The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-12
EFFORT MADE TO BRING
LAW INTO DISTRIBUTE
Insidious Movement Against Prohi-
bition Enforcement Current In
Richmond.
DIR. MCDANIEL breaches on
DISTURBANUE-FTL AIR
Budget Contains $1,000 Misappropria-
ton That Would Help Semmes
Avenue-A Hercules Needed At Oily
Governments Head.

Speaking upon Law Violation and
Enforcement, al First Baptist
church. last night, DR.. Mcdaniel said:
The air Of Richmond Is filed with
disturbance. The budget has called
forth discussions IN editorials, sermons
and private conversations. That the
needs of the city, pnder the present
regime, are greater than the revenue,
is evident. Numerous items OF the
budget have been analysed, but up to
this moment. no public word has been
spoken against that item which con-
Germs alike the pulpit and the pew,
namely. the appro priation for sec
tartan institutions. Among these are:
Little Sisters OF the Poor. $500.
St. Joscph's orphanage. $500.
st. Joseph's Mission house. $500.
Section 81 of the constitution of
Virginia bears directly upon this aues-
ton. and section 1888 OF the code says:
Cities and towns OF this common
wealth are hereby authorized to make
appropriations Of Public funds. of per-
sonal property, or OF any real estate
to any charitable institution or as
ISOLATION, located within their respec-
tive limits: provided such institution
or association IL not controlled in
whole or in part by any church or
sectarian society. But nothing in this
section shall be construed to prohibit
any city from making contracts with
any sectarian institution for the care
OF INDECENT. sick o. injured persons"
For several years efter the adoption
OF the new constitution all appropria-
tons 70 sectarian institutions were cut
out OF the budget but they gradually
got back by straining section 19-N OF
the city charter"
These are in violation % the spirit
IL not of the law OF Virginia. The city
has no contract with these institu-
tons, they make no report OF how the
money Is expended, they undoubtedly
use the money for .ectarian purposes
and we submit. 7 believe a tax
payer could 70 into court and by in
junction proceedings prevent such use
of the peoples money. even after the
council has violated the law by max
ling the appropriation. This should
be the last year that taxpayers are
forced to support sectsrian institu-
lions. no matter what the sect. The
thirteen hundred misappropriated
dollars would help semmes avenue q
bit-probably make II possible for q
ftfo" ~ ny OfcI IL Without OO8S1nS
his shadow
UNDFRCCRRENT AGAINST
PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT
Another thing which concerns Rich
mond just now Is he prohibition law
There Il an undercurrent against its
enforcement. An ins!dious effort is
making TO bring the law into disre-
pute. 1t Is difficult to put your finger
upon the source. Or agent, OF this ef-
fort. but II Is felt none the less
For one thing. there is much
| knocking OF the commissioner o.
prohibition. Commissioner Peters ha.
conducted the affairs OF his ONCE with
rare poise ana wisdom. In no sense
has he been fanaticai Disappointins
the whiskeyites by the sanity Of HI,
course. they attack him for not beins
present IN the police court wher
liquor cases are .ried. and do the
same thing for being present in the
hastings court. They are like the fsi
net that opened up stream and dowr