Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-17
CLEAR SAILING FOR
MORAL MEASURES
Prohibition. Antishipping and
Other Acts Assured of Pas
sage by Dry Majority.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES NAMED
Bills Have Not Yet Been Intro
duced, and May Await Anti
Saloon Leagues Approval.

Although more than 100 bills. in
Guiding such old friends as the game
road reform. Torrens system. anti
gambling and coordinate college bills,
have already been introduced and re-
fcrred 10 committees. il has become a
matter of comment that not n single
one of the expected moral measures
has so far been presented 70 rho Cen
eral Assembly.
At the last session Of tho Legislature
the enabling act was introduced on tho
second day. by the end of tho first
week there had been presented most
of tho important reform measures
which later loomed large on the lcsis-
lativc calendar.
Tho General Assembly Of 1916. now
ever. will not grow many days older
before the dcluGc of reform Legislation
will descend upon it. In the opinion
Of well-informcd members. this week
viii see the introduction OF several Of
the So-called moral and social reform
bills. Several Of them il is stated,
have already been draw
ANTI-SAI.OON LEAGUE; Will
MEET On WEDNESDAY
In this connection, it is pointed out
ginia Will meet here Wednesday in it's
fifteenth annual convention. and will,
in the natural course Of events have
pertinent recommendations to make in
tho direction Of new legislation. While
the assertion that this organization
Viii WELD a direct influence in the
framing OF tho so-callcd moral meas
urcS is subject TO qualifications and
is unpa table 10 many members of
tho General Assembly. it is nowhere
seriously denied
Having frankly and openly sought TO
secure tho election to this General AS
scmhly OF men who arc In sympathy
with its aims. the Anti-Saioon League,
il is assumed, will mold, at least in
tho rough tho reform legislation that
Will he enacted by the General Assem-
bly,, a majority of which is pledged TO
the leagues reform policies.
DRY ELEMENT HAS SAFE
MAJORITY IN ROTH HOUSES
With a safe majority in both houses
and special committee to handle cX-
peditiously such bills as may be sub
mittcd. the prohibition forces of tho
General Assembly have felt no need for
haste. No reform bill OF the approved
type Will suffer this year the vicissi-
tudcs through which similar bills
labored at former sessions. There is
ample time to wait for the meeting OF
the Anti Saloon League and its lcgis-
lative recommendations.
Even among those who voted against
tho enabling act. there is Il disposition
to allow the dry" leaders 10 shape the
bills so that prohibition may be given
4 fair trial in the hands Of its friends.
Such speculation as exists with
gard to the prohibition and moral
measures that will be introduced at the
present session is chiefly on how
radical This legislation will he. Will
the antishipping bill. which is coming.
be as iron bound rs the North cnrollna
law which limits liquor shipments to
each individual 10 one quart i'll a fort
night: VIII Virginia emulate Ma
bam;t's law. which prohibits the sale OF
newspapers ami periodicals carrying
liquor advertisements win there he
AN attempt 10 create in Virginia the
office OF commissioners OF prohibition,
as has been done III West Virginia?
Will this commissioner he an appointee
of the Governor. or shall he he elected
by the Legislature: These and other
fruitful spccuiatious are going the
rounds.
SHALL. PRuIIInIIiON COMMISSIONER
HE INDEPENDENT or GOVERNORS:
The Governors message rcconmcnd-
ing the strengthening of the central
authority as a means OF securing a
faithful enforcement of the prohibition
laws is popularity interpreted 10 mean
that he would not look With favor upon
the creation OF the office OF commits
sioncr of prohibition, if such an official
is TO be independent of the executive
branch oil ihe government.
Among the matters which the Cen
cral Assembly must decide very short
Is is the question OF Il special primary
10 elect delegates TO the National Dem-
ocratic Convention. Lieutenant Cover
nor E.llyson has recommended lcgIsla
tion 10 this end im order that there may
he Il liberal compliance with III" plank
Of the Baltimore convention declaring
for the selection Of convention dele
gates and national committeeman by
primary election.
II a late suggestion Of Mr. t.llyson
that inc primary Of April !. when al
cities and towns VIII nominate Council
men and city officials be used also Cor
The selection OF convention delegates is
10 be followed the Legislature will
desires 10 preserve the provision that
noti.c Of candidacy shall be filed sixty
days prior to the primary in which 4
candidate proposes 10 offer himself
CitOICE or DELEG sTES
NAY BE LEFT 10 CONVENTION
Discussions OF tho primary problem
b! prominent Democrats in the General
Assembly and out of i Indicate , we'll
defined reluctance TO order rcadJust-
ment of the present primary scheme 10
accommodate party resolution about
whose Interpretation there is difference
OF opinion. The belief was current yes
terday that tho General Assembly will
not order special primary for tho
election OF convention delegates and
Continued on Second Pugc)
TRAVEL VIA BOAT TO BALTIMORE
YORK RIVER LINE New steamers Ex-
ccilent meals Stater0ous and private baths