The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-25
USELESS WASTE
OF ENERGY IN AN
INVESTIGATION
Joyce Resolution is Re-
ported Out With Re-
commentator That It
Do Not Pass.

The Joyce resolution providing for
an investigation of the prohibition de-
partment vas reported by the senate
committee on moral and social welfare
yesterday with the recommendation
that it do not pass The vote was to
4. The committee was evenly divided
on the masure, Senator Holt breaking
the deadlock and changing his vote
from no to aye in order to get the meas
ure out of committee.
There was no disposition on the part
OF either faction to kill the resolution
in committee.
The vote was taken after State Ac-
cA,untant Smith and Auditor of Public
Accounts Moore has been questioned by
the committee in regard to reports of
the prohibition department and as to
the feasibility of suen an investigation.
majority of The committee went ON
record as disappearing the resolutfo
as useless. causeless and child's play.
Three members who are regarded as
dry men. voted for 1t. explaining that
r-tey did not wish to put the department
in the light of having been shielded
by its friends.
Delegate Norris appeared in support
of the measure. His explanation of it's
rarport was freely criticised by several
m. mbers. who called attention to his
naive admission that the investigation
was to take away from the commits
sioner the credit which should be bes-
toved ON local authorities.
In moving that the resolution be re-
ported unfavorahly. Senator Mapp stat
ed briefly his attitude to the measure
MY reasons, briefly. are these" he
said. There have been no sound rea-
sens advanced for this investigation.
Some gentlemen have undertaken to
abolish the department of prohibition
and failing in that they viii try to
cripple it by needless investigation. The
introduction to this resolution is the
iau1est thing ] have ever read. / am
not charging generalization on the part
of the patrons. but the practical effect
is the same"
He called attention to the fact that
the investigation resolutions are all
emanating from the same general di-
rection IT prohibition has any real
friends he said. NOW is the time for
them to put stop to this. The com
missioner has been bounded and this
last resolution has absolutely nothing
to recommend it
Senator Downing AspstEa~k sur
Prise that there should BE arr objas-
ton to the investigation Senator
Epes asked il the body polite would
think something rotten IL friends
OF the department suppressed the
measure. Senator Mapp replied
that he was sure that IL would net.
that he thought the people realized
conditions and wanted TO see fair
play.
Senator TrinkIe. a strong advocate
OF prohibition. pronounced the reso-
luton unless and scornfully dubbed
1t 'child's play" but stated that he
would have TO vote for il for fear
of creating false impression among
the general public
Senator Mitchell defended his po-
sition in opposition to the resolution
with some warmth. He called at
iention to the evidence of the expert
accountant and the state auditor as
indicating the uselessn ness OF the in
vestigation and said he did not think
the committee was called upon ITO
stultify ourselves by calling for an
investigation
as the information furnished by the
accountant and auditor. | think that
is for the investigating committee to
receive, not this body"
Senator Holt expressed entire con-
fdence in the integrity of Commits
sioner Peters and said he was con-
WINGED that there IS nothing crooked
In his department" but that he
agreed with the view OF Senator
Trinkle and would vote accordingly
The resolution was amended so as
to strike out the clause requiring
submission of the report to the gov
ernor as we'll as the general assem-
bly,.