Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-27
SENATE PASSES
MAPP CUSTER BILL
Right Arm of Prohibition"
Gives Right to Remove
Recalcitrant Officials.
LOCAL OPTION ACT PASSED
Delegate Hobson Proposes to AL
low Bonded Dealers to Handle
Original Packages.

Original Packages.
By vote OF % to :. the Senate yes
tcrday passed tho ''oustcr" bill. denon-
mated by Senator Mapp as "the right
arm OF prohibition" which provides FOR
the removal from office OF those Of
ncials who fail or neglect 20 enforce
tho laws Of the Commonwealth Scna-
tors Cannon and Wendcnburg OF Rich
nond. and Senator Downing, OF War
rcn. voted In the negative
Acting upon tho suggestion Of Sena-
tor Cannon. the measure was made
general In it's applications Under the
original draft. II applied only TO those
officers who may bc negligent in the
enforcement cf the prohibition. anti
gambling and antivicc laws
1T would make us the laughing
stock OF the State said Senator Can
non. ito solemnly SIT here aud. hy i'm
plication. put the stamp Of our approval
upon the noncnforcculcnt OF other laws
provided officers did their duty IN the
enforcement OF these especial statutes
II we arc 10 have such a law. Ivy all
means made II general in applications"
PASSES LOCAL OPTION
oNF:-QUtRT LAW
Just prior 10 tn. passagc OF tho
"ouatcr' hll, tho senate. by :, unan!-
nous vote. passed the local option
measure. designed 20 give cities and
ccuutics an o1por,unity 20 test the
sentiment Of the community with re
gard 10 absolute prohibition. on peti-
zion OF onc-tour;h OF the electorate
qualified TO participate in tho next pre-
ccding general election, tho court is
required Ia order a special election TO
decide tho matter Of Interstate ship
Incn,.
Under the Mapp bin. provision is
made for the shipment and delivery Of
one quart OF whisky within a pcriod
Of thirty days. The local option bill
makes this monthly allowance dis
crctionary with the voters If each COM
inuni,y.
The custer b!i! provides tina, the
commissioner of prohibition shall as
sociatc himself with the attorney for
the prohibition laws. III the prosecution
Of officers tried FOR failure to enforce
the prohibition laws. u the prosecution
or othcr caseg. attorneys for the COM
nonwealth and suth other counsel as
may he necessary wi!l take cha-g. of
proceedings
Complaint may d. Sled with TIE
court by any person. corporation or
organization. TRIAL viii be ordered
forthw and tie proceedings may not
he dismissed without ;ho unanimous
consent Of the prosecutors officers,
the removal OF whom is otherwise pro-
vidcd for under Jic Constitution. do
not come within the puryicw Of the act.
WOULD ALLOW DEALERS TO
HANDLE ORIGINAL. PACKAGES
When the House Committee on Moral
and Social Welfare takes UP the CON
sideration OF tho prohibition hin to-
morrow afternoon. Delcratc Graham Il.
Hobson, of Richmond. will Offer by
quest an amendment designed to allow
Virginia merchants ard dealers 10 sup
ply in original packages the limited
quantity OF whisky. wine and beer
that the Mapp bin allows individuals
to have shipped 10 them hy dealers out
OF the State.
The anendment has already been
drawn Dealers privileged to conduct
this business. il is provided shall pay
10 the State. in advance. an annual
license tax, in no case To be less than
$1,000 4 year. based on purchases, and
q salary of So r day to an officer OF
the State, approved by tho prohibition
commissioner, whose duty il shall be to
have constant supervision over the
business or such dealer and see that it
is conducted ia accordance with The
provisions Of the law.
Having complied with all the strin-
gent provisions laid down in the
amendment. merchants and dealers thus
licensed are TO have the right TO pur-
chase ardent spirits in such quantities
as are necessary for the conduct of
their business, and common carriers
are given the right TO make deliveries
to such concerns, keeping proper rec
ords OF the goods so delivered.
PITS VIRGINIA MERCHANTS ON
PAR WITH THOSE OIT or STATS;
"All sales of ardent spirits" the
amendment continues, "by such mer-
chant or dealer shall be made in sealed
packages. and shall be made only to
such persons and In such quantities as
are permitted TO be delivered TO per-
sons under the provisions Of this act
the intent and purpose of this provision
being that such ardent spirits as are
permitted to be used I'm this State nn-
der the provisions OF this bill may
no purchased from duly licensed rner-
chants or dealers within this State, as
well rs from ueaierS WITHOUT the StQ'e -
No license OF this character, the
amendment provides. shall be granted
to any merchant or dealer except in
. cities Of 10000 inhabitants or more,
and In larger cities there shall be only
one license for each $4,000 inhabitants.
The granting OF these licenses. more
over. Is made subject 10 the will OF
the majority in an election to be held
on this question in each city under tho
Continued on Fourth Page.)