The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
SUNDAY JUNE II, 1905.
The Corporation Commission.

The Corporation Commission.
We print in to-day's paper a commune.
cation from Mr.. "A. c. BraXton, of
Staunton reviewing at length the affairs
ofthe State Corporation Commission. es-
pecially as related to the connection Of
Judge Beverly T. Crump with the vir-
kinia Corporation Company, Incorporated.
Mr.. Braxton's views are most valuable
because he was author of the ordinance
crea ting the commission and necessarily
FEELS the deepest interest in the COM
missions good name and welfare. II
may also be stated just here that origi-
nally Judge Crump was not Mr.. BraXton's
choice as a member Of the commi ssion.
On the contrary, Judge Crumps appoint
ment excluded another man whose APP
pointment Mr.. Braxton desired and
earnestly advocated. But in view OF the
excellent service that Judge Crump has
rendered, Mr.. Braxton has been fair
enough to acknowledge that 1t was n
wise selection, and he declares that his
retirement at this time would be public
misfortune. Like The Times Dispat oh.
Mr.. BraXton has made searching inquiry
into this unfortunate affair from begin
ming to end, and again like The Times
Dispatch. he has reached the deliberate
conclusion that, while Judge CLump was
indiscreet, lie was innocent of any !nten-.
hon to do wrong; that In taking single
share Of stock for which he paid one
hundred dollars in cash, he was prompted
by desire to aid a company which. in
it's turn, would be OF material assistance
to the Corporation Commission In pre-
pairing corporations charters in prop
er form. Mr.. Braxton emphasizes the
difference between public service corpor-
atoms. such as railroad companies, tclc-
graph companies and the like, and COR
poratio which may do only what ind!-
viduals working together may do, without
being Incorporated. !.
In the case''of public service corpora
tons. the Constitution provides that the
Corporation Commission shall have the
power and be charged with the duty of
supervising, regulating and controlling
all transportation companies doing busl-
ness in this State, in all matters relat-
ing TO the performance of their public
duties and their charges therefor and OF
correcting abuses therein BY such COM
panies, and TO that end SHALL from
time to time, prescribe aid enforce
against such companies such rates
charges, classificatlons OF traffic and rules
and regulations, etc. In view Of this
exercise Of authority over the railroad
and telegraph companies, the Constitution
provides In effect that no member or en-
ploye of the commission shall hold stock
in a transportation or transmlssion'
company and for manifest reasons. But
there is no such restriction as to private
corporations, such as the Virginia Corpor-
alton Company. Incorporated, for the sur
fcient reason that the corporation has
no authority over them. All that 1t has
10 do Is to SEQ that they are Incorporated
according to laws enacted by the Legis-
lature, and that they make proper re-
turns 10 the State. Therefore, Judge
Crump violated no law whatsoever, when
he took n share of stock IN the Virginia
Corporation Company, Incorporated, II
was legitimate company, organized to
do a legitimate business, and was, IN
Judge Crumps opinion, a useful company
to the Corporation Commission. 1t goes
without saying that. as inStters have
turned out, II was unwse and most UNI
fortunate that Judge crump took ana
paid for share OF the stock. But he
did nothing Illegal; he did not perform
any service for the company or give 1t
any ~of his time, and nothing that he
did in this connection IN any way com
promised him or the Corporation Com
mission. or interiered In any particular
with the discharge OF his official duties,
His associates OF tile commission, who
are known TO be men OF the highest per-
sonal and official integrity, have lost nc
particle OF their confidence IN judge
Csunps honesty or honor and have no
remote suspicion that he intended IL
do anything wrong or that he did any,
thing wrong. On the contrary. they arc
sure that he acted in perfect sincerity
aud believed that lie was doing the Cor
poration Commission a serYIce IN tneour
apinp the Virginia CtDrDoratiOn COmpauy