bill. ~
amended by the senator from NAnso-7
mond, printed for. the Information a.
the senate. along With all other
He called attention to the fact that
| under tho terms Of the measure netths3
or his city nor any county would -
| affected.
| Mr.. Catron. Of Wise. said the btll
would work injury In his dtsf1lckl
Wise county had 10000 popu1Att0N
and four deputies were re0ulre4 In
| the adjoining county ut 0o0ek AnM4s
1 was tho aane population and 0@e 41H
! ssty ntafgfncei to du ths work. M TSs'sSzs
Mr., Cannon opposed Tho bQl, en3%m
that tho city Of Richmond
- Sss, "a Es5sz5