The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-15

Continued progress IN moral iegis-
iatlon marked the WORK of the Gem
sral Aasensbl. az Virginia yesterday
YsAe president nj the Senate and the
sneaker of the House Of Delegates
signed. among other measures the
Stephenson anti as m bling bill. which
now goes to the Governor for his sts-
nature. The Senate Committee on
Moral and Social Welfare reported IA
sorabiy two mea.sures--the Browning
anti red light bill. which has passed
the House and the Mapp Wake
Saunders-we.t custer bill. intro
fIuced In the Senate several days ago.
Beth these measures will, go To the
Senate today and will be assigned to
their places on the calendar Tomos-
rng the Sen9Le. shortly after con
vening. will find the Mapp prohibition
hill special and continuing order at
1870 O'Clock. Moral Legislation VIII
progress rapidly from this point. and
leng heforo the present session Of the
General Assembly Is ended the people
of Virginia will have been equipped
with the machinery for the enforce
inent OF laws that will make this a
cleaner. greater and better Common
wealth.
The House today will have before II
the game bill. on which argument was
being heard when nd ionrnment was
taken yesterday and later Will come
before the lower branch of the Gem
eraI Assembly four resolutions seek
inr constitutional changes
The Senate Finance Committee
last night had a busy session, hearing
protests from railroad representatives
against the proposed increase in fran
chise tax.
Moeal Measures Reported.
The senate Committee on Moral and
Socfa, welfare, In handling the
browning bill. which entoins and
abates disorderly and immoral houses.
declaring them nuissnces and holding
In contempt yfolators OF such injunc-
tions as are granted IN proceedings
instituted either the attornaH.San-
erai. the Commemorative attorney or
two responsible citizens, amended IL
lily striking out the word knowingly"
which had been inserted by the House
With this amendment the bill stands
as ii was originally writer. and is the
same measure passed by Congress and
signed by President Wilson FOR the
District of Columbia. The Senate
committee held that the insertion of
tho word knowingly" would provide
opportunity for evasion. and that no
injustice would result 10 innocent
propertynolders nv the law AS It origi-
nally stood.
The @ouster" bill provides for the
removal Of all officers of counties,
cities or the state WHO fail. neglect or
refuse to discharge the duties OF their
respective Offices in the execution of
the prohibition. the anti-vice and
vice and ants gambling laws. and such
other moral laws AZ may be enacted.
The a0uste.r Hill.
The custer bill provides that any
person. corporation or organization
may file with the Circuit Court. IL In
county. mr. CORPORATION or Hastings
Court, If ii city. complaint Ia writ
fnT stating reasons for the removal OF
iI5e officer against whom complaint II
shade When the complaint il nled
.ne Judge shall issue ruling re0uir-
ing the officer complained OF to show
cause why he should not be removed
from, Office with the rule returnabl
In from Ave to ten days, copy OF the
complaint win be served on the ofiiccr.
II trial shows that the ofifcer has
failed. neglected or refused to per-
form his duty, he shall he removed
from Office.
There Is nothing In the CUSTER
0ill taking away from councils OF
cities or towns the power To remove
officers, and the power given to the
courts is concurrent with the power
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