The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-28
ENABLING ACT SENT
. TO SENATE WITH
ADVERSE REPORT
Committee Amends tt
and Recommends That
1t Do Not Pass.
PROVIDES BALLOT
FOR LOCAL OPTION
Senator Early Secures Amend
ments Giving Voter Choice Be-
tween That and Statewide
Prohibition at Special
Election to Be Held
Next June.

tho Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections yesterday afternoon, by
a vote of to 5. reported the williams
enabling act with the recommendation
that 1t do not pass. To the adverse
recommendation the committee added
several amendments, the most import
ant Of which requires tho electorate to
vote for Statewide prohibition or for
local option. instead OF for or against
State -wide prohibition. as Is provided
in tho bill.
The committee skirmish officially be-
gan the wet and dry contest that will
be waged in the Senate this year. and
tho prompt adjustment of prelAni-
naries yesterday afternoon met with
general approval. The twelve members
did their work In executive session
superintendent James Cannon. Jr., OF
the Anti-Saloon League OF Virginia,
and delegation OF league members
were present in the committee-r room
when Chairman Saxon w. Holt called
tho meeting to order DR.. Cannon was
asked II any Of his delegation desired
to speak against the measure.
Eliminate Debate.
Il think 1t would be a waste Of time
to discuss matter which has already
oeen uiscusseu Ut length before this
very committee" replied DIR. Cannon.
III tho supporters Of the bill are will
Ing to eliminate argument we are too.
OK COURSE II there is going to be argu-
ment for the bill we will ask the
privilege OK replying to it"
DR.. Cannon's sentiment with regard
to discussing the measure was shared
by every one present, and upon the
motion OF Senator Hart, Of Roanoke,
tho committee voted to go Immediately
into the consideration OF the bill with
out hearing argument. Senator Hart
moved that the bill be taken up in ex-
ecutive session. Objection was en-
tered by Senator Mapp, but the motion
carried to 4. the Senator'S voting as
follows:
Hart, Montague and Early.
Noes: Edmonson, Mapp, Gayle and
Moncure.
The committee went at once into ex-
ecutive session, discussing the bill and
the amendments for an hour and l.
half. 1t at 6:46 o'clock after
voting to report the amended bill adj
versely. Under the Senate rules the
vote cast on any measure Is required
to be noted on the back of the bill
Tho vote on the motion to report the
bill with the recommendation that 1t
do not pass was TO 5.
The Unofficial Vote.
1t was stated unoflicially that the
Ayes: Senator Holt Massie. Hart,
Parr. Montague and Hobbs--6.
Noes: Senator's Early, Edmonson,
Mapp, Gayle and Moncure-5.
All OF the amendments were intro
duced by Senator EARLY. In the bill
as 1t came from the House 1t was pro-
vided that ballots used in the special
election. which II was proposed 10 call
10 ascertain the will OF the people,
should be marked for State wide pro-
nd
hibition." The amended bill substi-
tutes for the last ballot marked,
for local option"
Another amendment requires that the
election shall be held on June Ia. 1914,
instead OF on the fourth Tuesday IN
the next ensuing month OF September,
after one-fourth OF the number OF per-
sons voting at tho last regular Novem-
ber election shall petition the Cover
nor to Issue writ for such special
election.
Adds Voting Qualification.
The original bill provides that the
qualifications of voters at any election
held under this act shall be such as
are prescribed for voters by the gen.
eral law. An amendment added by the
committee makes an important qualii-
cation In this language:
provided, however, that only SUCH
persons as are duly qualified voters at
the time OF the approval OF this act.
and such persons as shall become OF
lawful age after the said date and shall
thereafter register by reason of so
becoming of lawful age prior to the
date herein fixed for holding the said
election, shall be eligible to vote at
said election"
The insertion of this proviso was de-
fended yesterday by persons opposed
"a the enabling act on the ground that
l. would eliminate possible artificial
imitation OF the vote for the express
purpose of furthering the dry" cause.
Under the amendment only those could
vote next Juno who are qualified to vote
for participation in any election is
before the election in question is held.
Exempts Vino Manufacture.
To the clause in the original bill
the prohibitve law the sale OF intoxi-
cants for sacramental.. scientific. medi-
cinal and mechanical purposes. an
amendment adopted by the COMMITTEES
adds:
which may be manufactured from
grapes, berries and fruits by a. person,
firm or corporation now manufacturing -
vino In this State. provided that the
wine or by-products SO manufactured
be sold only In packages OF not lcsB
than two and half gallons or ono u
dozen. bottles, and be delivered to a y
common carrier to be transported ont. "a
side the State OF Virginia." US
Still another amendment provides
that Statewide prohibition shall nor n