The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-26
DELAY VOTE ON
CONFIRMATION
OF JUDGE RHEA
Defending Friends Declare
Charges Are lnstigated
by Political Enemies.
.BJLLITT FLAYED
ALIVE BY SPEAKER
Joint Assembly Adjourns Near
Midnight After Wild Wrangle.
Wickham's Minority Report
Against Confirmation
Greeted, With
Cheers.
FTER heaying majority and mis-

William4.E. Rhea, of Bristol,
| as State yCorpdration Commissioner.
and listening Ito several hours Of
4 fiery soratery upon them last night,
the Hiht Assembly of the Legis-
lature adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock
tomorrow night, when a vote will
probably be reached.
Both the reports are voluminous
documents, and their reading consumed
over an hour. The majority paper is
| ly vindlcates Judge Rhea of all the
| charges made against him. while the
other one bears only the signature OF
Senator T. Ashby Wickham. of Henrico.
and practically sustains most OF them.
aIontasue's Fiery Speech.
On motion OF Mr.. Montague. OF this
city. the two reports were ordered
printed, and in support OF his motion
he made hot speech, In which he
said he had not read the evidence. and
was not prepared to vote. When Mr..
Montague submitted this motion.
coupled with one that the matter go
over until tomorrow night. there wera
cries OF NO, no. and this fred tho
member from Richmond to high pitch
of excitement. He held his temper
pretty we'll, though it could be plainly
seen that he was considerably wrought
up.
He declared that he did not wish
to be forced into vote when he was
not prepared.
''I do not know how shall vote on
this matter" he shouted, and claim
the right to inform myself.
ST am Democrat, and the people
represent are Democrats. and will
y ~ I,y IaNt ta,. oy> ya1ys
anybody's yoke
Dull at First.
When Mr.. Montague resumed his seat
the opposition to postponement had
died away as 1t was evidently realized
that it would not be good policy to
force a vote against the will of a
member The first part of the ses-
sion. which embraced the reading OF
the reports, was painfully dull. but
when the speaking started the situa-
ton grew lively, and the overcrowded
galleries were often heard from in re-
sponse to popular utterances by Vari-#
Gus members. Senator John G. Noel,
of Lee. who filed the charges against
Judge Rhea. was the first speaker. He
reiterated his former declarations as
to the alleged unftness of the Cow
ernor's nominee for Corporation Com
missioner, and reviewed the evidence
at some length. Speaker Byrd fol-
lowed Senator Noel and replied to him
in sarcastic and whitening language.
He paid his respects also to captain
Bullitt. to whom he often referred as
this self constituted prosecutor" and
then he dissected the evidence in the
case in an able manner.
Coming to the testimony OF Hon.
Henry C. Stuart before the joint COM
mittes, the speaker took a shot at the
former commissioner, and referred to
him in highly sarcastic language.
Galleries Applauded.
strong speeches were made in favor
of confirmation by Delegate Withers.
OF Nansemond. and Senator Halsey. of
Lynchburg. Judge Martin Williams
was IN the midst OF an able argument
along the same line. when at 11:40
o'clock the joint Assembly adjourned.
1t was thought by many that a vote
would he reached last night. but 1t Is !
not certain now that the speaking Will
end tonight, though this is likely.
The galleries seemed to lean toward
the minority report The first round
Of applause came when Clerk Williams
the reading of this paper.
though perhaps the greatest volume
broke forth while Speaker Byrd was
confirmation. Judge VIII
liam Hodges Mann, who drew the
majority report, has been chosen to
close the argument on that Side and
will probably speak something like
two hours.
The signers of the majority report
are Messrs Thomas S. West (chair-
mani. S. Fl. Wilson, Alex. Stuart. NJ. II,
Cooke. Tyson Janney. William II.
Mann. Edward EcholS John A. Lesner L
and George T. Rison.
Noel Wanted to Close.
Speaker Byrd called the joint AS
semhly to order at $40 o'clock, a
quorum of each branch being present.
Senator Echols acting chairman OF
the Joint Committee on Confirmation,
presented the two reports. and asked
that Judge Mann be allowed to close
the debate for the majority report q
Senator Noel protested, declaring
hat having been put in the attitude
Of a prosecutor, he should be allowed
to close. Senator Sale said the ad.
vocates of the majority report had
he eight of closing under all parlla-
nentary rules. and the motion OF SEN
ltor Echols was adopted.
AT this point Clerk John W. Will
iams. of the House, proceeded to read
he majority report. which paper en-
oraced something like 10000 words.
rhe reading OF the paper was ar once
-iresome. and yet the large crowd In IA
he gallery waited patiently to hear
he pent-np oratory which was schedul-
d to heeak out as soon as the readings
was over sis
Before Mr.. Williams had conclrdea
his irksome and protracted task. a.
aumber of members We're discovered
nodding, and some of them slept peace
TT,ontinuaa ~, ,s.-, y, 1T ~