The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-06
Vote is 20 to II When Final
Roll Call Comes In Upper
Branch on Bill That Means
Prohibition.
Amendments Tackled on Are
Such That Make the Meas
ure Unsatisfactory to Those
Who Would Drive Saloons
Out of Virginia.

The enabling act giving to the peo-
pie of the State the privilege of voting
IN the question of Statewide prohibit
ion. was passed by the senate yester-
lay by the vote OF % to l.
Practically the same measure.
though not weakened as much as the
present one has been by obnoxious
amendments put on by it's opponents,
was defeated by the senate two years
ago by the equally decisive vote of / 8
to "a, though the adverse majority
then was not quite as large as the ma
jority for the act now.
Thirteen senators who voted against
the bill in 1912 gave it their support
yesterday. These were Messrs. Bow
ers. Brock. Catron, Easily. Echols.
Fletcher, Garrett. Hobbs, Lesner. Mas
sic. Moncure. Sowder and Watkins.
Mr.. Cannon. who succeeded Mr.. Fo1kes
as a member of the senate from Rich
mond voted against the bill as his
predecessor had done. and MIR. Paxton.
Of Rockbridgc, supported the act as
Mr. Tucker. whom he succeeded. did
In 1912.
The large ma iority given the bill
was In some sense n surprise. The dry
leaders, knowing that they had the
votes with which To pass the bill.
rather looked for a break for the band
wagon. Some, however. came whom
they did not expect. The entire SEN
ate smiled when MIR. I.esner called out
aye In ringing tones. He laughed as
well as the rest Some thought il
merely joke and tina. Mr.. Lesner
would change his vote. Bat he did
NOT and the senate Journal records the
weltest of all the wet men in the
body as 81 supporter of the enabling
act.
Change the Electorate.
THE sepafa gallery waS throNrpH AS
on Wednesday. though not so densely
90. In fact this interesting feature OF
the days business was disposed OF So
quickly that many came. only 10 find
that II wac all over
~ the instance OF MIR Fletcher the
senate reconsidefed the action Of
Netine sday in ordering the bill to its
third reading This was done, he ex-
ptatned. In order that the section pre-
srribing the electorate for the special
election might he perfected. Mr..
Fletcher added that he had gone over
the matter with large number of
senators both proponents and opn0r-
cnte 81 the hsll. and that the amend
ment which would provide perfect
~ fair and clean electorate was &C
ceptahie 10 all. Replying TO quesr
ton from Mr. Hart. MIR, Fletcher
stated thar II was agreed that no
amendments should be offered to any
toraie and such consequential amend
ments as might be necessary,
The motion OF Mr.. Fletcher prevail
ed and MIR. Tavenner offered for him
self and Mr. Fletcher the amendment
which the latter had outlined. This
was a substitute for section 4. 1t
reads.
Section 4, The qualifications OF
voters Mt any election held under
this act shall be such as are pre-
scrjbed for voters by the general
laws; provided the following
parsons anlv- shall he qualified tn
vote at such election. namely;
All persons who were qualified
TO vote at the regular Novem
Der elections 1919. and all other
persons who are otherwise quail
fed, and have personally paid
at least six months prior to the
second Tuesday in June of the
year 1914 all State poll taxes as
sessed against them during the
years next preceding the year
1914. and all such other persons
who shall become OF lawful age.
at a time when no capitation tax
was assessahle against them for
the year 1918. and shall there
after register by reason or be-
coming OF lawful age prior to the
date herein fixed for. the holding
Of the said election
Mr.. Tavenner stated that he had
discussed the electorate question with
4 number OF senator's since the ad-
1ournment Wednesday evening. and
that he thought this last substitute
would be acceptable to all concerned.
It was practically the one offered by
him on Wednesday which he changed
BY request. and which was defeated,
Mr.. Ellyson casting the deciding vote
Same As Ward Law.
Mr.. Mapp, who offered the amend
ment to the electorate clause. which
was adopted Wednesday evening.
stated that in view of Mr.. Tavenner's
courtesy in withdrawing a part OF his
amendment at his request on We'd
nesday, he would offer no objection
to the present section.
On the question Of constitutionalifv
Mr. Tayenner stated that the same
r,ints. which had been raised by the
pronents Of the enabling act. had
been threshed out before the SUI
/. preme court in case that went up
under the Ward election law. and the
court had held them constitutional
He saw no danger in his substitute.
and believed it was certainly consul
tutiunaf.
III The opponents Of the enabling act
made no move when Mr.. Tavenner
EOHCluueu, anu tiie supstNoNo VS. -uN
to the vote at once. 1t was adopt
"a without dissenting vote.
Mr. Tavenner offered a further al
Alton 10 the measure. which he called
sSction ., providing for the furnish
Ing Of lists Of those qualified to vote in
4 the election to the judges and clerks
81 election. The section provided that
the lists be held open to the public by
VI the clerks of courts who should hold
i themselves ready to make any correc-
lions In the lfsks. Compensation was
also provided for such corrections.
This section was also adopted by
ASelamAtion1
YuiGil ~ m HtnssnastE IN
ssEhA foal01img tAlearAm 4rom 40 n.