The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-10
Rich,:lnnd city. was rext heard and his
speech ter appointment by the Circuit

! speech Ter appointment " the CIRCUIT
Court woss . rery1strong one.
| Mir: Hawkins was asked n number OIL
! questions ky various members Of the COM
r:.:tlcc and he showed great Familiarity
With the office he holds
| Commissioner Owen, of Manchester;
! commissioner Francis. Of Roanoke county,
and 1icn. S. NJ. Ncwhousc, of Culpeper,
spoke for appointment, and Hon. X. 5.
L. smith spoke for popular election.
| One of thc strongest speeches made was
ti,,, last one which was by Senator Don
p. Ha,sey, Of Lynchburg, in favor of cleo
lic, By Boards OF Supervisors IA counties
and Councils in cities
| The committee met again at 2. NJ.
The attendance Of spectators. both legis-
Iators and others. was excellent, filling
the Senate chamber.
Senator Lyle made the most elaborate
speech OF the afternoon. He spoke for
hal: anu ho.r. and was heard with the
st,ictcst attention.
The first speakers were Senators kcc-
1e.l. Mr. John c. Easley, of Henrico, and
Hi:. Angel. Of Roanoke Senator kcezeN
was III favor of the appointment of com
c2ssioners. Mr.. Easley also advocated
this disposition Of the matter, while MI.
ANGEL wanted these important officers
elected.
Senator Lyle brought out many points
on his side. among them that the COM
missioner OF revenue ought TO be indie
pendent and left as untranmeled as pos
sihle: that he believed the best future of
:he State was in the hands OF the Demo-
crafts but if the people were allowed to
elect the commissioners. in a number Of
counties il the Southwest and elsewhere
Republicans will be chosen MIR. Chapman
asked the speaker if that were true now.
aHu the reply was that the number in
the Southwest was about evenly divided.
and one Senator interpolated Yes, and
the county Of Mecklcnburg has q niger
commissioner" This struck all as grave
point, from q political standpoint. The
point made. too. by Mr.. Lyle was that
we're the commissioners elected they
could not serve but one term OF tour
Years, while the best work OF commits
1icners is done after they have had eN-
lrerienCe.
Mr.. Thomas W. Gardner. of Henrico,
spoke briefly in favor of election by the
people. Mr.. Chapman, OF Greene, favored
appointment. on the groun. that the best
work comes from experience.
AIR. Morton, of Bristol made an excel
lent speech in favor OF election by the
people. He said the examiners of the rec
oIds were the greatest blood suckers in
the Commonwealth. and these were APP
pointed by the courts.
This speaker was followed by Major II.
5. Ea1nondson. of Halifax, in one OF the
brightest talks Of the evening. Major Ed
1noTGson spoke in favor OF the appoint
lnent by the judges. He gave in q delight
fu reminiscent manner some OF tie pO-
l;tical history of Halifax county, which
was at time under negro rule.
Mr. Christian. Of Richmond. followed
Major Edmundson. The speaker made
the statement that many Of the commits
sic,ers of the revenue were not capable
to perform the duties Of their office. Re
diti not reflect, nor did he intend to re-
feet on anyone. but many OF them Were
not responsible therefor He SIP Ike
will, good effect for the appointment by
the courts.
st the conclusion Of Captain Chris-
tian's remarks the committees went into
executive session. The vote was at once
taken with the result that when voting;
together the minority was IN favor OF
reporting the bill. but when voting as
Senate and House committees. the Senate
committee was a tie. and tho majority
Of the House committee was in favor of
reporting The chair decided that iii or
der for the bill to be reported, there
should be in favor OF 1t a majority of
both committees.
The vote on submission to the peop'e
was as follows: Scrate-ayes Mears. Op'e,
Gold, Hobbs DinWdtiic: NAYS Wallace.
Lyle. Walker. Chapman House-ay s,
Jordan. Gardner. Mort Taylor Owens,
Goodwin; anys, overly. Christian and
Edmondson.
So far as the House committee is con-
cerncd. it will not have to meet, but as
the Senate committee vas a tie. it will
be called by Chairman Opie next week.
Adjournment followed