The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-04
The Corporation Commission.

The Times-Dispatch has purposely re-
served its opinion concerning the ques-
lions involved in the Corporation Com
mission tangle. We have waited for all
the facts TO come out, and we have
waited for the Sensation" to subside.
we are not Interested In the personal dis
putes between the gentlemen involved.
Our concern is for the Corporation Com,
mission, which has proven TO be one Of
virginias best ard most useful institu-;
tons It Is a good Institution in itself,
and its affairs have been administered
with admirable tact and marked abilSy.
The corporations have in no sense been
oppressed or hampered in their operations,
yet they have been duly regulated and
required to serve the public and pay just
taxes to the State. Through the good
the State have been largely increased,
without imposing any additional burdens
upon the people. So far to the contrary.
TIC tax rate has been reduced
The commissioners, one and all, have
done the State valuable service, and none
Of them has done better work than Judge
crump The questions of law involved in
the work have naturally fallen to him.
and in no single instance, so far as we
can recall, has he been reversed by the
Court of Appeals. Judge Crump's SER
vices have been most valuable, and we
violate no confidence in saying that Hon.
A. c. Braxton father of the Corporation
Commission, has. recently paid Judge
Crump the highest compliment at the
same time expressing the opinion that
It would be a public misfortune for the
commission to lose his services at this
time.
There can be no two opinions as to
Judge Crump's past service, and there
can be no two opinions as to his useful
ness. The onlsi. question is this: Has he
done anything to'f6rfeit the respect or the
confidence Of the public? Without lcsita-
ton we answer no. 1t was ndiscrect in
him to have taken a share of stock in
the company which Mr.. Lanier organized,
but thatis the worst that can be said Of
1t, and we have no doubt that Judge
Crump was prompted by the purest and
kindest motives. Even II circumstances
we're against him. we should acquit him,
II he gave his word that he had done no
wrong, for we know him to be honorable
and truthful. and he is simply incapabl
of betraying a sacred trust or doing a
thing of doubtful character for the sake
Of money. Else what were mans rep
utation worth? Beverly Crump has spent
his life in this community and his record
is well known. He has done nothing in
a corner. lie has walked openly, and we
all know that he has walked honorably.
Ills fello",cltizens Of Richmond, who
have known him from his youth, refuse
10 entertain any evil suspicion against
him. The Tlmes-Dlspatch vouches for
him TO the people of Virginia and tells
Them that they could not have MON
honorable or more faithful represents
afsNe than he In the Corporation Com
mission. If he had betrayed his trust In
any way, The Times-Dispatch would be
among tho first to call for his resigna.
lion. But az hs is a faithful. useful ana
well-nigh, invaluable seryan, OF the
State. we allow no trlfing act of ,-1Is-
eret!on, done in perfect Innocence and
Kindness, to turn US against him, and we
give assurance TO the people of the State
that he Is entirely worthy, as he Is tbo-
roughly competent, 10 serve them in This
important position.