The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-11
Joseph p. Rice of MOberlv Is
Named by the Governor for
Railroad Commissioner.
PLUM FOR D0CKERY'S FRIEND.
j. w. Alexander of Gallatin Is
Named as Judge of Seventh
Judicial District-Con-
test Possible.
REPT-BTIC SPECIAL.

jefferson City. No. Jan. 1O.-Governor
Stephens to-day appointed Joseph Rice Of
Moberly Railroad Commissioner. TO a
the place of Joseph 7. Harrington. deceased,
who was elected to succeed Joseph FI0ry.
lie also appointed Judge j.. w. Alexander
OF Gallatin AZ Judge of the Seventh Ju-
dicial Circuit. to succeed Judge Elbridce
Broaddus. who was elected to the Kansas
City Court OF Appeals last November. Both
appointments We're sent to Secretary OF
state Lesueur. with orders that the COM
missions be issued.
Judge Alexander Of Gallatin IS n friend OF
Governor-elec Dockery. and the Governor
elect IS believed to have no objections IN
the appointment. The appointment <oI-
lowed the receipt Of Judge Broaddus's res
to-day.
Joseph T.. Rice was born July 4 ISL At
MoWeaqua, Ill. and educated in the public
SCHOOLS there. Coming to Missouri IN 1S76. ha
settled In Moberly. his present abode. lie
hred a freight engine on the North Missouri.
now the wabash. until 1873, when he was
promoted TO freight engineer. Up to Janu-
airy q when he resigned. he was encineer
on a wabash passenger engine. running be-
tween Aoberiy and Kansas City. He is mar
ried and mas a boy and a girl. aged Il
and II, respectively. Rice is handsome In
face ard form. quiet in manner and earnest
IN speech. His story OF his appointment IS
Interesting.
Three railway men," he saws. "were can-
dictates for the appointment against some
IL other applicants. They were W 2 Nil
Ter OF Sedalia. j. II. Garnet OF Nevada and
n!yseii. We went together to Governor
,ePnShs ana told him that. as Herrington
dominated by the convention and elected
~ Ihe people-was q railroad man. n rail
ROAD man was the proper person for Tie
pIaSe- We told him we were the only rail-
road men who were candidates. and ~ he
Mouic pick one Of Us. we told him The tn.
S,5 would approve the appointment. You
Miller and Garrett. who we-e nra.ar, H.
u INlLes recital, corroboratsd II.
phfsdFdihg the appointment Of Rico ne
mIore mixed. Governor-elcct Dockery VS.
Hot consulted or conferred with M c.
erh9r stephens. 4 shrewd politician here
Governor Stephens disiTEes Nist"rT ~
Park. Chief Clerk in the office of the Sccre.
ba5s 1t Statf; who was a prominent. per
pace. stephens did not care so much ~
make the appointment as 10 Keen No
aarR rom getting the place. II stephens
appointed n railroad man to tho uisc.
Dockery would not dare TO fiji the ,ni,c.
with any but a railroad man, even If the
courts declared that Stephens's snnni,tcs
was not entitled TO the place. Nai5r paro
IS not a railroad man. Joseph Pire
Stephens.s appointee. is an engineer on the
When this story was repoated n Gov
error stephens he disclaimed the motives
assigned 10 him..
II viii say frankly That I do not Ike
Major Park" he sid, but my aciisn W.
not prompted by this dislike, vygs ~
vised by Attorney General Crow that tho
position was vacant and that / could legally
fill IT." ~S
Grove Gives His Opinion.
Governor Stephens showed the following
letter:
Jefferson City. No. Jan. s. ISo1.-Governor I'm
V. Stephens. Jefferson City. Mo-: Dear sir
You have submitted 20 me the question as 10
whether or not there IS a vacancy in the oTira
OF Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner at
In reply thereto I beg 20 say that I am Of IN.
opinion that a vacancy exists and that YOU have
and that your appoin;es can legally hold the
3hlce untll the next general election. and until
his successor Is elected and qualified.
A successor to Mr.. F1ory has been elected and
vided by the statutes Of the state and ~ CEN
eral Assembly has met and the result Of tie
the result Of the election has BEEN ogyi:isIIv |
declared. and Mr. Herrinston has been named
stitution or this state as Railroad and wac !
house COMMISSIONS to succeed Mr. Fiory: but.
having. died before assuming the duties Of the
Office. but after his election and qualification. a |
on January | 1901. And this being -. 7 am in
no doubt whateyeF as to your legal right to
EDWARD G Grove
IT believe" continued Governor stephen.
that the appointment will stand In the |
courts should il reach there. The manifesto. |
pronunciamento or ultimatum issued by Mr.. |
F1ory. recently, that ~heswould contest nv
appointee's right could have had hut one
effect. He challenged NE to make the ap-
pointment. Mr.. F1ory can fight it now II &c
likes.
'.The Railroad Commissioner shoYId ba q
railroad man. The Kansas City Convention
nominated a railroad man to that place.
and he led his ticket. That seems to show
the will Of the people.
II think Mr.. Flory was put out over the
foresight We showed IN getting Mr.. Her
rington to take the oath Of Office before his
death. II was a delicate task. but we id
in that task. That destroyed any shadow
title MIR. Flory might have had"
Despite Governor Stephens's confidence
the new Railroad Commissioner appears al
together to have fallen into a nest snugIy
with ~bayonets and Other
things.
II Joseph Flory carries out his purpose
recently announced. QUO warTanto proceed
ings or other legal machinery will be set
by him to Dust the apDolntee. II
GOvernor-elect Dockery does not approve
the appointment, or considers himself ar
or his prerogatives infringed upon.
may make another appointment. and al
his appointee and Governor Stepheus's
TO fight It cut in the courts.
Win or lose. the position OF Railroad
speedy elimination. Governor Stephens. in
his message. recommends the reduction Of
tho board of three and n secretary to one
commissioner. 4 CROWNS sentiment for
he abandonment or the board Is apparent
I'M the present legislature. NewIan CJ1l-
pocket to abolish the commission.
As a matter of fact. the commission sub =
serves few useful ends and none which
could not be as well subserved By a single