Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-02-13
DE-LICHTSON THE
STATE LEGISLATURE
Enabling Act Still Worrying
Virginia Solons---Railroad
Full Crew Bill Being
Considered.

Richmond, Va, Feb. 12.-It seems
impossible to get away from the ov-
ershadowing inuence of the enabling
act. Its passage through the Senate
last week was the most impressive
event after the Inauguration of the
new Governor. The entire absence
of debate on the final passage and the
silence which marked its triumph were
almost solemn. The stunning vote
of 20 to IL exceeded the prophesies of
it's most ardent friends. The incor-
rightly wet Senators who clung to the
liquor boat even after Lesner, the
brewer, had deserted, were Cannon,
Drewry, Harmon, Hart, Holt, Monta-
que, Parr, Paul, Rison, Thornton, and
Wendenburg, of whom two We're Re-
publicans. Upon the only tie vote
which occurred the committee amend
ments Lieutenant Governor Ellyson
voted with the vets. Therefore, there
is some apprehension in the ranks of
the drys as to the personnel of the
Senate Committee on conference.
The House acted wisely in votin,.
upon the Senate amendments one by
one, so that the House conferees might
understand the feeling of the House
upon the severalamendments. The in
dications are that the House would
reject a conference report postponing
the operation of the law in case of
q victory for prohibition until 1917,
and permitting the continued running
of the breweries, even though the beer
were shipped out of the state. The
conference report must be accepted or
rejected as whole; and in case it is
rejected by either house there will
be second conference whose action
is very likely to be final.
AS soon as the enabling act is finally
off the carpet several other soul-stir-
ring measures will demand attention.
The West fee bill has been reported
to the Senate with amendments which
will smooth the way for its passage.
In it's present form it will clip the
wings of only the highest fiers among
the fee-paid officials. The arguments
over the coordinate college for women
at the University, which were heard
before the committees last week gave
that proposed institution quite boost
To like extent the enthusiasm for
the proposal to change the Farmville
Normal into college, has evaporated
This has been due to no lack of ability
or zeal upon the part of the friends
of the latter institution, but more to
the hostility of the sponsors for the
coordinate college, aided by the jeal-
ousy of the other normal schools.
There is quite furry in the offices
of some of the big railway companies
over the full crew bill, the electric
headlight bill, and the caboose bill, but
it begins to look as though one of
these measures would pass. The rail
roads appear to have about their nor
NAL influence in the Senate, but rather
less than usual in the House.
Delegate White reports that his
proposed. amendment to the consti-
tuition to allow the iniative and refer
endum is sleeping peacefully in the
House committee. Nevertheless, there
is a considerable sentiment in the
House in favor of that proposition and
even some in the reactionary Senate.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan is ex-
pected to come to Richmond Feb. 28th
at the request of Attorney General
Pollard for the purpose of making an
address upon the subject.
The appropriation bill was reported
last week to the Senate, and will be
elbowing every other measure out of
the way about the middle of next week
1t will. prove a source of fascination
to those interested in the distribution
of pork. Incidentally, it will crowd
out of view many matters profoundly
affecting the general welfare. In the
meantime, the proposition to reduce
the tax rate is not gaining much pop
ularity among the gentry who look
to the taxes for their sustenance.
A VARIETY OF WORK.