The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-02

~ NiD Lil8S VOesA
that a company OF this sort would bo
In sone sense a vehicle Of information,
upon which legal opinions would he given
by Campbell ns Its attorney.
Cues. In other words, the company
would be employed, and the practice OF
law would be done by It's attorney or
agent, Mr.. Campbell?
Ans. Yes.
Practice in That Court.
Cues. Did 1t occur to you at all, the
Corporation Commission having. as YOU
shy, very important judicial functions,
TINT the attorney for this corporation
company, representing It, or representing
clients through It, would ever practice
In your court?
Ans. No, 1t did not. L should not con-
slider the preparation OF these papers In
connection with obtaining charters, or
the preparations Of reports MS practicing
law. s*
Ques, There Is a very important ques-
Ito coming up. as you stated-the matter
OF fixing railroad rates. Now, suppose
that Mr.. Campbell, who Is the attorney
for this company, should appear In be-
half OF his company, which had boon EN-
ployed by one Of these public service cor
porations, that could not have been a situn-
tion that you contemplated when you
went into this company, was 1t. Judge?
Ans. No. OF course. 1 did not contem-
plate that anything would be done except
In a general way. But I don't think that
could happen. II they wanted Mr.. Ser
vices In a matter Of that kind they would
want him personally. I speak Of 1t as
n practical matter. No gentleman would
employ a company Of this kind except
in routine matters. 80
CUES. Suppose that 1t was generally
known that the Virginia Corporation
Company had very intimate relations with
the Corporation Commission, or a judicial
body before whom questions were deter
mined, and that officers and members OF
the commission were actually Interested
in such private company: don't you think
TINT that would encourage men who had
business before the Corporation Com
mission, or such court, to employ such
n company?
Ans. Well, that is a question affecting
human nature in general. I think II a
man thought-for Instance. II a railroad
company-thought / was corrupt. they
would come to me. and go about II In a
different way. But | can see, of course.
the force OF your objection. and 1t Is
an objection, but I don't think 1t would
have much practical force. 1t is, an ar
g%un>ent. What has concerned me-what
concerned me at the time Mr.. Lanier was
before us. and what concerned me at
the time | made this brief statement in
the paper-was not about the stock at all;
1t was the fact that 1 did not put my
foot down on It at the time that Lanier
mentioned the thing to me. and say: mo,
1t shall not be done and I reached the
conclusion that / ought to have done 1t.
/ say | Judge myself, and I prefer to
judge myself. and 1t hurt me that BY any
lack of thought or graver error of judg-
ment not arising from lack of thought.
or by not giving proper attention. I had
by any possibility led Mr.. Lanier in doing
himself ar Injustice. as we'll as placing
myself in n wrong position: my position
being. in relation to myself Judging
myself OF least Importance of the two
matters.
Witness here answered questions re-
%garding his profits in the Virginia Cor
poration Company. as outlined by Major
Lanier's prospectus. and stated that he
did not purchase stock for any profit
but to further a company which would
aid the commission in its work.
Upshur Exaggerates.
Ques.; When Mr.. Upshur hled his
charges and you called him In and talked
to him, why didn't you say to him frank
~. when your attention was called to
this: Some time during the month of
'1kA y US shi- IsdIlieI tppsOdrTeu
me'' (readlng from Upshur's
charges. stating he did not give the
statement that Judge Crump was n
stockholder a passing thought, thinking |
1t too monstrous. etc.). would 1t not
have been better. would 1t not lave been
ulster TO yourself and Mr.. Lanier. and |
to Upshur. to have stated at that time. |
Yes, I did discuss this matter with
Lanier. / did take stock In this COM
pany. and I did 1t because 1 did not real
lie the possibilities which have deyel-
oped from the situation?
Ans: Well, / rather doubt It. I don't
see any reason why 1t should have been
done. If my relations with Mr.. Upshur
had been closer. it might have been.
a1estiorably. mentally. to exaggerate |
things; I think that paper shows that
for itself.
Cues: Was that particular thing an
exa%ggeration? Was or was 1t not n
fact that you had lone what that paper
said that Lanier said, that you had gone
over the matter with him and agreed
to take stock in his company?
Ans: In Il general way. ] have said.
Yes; I don't know about hat statement.
CUES: Don't you think 1t was due to
yourself. to your fellow-members OF the
commission, to Mr.. L.anier and to Mr..
upshur, to make n frank statement to
that effect. Wouldn't that very largely |
have obviated all of these distressing
things that nave occurred afterwards?
Ans: Well, l don't know about 1t, con-
sidering the general tendency of human
nature. That would be speculation. l
think 1t very doubtful.
No Dishonest Purpose.
Ques. Isn't 1t always better to be ran
and in all OF these matters to place your
self in such a position as that, even IL
you have done wrong and been guilty OF I
an indiscretion. you will have nothing to
hide or to conceal?
Ans. Unquestionably.
CUES. Does not the very fact OF con- |
cealment lead men on 10 do things and
into positions that are most u~nfortunate?
Ans. ] think. as n general principle
of human nature. you are right; yes.
CUES. Wouldn't all Of these things have
been obviated II at that time you had
frankly said that you had made this mis-
take. but that you had made it With no