The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-05


the bill. He would vote for ita pass
age in its present form. he said.
( Gordon Fights for Love Amendment.
Mr.. Gordon said that he had pre-
scented numerous amendments. but
the only one that he would insist
upon was that presented by MFR. Love.
which makes the Attorney-Gener
-ofTicio Prohibition Commissioner.
Mr.. Love said that he had been
member Of the House for several years
/ and that this is the frst time that he
ever offered an amendment. He sub
mitted that he should have a little
time to speak TO st. He said that IL
the Lords Prayer were introduced in
7 the House some one would try to
amend II
The amendment Of Mr.. Parr. OF
+ Patrick, which WAS before the House
when adjournment was taken Friday
night. was withdrawn and a substitute
+ for II WAS presented. This was re-
/ jected by the House The amend.
ment and its substitute aimed TO per-
init the storing ofs brandy in ware
houses other than United States
bonded warehouses.
Willis Amendment.
The first of the series of amend
ments hearing upon the section OF the
bin providing for a Commi; sioner of
prohibition for the enforcement Of the
law reported by the clerk was that OF
Mr. Willis of Roanoke. This amend
ment struck out all OF sections 80 TO
35. inclusive. and the first part OF
section s6-alI reference TO the pro-
hibition commissioner.
Speaking to his resolution. Mr.. Will
lis said You are going to pass this
hiii. and substantially, in the form in
which IL was presented. This is
Fhn first TINA that hatyA ~ annk
TO an amendment when knew before
hand that IL would be lost. But feel
= my duty TO 40 speak"
NJ. Willis said the bill In the cul-
r1i1suon OF years OF work for pro-
h.ettlou and he gave credit to tho
trainers OF the bill for having brought
8: safe thus far, and said that he in
tended 20 vote for the bill, though II
VAS a question with him whether II
was the best that could be offered.
and II II was what the people voted
for
This act" he said, creates a new
officer at Richmond and a new set of
officers throughout the State. You
are fastening onto the people OF the
State heavy burden OF cost for years
to come. 1t has been our experience
that once n commissioner was created
he was never abolished.
1T Is an office" he declared. that
Will carry with It great political in
fluence and prestige that will enable
It 10 fasten itself upon tho State.
Denies Necessity of Office.
The necessity for 1T? There il no
more reason why we should have n
commissioner OF prohibition than that
we should have a commissioner OF
murder of q commissioner OF arson.
The people have shown what they
-. n
OF the State are enforced as we'll as
any of the other laws. I say that the
public sentiment Of the communities
also enforces them. No law can be
enforced that public sentiment Is
against The Senate has passed and
the House will pass what Is known as
the custer law. Do you suppose that
/ any Commemorative attorney In this
/ state. regardless OF what his personal
/ feelings may be will have heaped
upon his head the odtum OF being re-
moved from office for failure to en-
force the law. In every county we
have sherifrs and deputy sherfffs and
+ In cities policemen, and we have the
public sentiment that will see that
j they enforce the laws.
These gentlemen who have made
this act possible and who have con-
tributed to the framing OF this bill
j nave huIe II HtpIH WpTk. H&y nave
huilded unto themselves a monument,
but some OF the members won't agree
with the methods used in their work
"Marring the Monument"
IT the trainers OF the bill could
see 1t as DO, as the people of the
state do. they would see how they
are marring that monument. / would
not see 1t marred on this day that we
write the closing chapter OF prohibit
ton. / don't believe that these peo-
pie have labored for twenty years
for so little reward" Mr.. Willis
closed with a plea, In which he put
tho tone Of hqpe!essness, that the
House would not mar the monument
the prohibitionists have erected by
creating an unnecessary political Of
flee; that 1t would adopt the amend
ment eliminating the commissioner
ship
Mr. Loves amendment. to make the
Attorney General ex-ofticio prohibi-
lion commissioner. was then report
ed Mr.. Love spoke briefly. but with
warmth for the adoption of his
amendment lie declared that "a
number of senators would be pleased
to have an opportunity to reverse
themselves in their vote on this ques-
ton. With me, they believe that
the Attorncy-General Is the one to
enforce this law. l have consistent
ly worked for and voted for State
wide prohibition and l want to see
efficient enforcement OF a law that
will give us prohibition.
Thinks Would Reduce Friction.
II believe that to have the small
est amount of friction we should have
the Attorney-G enforce the
law He cited the story of the drum
mer boy of Marengo to show that all
was not lost even when indications
made it appear so. II this House
Will adopt this amendment and send
it back to the Senate with the bill.
1t VIII be passed by the Senate
Two OF the patrons OF the bill. he
7 said. favored the amendment. and he
said the Senate committee voted for
it seven to four. Mr. Jordan cor
rected the latter part of this state
ment, saying that the amendment
never came before a meeting of the
Senate Moral and Social Welfare
/ Committee for a vote.
Mr.. Love said that he had been in
formed that the committee had so
voted and went on: The only way
that ! see that prohibition can be eff
fectually enforced in Virginia IS that
the Attorney-General and the con-
stitutional officers Of the State have