The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-09
Overwhelming Majority
for Sears Substitute
AbSolving Crump.
HOUSE VIGOROUSLY
APPLAUDS ANDERSON
Believed That Lower Branch Will
To-day Follow Lead Taken
BY senate-Friends Of
Chairman Of Com
mission Much
Pleased.

By an overwhelming majority, the Sem
ate late yesterday afternoon, yoicing
widespread sentiment in the State. re-
jectcd the Judgment of the special COM
mittee investigating the affairs of the
state Corporation Commission, and
adopted the minority report of MIR. Sears
OF Mathews, absoving Judge Crump OF
any suspicion of wrongdoing and limiting
It's criticism to a remark upon the indis-
creton displayed In the incident which
provoked the,recent inquiry.
Dissatisfaction with the harsh render
ing, and, as many viewed 1t. hypercriti-
col attitude of the majority membership
upon the committee. crystal2ed during
the evening of Wednesday and the early
morning OF Yesterday into a marked de-
termination upon the part OF the upper
branch to administer prompt and ef-
fective check TO the tendency In this di-
recton. Objections to taking ZIP the re-
ports which, as they lay upon the table
without action. were damaging to an
extent sufficient to blast the career of the
man chiefly concerned, were swept aside
and thereupon twenty-nine senator's voted
against five for the Sears substitute
There was no debate. The action of the
Senate was at once communicated to the
House OF Delegates. AS he entered the
hail. General Anderson, of Richmond,
who bore the message. was vigorously
applauded by the delegates-an index to
the feeling among large following upon
this side
House May Act To-day.
Action by the House of Delegates will
probably be taken to-day and though
there will be stumbling blocks in the way
it may be. with safety, said that the
lower branch will follow the lead taken
by the Senate. Upon n motion to take
UP the reports, Speaker Cardwell will
adhere to his previous ruling that there
is nothing before the House An attack
upon the ruling OF the chair Is contem-
plated. Mr. Byrd, chairman of the In
vestigating Committee. said yesterday
that his part in the investigation was
completed with the report, and that he
would not even engage In n possible de-
bate in the House unless asked some
question. Tho Crump leaders on the
Senate side are counting on seventy votes
in the House. This is a considcraI<i
claim. but they will almost unquestion-
ably have majority.
Judge Crump Remains.
During the consideration of the report
Judge Cr,,mp continues to maintain
silence. refusing to express himself III
any manner whatsoever. His friends are
ibilant at the action of the Senate,
which they regard as a vindlcation. The
idea that the chairman of the commits
sion may now resign is secuted by these
rentlemen or rather by such of them
as have been questioned upon this point.
Meanwhile active forces on the outside
continue at work In behalf OF Judge
rrump and further emphasis has been
given to tho rather remarkable popular
outburst in his favor by the action OF
of1,cial bodies in Richmond and other
cities of the State.
Action Of Senate Silent.
While the actual evidence OF an unusual
situation were few, it was apparent to
the most casual observer that the Senate
began it's days work with the Corpora
ton Commission matter In mind, the
prospective consideration of THE two re-
ports creating an undercurrent, anything
but obtrusve and yet clearly defined.
To those familiar with the situation,
there existed no doubt as to the out
come. thorough canvass OF the ground
had becn made and leader of the Crump
following, carried III his pocket at the
opening OF the session. a list with checks
against the names OF thirty senators
who had declared their intension of yot-
ing for the minority report AS the Sc
quel showed there was but one defec-
ton. Still it was known that certain
opposition would develop to any move
ment whatsoever in THE direction of the
reports.
The first sign came Mt noon. when dur
ing momentary lull in the proceedings,
General Anderson, OF Richmond, arose
and asked. without discussing the mat
ter, that tho Senate without further de-
lay, take up the reports which he re-
garded as privileged matter, proper for
consideration at any time. At this hour
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