Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-03
SUBJECT TO STUART

Said to be Purpose to Pass Best Bil
Possible and Put Responsibility OF
Governor.
Richmond, Feb. 3.-Amcndments tc
the Mapp prohibition bill offered yes.
terday by Rev. James Cannon, jr., at
the public discussion of the measure
before the Senate and House CGm-
mittees on Moral and Social Welfare
will. if adopted, materially lessen the
tension between the prohibition ma
iority and Governor Stuart on the
question of creating the new office OF
State commissioner Of moral welfare.
The amendments place the propos-
cd new department under the direct
control of the Governor, giving him
the power to suspend the commission
er for misconduct, neglect of duty OF
acts performed without authority of
law. In case OF such suspension, the
Governor is given authority to fill the
vacancy until the next meeting OF the
General Assembly which is to de-
terminc whether the commissioner SO
suspended shall be reinstated or per.
mancntly removed.
Richmond, Feb. %-In an opinion
delivered yesterday Attorney General.
Pollard holds that DR.. James Cannon.
of the Anti-Saloon League, is wrong
in his contention that the proposed
moral welfare commissioner, as Great
ed in the prohibition bill, would be
under the Governor, as other depart
mcnt heads are uGdci the Governor.
The Attorney General maintains
that the Governor is right i'll his con-
tcntion against the proposed moral
welfare commissioner.
Dr.. Cannon and other Anti-Saloon
leaders have conferred and have been
forced to an agreement, it is said.
whereby it will be necessary for the
Mapp bill to be so amended as to
specifically put the proposed commits
81; ,,,Jar. bn
Otherwise, it is said. the bill would
be unconstitutional. though even il
the commissioner is specifically put
under the chief executive Governor
Stuart still may withhold his endorse
ment.
Unless there is decided change OF
plans, the difference between the pro-
hibition forces and the Governor OH
the proposition to provide for ii conf
missioner to enforce the new laws
dealing with the issue which are now
before the Legislature will come 20 a
show down.
Either the members of the General!
notwithstanding that element III
favor Of the commissioner feature
or the Governor will have to bacl; Wa
ter.
On Tuesday Il member Of the Senate
declared that so far as he had beer
advised there had been no change
whatever in the plans Of the prohibl-
tionists as regarded the commissioner
feature in the prohibition BILL He said
that plans were to "stnad pat and
to PASS the bill and TO send 1t right
up to the Governor. leaving him res
ponsible for its rejection or enact
mcnt.
This gentleman did not hesitate to
say that there were not enough "ptes
in the Senate to pass the bill oveH
the veto of the Governor, but that the
hill would be enacted and sent to the
Governor, and that on him would rest
full and complete responsibility lof
the defeat of the measure.
And there is no question that the
Governor will prevent the naming
of the commissioners by the Genera
Assembly which will have to deal
with the enforcement OF the laws %
the State. No Governor has had sucf
an officer in the past, ard Governor
Stuart seemingly does not propose tc
have any such innovation while ne :s
in the executive office.
In other words. if the General As
sembly determines to take the bull
by the horns" and pass the bill it vii
be mere wasting of time. 1t VIII serve
to arouse. the antagonism- OF the
friends of Governor Stuart, who ha!
always said that he would sign pro
hibition bill. but a prohibition bill