The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-31

II" Thc Bill passed both the Senate and
the House with 10 per cent. IN y. ~
Gave the committee IN qpp [%r, hr =
After giving nry testimony, us aiore lore,
said, the committee adjourned 70 .I 'nG ho
again on the 22n. went neior 'r s,o
committees again on ahuf he Following
INF i I Chairman, Il was astonislcd 70
read an article that nppearreeoaa u r ,,f.
erence to tho testimony before The G. , II,
vcstIgaung committee II TINT n ,.rieit
,h's ppsarz TBS f. Is per
and n,1t senator l chupman%and other members
said that they had &no knowledge o., or ~
until It was read in the 4, L ,,l,a
In large headline, Caused me =, nTou M
This is really the matter =, !, y, which
brought forth the Thomas .resot'o fc, nnv
TO tainpcr with Legislation.
(RFrhc statement about the conference re-
port is misleading and untrue. It WAS Was
prescntcd Senate. signed pS All abo 1t
CON C>,nsation HEunderstood tllat q VI
Eoycc wrote the article, but where he sot
his information from don't know. 60
know. however, he was seen u. con- er-
man and Thomas at Campbells Hotel.
l will state here that N!r.4 Gregory,
member OF the Investigating committee
stated on the floor OF TN; House INT .mc
headlines above referred to- were ms
Leading and not warranted by the Cyl
dence, or words TO this effect. NO adj
stlonal testimony was taken BY the com
mittee about House Bill no. l., SO III
as ] know. 7f1
81 want to state. Mr.. Chairman. that
MS my name has been mentioned IN con,
.ncction with this matter. OF course -, /.
have naturally personal interest III It.
and not being present when all the {, cvl-
dence was sadduccd before the onmittcc
bearing on this matte wished TO
ask the committee whether they have any
doubt In their minds as to my connection
vii this bill, having previously testified
that | had mo connection VIII, 1t IN any
shape Or n fern un WdS 50 up pf
the House, except Gthc connection when
the bill was examined In the presence OF
Senators Chapman.C Conway r.. Sauds and
Phil. SHIELD r. they have any doubt as
to my conncctio with this matter.
would be more than pleased to give them.
any information within my inoWlGdGcs
concerning it. wish to state further.
that being a member Of the House ana
as such being on the same footing Win
the members of the committee that u
they have any doubt In their minds as to
tlemcn involved in this matter. that
desire to Join hands with them and to in-=
vestigatc every proceeding IN reference.
to this bill. from besirninE 70 ond, ana NM,
one elses connection with this matter
'fit seems to me It would be well to have
every member OF the Finance Committee
summoned to testify MS TO their know
ledge nf what happened In the Senate
committed.
Be Fully Investigated.
"This paper states that Senator Thomas
offered his resolution based on what facts
he knew concerning this bill. under
stand that Mr. Echols stated TINT the
ton, rf.fp n 'ThnmaS
did not reflect on any OF the clerks OF tho
Senate and he thercupon. called on the
gentlemen whom. 1t was Intended to hurt
In regard to Bill l52 ol,is Is the Ports.
therenon Senator Ncmyer explained
whit he knew about It; that Senator
/ Thomas was present at that time. ana II
House Bill, No. l2. at that time that he
should have stated 1t. MY recollection Is,
that his information was based on what
House BILL No. -. and that upon examl-
nation of the bill he found out that
Judge Phlegar had misinformed him.
And It seems 70 TAIN, me' gen1,nnn nd 1as
to whcthcr8the amendments were offered
in the Senate Finance Committee, as sug-
gested By Senator Thomas. that the mat
ter should bcHrulIIy investigated In Justice
and fairness to all parties concerned that
tho asperslous and insinuatious cast upon
members OF the Legislature should be
II
state, Mi. Chairman. as I have, stated to,
you an, that the only connection i had
with this bill was IL the conference com. com.
@ / yWo haY Ss ESd o ex nno5
1t in any manner, shape or form"
After making the above statement. the
committee did not question me further,
and began Joking about an entertainments
take part. | was left under the impress
sion lhat they were satisfied with my
connection wthathe matter and that there
following Saturday, March 9th, aud you
can imagine my surprise and disgust
when picked up the Richmond paper on
Tuesday last ON my return from Cape
III the committee had me under inves-
tigatlon. why did they not toll nc so,N
that ! could read the evidence mud 50
more fully, MS ] have done In this state
mcnt? ask them why;I would Ike TO
know?
though | do not feel thoy need any vln-
dicatlOngnt my hands, ! think | .proper
to show that Senator Thomas, when he
offered M Iesolutioh - rfgar h,,1 @ tn1
making ita penitnntary crime for any
body 10 tamper with d bill, was acting.
Under q mlsapprellension ana that no az
forwards discovered that he had made
''mountnin out of mole hill, and
feel confident Senator Thomas will admit
this.
was PASSED Friday night, the Thomas
resolution and bill about tan'perlng With
bills were passed Saturday night, the
night the Legislature adjourned Mr.
Thomas was under the impression thns
the amendment exempting the, estates .i Of
50. 900 and under was left out the bill that
passed now quote from his testimony,
taken from the record: As .
Thomas nm not sure. hut think
Judge nhlegar amenaed J. IN TIE F Sl, ne.
cent where tho lunatlc lived. and reduce,
h,s the fec from 20 to 10 per cent;
The chairman: Of theSrecoye.r,yY, H.,
amenament went further. on my rem
rosentaflon With reference TO the hard
ships of having the asylnms collect these
claims, think he u so Incorporates, in his
that estate or $4,000 nl,d under
should be exempt, or where the estate
vas rot Large enough to take care Of the
family also offered an y, nlIfenlmn.gnt
flitiee. that rsemnled all 8eastl nun, cln,ina
81, cssatnat,f $4,000: sand 1lndrr.tnntl w'lernt
s.aitIl t~ylN ttts-t rl