Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-03-13
Moral Reform Session of
1916 is Part of His
tory
NO DEFICIT APPEARS
Prohibition Act Chief Handiwork--
Governor and State Advisory Board
Garry Points

Richmond, March 10 After 6V
days of continuous work the General
Assembly adjourned Saturday night,
leaving only the presiding officers
and the local members to hold session
during which the various bills will
be. engrossed and signed.
The final action of the Senate,
apart from passing few local bills,
was in passing the biennial Approprla
tions bill distributing S14,9OO,0O0 OF
the States revenues during the next
two years. The principal change was
the increase in the fund for farm de-
monstration work from $4,000 to
s51, 900, which sum will be equaled by
an appropriation from the Federal
Government.
The Senate also concurred in House
bills providing rate Of IA per
cent. on railroad franchises, and plac-
ing tax on inheritances OF more
than $4,000.
The House concurred in Senate
amendments to the Merchants Lie
ense bill placing minimum tax OF so
on Merchants; $40 on purchases up
to So, 900; 20 cents on purchases up
to 100000 and 10 cents, on the SlOo
on purchases in excess of S10O,O0o;
j concurred in the Senate bill raising
the cage of protection" from Ia to 10
wears; defining what gambling
house is; preventing undue publicity
of income returns; breaking up PRO
fessional" grand juries; regulating
the practice of dentistry, and re-
auiring fre-escapes on factories more
than three stories high.
The Rev. j. Sidney Peters was
elected State Prohibition Commits
sioner and William j, Devancy jr.,
indpa of the Corporation Court. of
Hopewell. :: - ! -
The closing scenes were the most
riotous that have been witnessed in
the Capitol i'm: geheration.s For hours
the House and Senate waited in their
chambers for, the, report of a com
mittee that::fqught behind; closed
doors over the Senate amendments
to the appropriation bill, only to en-
ter at midnight upon a prolonged con-
flict that threatened to develop into
an absolute deadlock.
The General Assembly of 1916
will occupy a peculiar and separate
niche. Elected on the prohibition is
sue. it was expected to perfect and
make law the will of the people as
expressed in the enabling-act referen-
dunn of September %, 1914. The Mapp
bill. driving from Virginia soil stimu-
lants and beverages that have been
in daily use ins the Commonwealth
since John Smith sailed up the JAM
es to the foot of Third Street, will
for all time stand as its distinctive
creation.
To the framing of this piece OF
legislation, the leaders of both houses
gave many valuable weeks. While It's
limits were marked out in large part
by the Anti-Saloon League, and some
of it's provisions SAVIOR of compro-
mises and concessions to expediency,
the bill that will transfer Cavalier
Virginia to the Sisterhood of Arid
American Commonwealths is regard
ed as a enactment of unquestionable
workmanship.
Practically without material change
the General Assembly in it's final
hours Saturday completed the enact
mcnt into law of the entire. revenue
program sponsored by the Governo,
and the State Advisory Board or
Taxation. so
The only dent of moment was mad
by the merchants, who succeeded i,
forcing deviation from the advis
- ory boards program, and the fins
ratification by. the House of tn
amended Senate bill which car
ried into effect every demand mad
by the mercantile interests.
AS recast by the General Assem-
bly of 1916, the tax laws will mol
+han. 1aker care of the large defc