The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-14
Mr.. BRAXTON IS
NOT AT All. WELL
Was Unable to Proceed With His
Speech
PROBABLY RESUME TO-DAY.
fr. Thorn Closes for His Side, and the Au-
xnsta Leader Begins Concluding Arsu-
meut for the Report No
Afternoon Session.

On account OF Chairman Braxton's
{ unexpected sickness. general debate WAS
not closed on the report OF the corpora
ton Committee yesterday. AT the morn
ing session Mir. Thorn. spoke win great
force and power in opposition TO the re-
nort closing the argument on that side
His partinG shot at Mr. Wysor, the
dreamer of Dreams" was greatly enjoyed
and his speech was in keeping with ms
reputation as a fine rcasoner ana spieh-
Gid advocate.
MT. Braxton began the closing argu-
ment, and had spoken with much ear
--stness and ability for an hour, When
he stated that, owing to not feeiinS "eii'
he would be glad to be allowed to COM
+ plete his argument at the afternoon ses-
sion. When the convention reconVeneo
Judge Kendall announced that MI Brax-1
ton was too unwell TO proceed, ana an
adjournment was had until TO-DAY, "heh
he Is expected to conclude the ilnal aP-
neal for the adoption Of the majority re-
port.
.yo,ld offer a resolution to the effect that
on aeSt Tuesday the convention should
III iourp, subject to the cali OF the pTesi-
dent.
DAY IN DETAIL.
TIL. convention was opened with prayer
br Rey. Dir. punaway. President pro-
fem. W. A. Anderson presided. SlNts-
five. members were present
Mr.. O'Flaherty presented memorial
signed by public teachers of LoudouE
county. relating TO education
Mr.. Blair gave notice of motion that
3he convention adjourn on next MOT
cav, subject to the call Of the president.
Leaves OF absence were granted several
members.
In Committee of The Whole, Mr.. kee-
selI presiding, Mr.. Blair explained his
attitude towards the report of the Cor
poration Committee. He said he couio
not consent TO embarking the old ship
os State on the dangerous seas OF e6-
detrimental legislation. For that reason
he could not approve Of the whole OF
the minority or majority reports. The
creation of the additional three officers
who were to constitute the commission
was another serious objection Having
witnessed the great strides OF develop
ment in Virginia under the present Con-
stitution, he did not believe it could be
improved on. He contended that If the
LEGISLATURE was dominated by railroads,
st would be much easier for them to
dominate the three commissioners NO
body would contend that North Caro-
lima, with a railroad commission, was
half as prosperous and progressive as
Virginia without one. Mr. Blair re.
counted the wonderful development OF
the Southwest, and said it was all due
to the Norfolk and Western Railroad,
the best in the State. a Corporation
Commission would greatly retard de-
velopment.
MIR. BLAIR'S TALK
Mr.. Blair recapitulated many mistakes
the convention had made, chief among
them being the offence of coming here
at all; another mistake was the intro
duction of the ecclesiastical bastard,
known as the Quarles-Barbour resolu-
ton. but the biggest mistake would be
The enactment of q law regulating rail-
roads in the Constitution.
MIR. Thorn next spoke in opposition to
the report on corporations. He said he
had doubted that propriety of his TAX
ing an active part in the discussion, but
the seriousness Of the situation and the
interests. progress and prosperity of his
people We're at stake and his sense or
duty had overcome every impulse of per-
sonal preference. He recounted the i'm
mense industrial, commercial and in
creasing Importance in Norfolk. Ports
mouth and Newport News; how in twenty
years population and taxable values had
1rebled in extent. He spoke OF the
great manufacturing, shipping, financial
and other vast interests which had been
developed through corporations and said
that, while Norfolk probably had made
greater progress than any Other section
of the State 1t was only an Illustration
of what had been done ali over Virginia.
He recognized the obligation as a de egate
here to protect and foster the interest OF
the whole State, and in opposing the pro-
posed ordinance he conscientiously believ-
cd he was doing so.
TOO EXTENSIVE.
Saving that he would not discuss the
&c
the report, about which he had not the
least doubt, he then proceeded to dis
sect that portion which gave to the COM
mission the power to control, as ne
claimed, the fixing Of schedules on which
trains should run. A power so extern
tsive had never been asserted in any stat
ute or Constitution of this country.
dr. Thorn declared that railroads had
been subject to the most bitter denuncia-
tion on the floor of the convention. II
had been stated that this was a war be.
tween labor and capital One speaker
had accused them of high crimes ano
Inisdemeanors: another had said he woulo
as soon trust HIGHWAY robber TO cor
rect an error or do justice: another hao
proclaimed that u vulture instead of ar
eagle should be stamped on their dol.
lars. &c. He MADE strong defense OF
railroad management and asked if calm
ana dlSpaSSlonate consideration OF Sucf
a great question could be had in an at.
naosphere polluted by such Incorporate
uttetances and extreme sentiments.
AS TO EXPERIMENTS
Mr.. Thorn spoke of having been con-
nected with corporations for twenty
years. and that even the great questions
underlying their development were yet il,
the experimental stage, and to fix an IN
flexible rule for their organization. con.
duct or control, would be positively sui.
cidal.
The spring suit of clothes Mr.. Wyso,
spoke about dressing them was all yer,
entertaining and bright, but he should re
member that the suit Of clothes propose,
here was intended to last for thir,,
years. and would not Tit after enc shor
twelve months or be useful for even on
winter.
Mr.. Thorn next criticised the section
which declared the right to parallel e5
tahIished lines Of railroads he said a
first he was in favor of this but upol
investigation of the subject. he had foun
that It overturned fundamental principl
that had been established in the law, an
the conclusion Of this convention after
short months delibera ton. on that cues
ton was too short-sighted to, be; guild
in otIrr respects Discussing the lon
and short haul clause he. strollsiy crit