Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-28
SENATE PASSES
The CUSTER BILL
Right Arm of Prohibition
Gives Right to Remove
Officials
PASS LOCAL, OPTION
PASS LOCAL OPTION
Poll Indicates Election of Moral Wet
fare Commissioner-Dr. Peters
May be Chosen

Richmond, Feb. 2S.-By a vote o!
% to 8. the Senate Saturday passed
the "oustcr" bill, denominated by Sen
ator Mapp, as "the right arm of pro-
hibition," which provides for the re.
moval from office Of those officials
who fail to neglect to enforce the
laws of the Commonwealth. Senator
Cannon and Wendenburg, of Rich
inond, and Senator Downing, of War
rem, voted in the negative.
Acting upon the suggestion OF
Senator Cannon, the measure was
made general in its application. I'm,
der the original draft, it applied only
to those officers who may I've regli-
gent in the enforcement of the pro.
iibition, gambling and anti-vicc
laws.
Just prior to the passage of the
"ouSter" bill. the Senate, by un-
animous vote, passed the local OPP
ton measure, designed to give cities
and counties an opportunity to test
the sentiment Of tho community with
regard to absolute prohibition. On
petition of one-fourth of the elector-
ate qualified to participate in the
next preceding general election, the
court is required to order a speca.
election to decide the matter Of in
terstate shipment.
Under the Mapp bill, provision is
made for the shipment and delivery
of one quart of whisky within per.
iod of thirty days. The local option
bill makes this monthly allowance
discretionary with the voters OF each
community.
The "ouster" bill provides that the
commissioner of prohibition shall as
sociate himself with the attorney for
the prohibition laws. in the prosecu-
ton of officers tried for failure to
enforce the prohibition laws. In the
prosecution Of other cases, attorneys
for the Commonwealth and such other
counsel as may be necessary will take
charge Of proceedings.
Complaint may be filed with the
court by any person, corporation or
organization. Trial will be ordered
forthwith, and the proceedings may
not be dismissed without the unani-
nous consent of the prosecutors. OF.
ficers. the removal of whom is 9th
erwise provided for under the Con
stitution. do not come within the
purview of the act.
Although a strong and more or less
organized effort will be made in the
House of Delegates to defeat the
moral welfare comni-ss:on feature
of the prohibition bill, poll of House
members shows that the office OF
moral welfare commissioner will al
most certainly he created.
The poll further shows that thu
commissioner is to be elected by thu
Legislature and not by the people.
1t shows further that this commits
sioner probably will not be the Attor
new General. He will be man select
ed by prohibition leaders; in othe'
words. according to general belief
the Rev. J. Sidney Peters. field sec
retary of the AntiSaloon League.
Some members of the House ar,
opposed to every feature of the pro
hibition bill as passed by the Sen
ate. They will fight the bill on prin
ciple. Others who are known to b
ardent prohibitionists will oppos
Fundamental features of the bill ol
the ground that the bill is not carry
ing out the expressed wishes of tn
people.
The real fight, however, will cente
around the moral welfare commits
sion issue. and on this issue tn
House will be sharply divided. al
though the majority, according to tn
poll taken today, will be heavily
favor of the commission plan.
Some of the votes for the creatio
of moral welfare commissioner WI
be cast by men who are said to b
personally opposed to the creatlo
of the Office. They will vote for tha
feature of the bill, however, becaus