Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-13
Executive Submits Views on
Prohibition to Legis-
lature
WANTS POWER TO ACT
neral Assembly Elects Houston
speaker and Walker is Made Presi-
lent of The Senate.

Richmond, Va, Jan. 13-The Legis-
lture got down to business yester-
law after electing the officers selected
Inv the Democratic caucus. The oath OF
office as Speaker of the House was
administered to Harry r. Houston,
Of Hampton, by Judge Joseph L.
Kelley, of the Supreme Court Of APP
pcals. The first of a series OF mes
sages from Governor H. c. Stuart
was then read. 1t covered the work
ings of the segregation system OF tax
alton and asked that greater powers
be given the Governor to enforce pro-
hibition and other laws.
Governor Stuart in his message
suggests:
Plain, strong and enforceable laws
TO make effective the policy of pro-
hibition, for which the people of Vir-
ginia declared by emphatic majority.
Strengthening of the central ex-
ecusive power, giving it authority
over county, town and city officers,
for the enforcement of the laws OF
the State.
That it is unwise and hazardous III
the extreme to increase at this ses-
sion the annual appropriations to
amounts above those of the last two
years.
Readiustments of taxes and reap
portionments between the State and
the several communities, bringing
them more nearly into line with au- J.
tlitor's suggestions.
That some minor changes be made
to perfect the present partial seq
regation measure.
Strengthening Of law forbidding
undue publicity, and especially for
bidding publication in newspapers of
taxpayers returns, except when in
some litigated question before court.
That methods of discovery of in
tangibles be maintained, and, if
necessary. supplemented and strength
ened.
Senator G. Walter Mapp, of Acco-
mac, who is ill, and President Pro-
tcmpore, Senator G. Hading Walker,
were the only absentees in the upper
branch. All but two members of the
House of Delegates responded to their
names at roll call.
Senator Rison, chairman of the Sen
ate, caucus, announced the following
steering committee: G. Walter Mapp.
Accomac, chairman; N. B. Early, Jr.,
Greene; Saxon w. Holt, Newport
News; J. E. West, Nansemond. and
law. Robertson, Rockbfidge. This
committee will name the members OF
the standing committees in the Sen
ate.
:: The following committee will con-
slider the application of Senator T..
C.Jordan. Augusta, Tor admission to
the Democratic caucus; L. o. Wenden-
hurg, Richmond; j.. E. West, Nan
semond. Walter E. Addison, Lynch
burg; John r. Saunders, Middlesex,
and H. H. Wowning, Warren. Senator
Jordan claims he is Democrat, al
through he ran as Prohibition-In-
dependent and defeated Democrat.
Among the important bills offered
in the house yesterday was a mea-
sure embracing the provisions OF the
Torrens system of land titles for
Richmond and the counties of Henrico,
Chesterfield and Mecklenburg.
Senator Strobe offered resolu-
tion which provided that majority
vote, instead Of a two-third vote,
should be sufficient to take bills out
Of order The resolution was referred
to the Committee on Rules.
Delegate r. H. Willis, of Roanoke
who will be named chairman of the
Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions, becomes ex-officio floor leader
of the House.
The Republican members of the
House have selected NJ. <. Lowery
of Brooke, floor leader for the mino,
rity.
Speaker Houston will not announc,
thesHouse committees until today.