Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-28
as VOTES AGAINST
RHEA'S CONFIRMATION
Bitter Opposition Develops to lp.
pOln'msat Of Judge 10 Cor
poPatlGn Commission.
HARMONY PLEA ALL THAT SAVED HIM
eish'y-sevcn Members Of the Leois.
failure Voted for the etistol Man
Gag Ruling by Speaker D I'D
Greeted by Hisses From Gallery =
Public Sentiment Against Rhea.
Especial 10 The Daily press)

| Especial TO The Daily Press)
! RICHMOND. VA. Feb. 27--Driyen
into line by the msis,ent Democrats
Tor party harmony. the General Az
sembly of Virginia in Joint session.
tonight confirmed the appointment oil
judge William f.. lhea as "A member
iof the state corporation commission
] 10y u vote OF 81 TO &c.
That public sentiment was strong
against The confirmation was evident
b. tho Kisses which greeted the gag
ruling OF Speaker BYRD and the an
pianac which burst forth when those
opposed To Rhea addressed the House
II was stormy session, in which
orators for and against the confirm
alton of Judge Rhea to succeed Henry
Z. Stuart. resigned were heard. It.
was midnight before the Joint assem-
bly, of the Legislatures voted to con-
iirm Governor Swanson's nppointee.
Democrats Who Voted Auainst Rhea
The Democrats voting agaiust the
/ confirmation were Senators Grayatt.
Guntev. Saunders. Sims, Strobe. 1Sael-
err Walker, Hnrman, Chase and Wick
NAM and' Delegates Drbckemidgc.
+ Craige, Edwards. Evans. Lewis. +. M.
Love. s. VI. Love. Montague. Myers.
Powers. Rev, Sterrett, Walker. Wea-
yer. Wilcox Wilkins and Wingo.
There were but seven Of the legls.
iators absent when the vote IVES tu-
ken. and of that number none were
: senators.
senator Noel Immediately after tho
meeting was called to order rose TO
4 a question of Personal privilege and
asked that the joint assembly allow
the evidence of, witness 10 be In
troduced, He stated that the witness
would testify that he had received the
telegram alleged TO have been sent
ny Judge Thea TO certain of his fol-
lowers. ana which was. the. cause OF
much comment during the inyesti
CATION. His request was refused and
he was ruled out OF order.
James 1t. eaton OF Alexandria
moved that the debate be limited. and
when The resolution was read there
was much disappToval and n vigorous
debate. Senator Sale or Norfolk wax
/ speaking on the resolution when Del.
egate Goolrlck OF Fredericksburg
moved that the motion he nut AT once
This motion served to cnliyen the
debate. but wien the vote was finally
taken it was overwhelming TO cut off
me discussion at n fixed time.
How Debate Was Cut Short
| During the day patty leaders had
secured pledges from majority OF
the members that the vote should tako
place at IL o'clock, and so at that
time. despite. the protest OF many
Democrats, the gag was applied and
debate WAS closed
The vote was a disappointment to
The friends of Judge Rhea. who Ind
hoped that the final test would show
strict party line. but no less than
," Democrats. among the strongest
men in the Legislature. united with
lie % Republicans in declaring that
Rhea was unfit to ct on the com
II issoin.
The Republicans declare that the nc
ton of the Legislature will cost tn.
democratic party in the State of
Virginia not less than 10000 votes