The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-30
BY LEWIS il. MAcnES.

Q q IL
By LEWIS II. NAcHEN.
At the Capitol yesterday the Rhea
held the centre OF the
stage. Only the prologue has been
heard as yet but the drama has al.
ready aroused as much interest as
anything that has transpired since the
cpnvening Of the General Assembly,.
The three sessions Of the Joint Com
naittee on Conf rmatton were largely at
tended. both by mem bers and others,
the floor and gallery OF the Senate
chamber. where the Investigation Is
held, beng crowded at every meeting
But lis most orderly and decorous
nssemblage, all manifestations OF ap.
.n=oval or disa pproval being strictly
prohibited by the committee. Though
the utterances OF counsel on both sides
have been plain and emphatic, they
1,ave been entirely parliamentary.
to the committee. has spoken only
through his counsel. and has sat com.
posedly through the fire ard counter.
fire by which his fitness to sit upon
the Corporation Commission OF this
State is sought to be assatled and de-.
l1ended.
At the morning session most OF the
ts.,ailable time was taken up In per.
fscting the pleadings. SO to speak. In
accordance with the previous require
rTents OF the committed. First one set'
fof counsel Withdrew for conference,
.nrd then. the other. so that. for an hour
and half. the investigation stood still.
while the attorneys marched to and
1ro. Finally. when the supplementary
pleadings or amended Indictment uf
there can be such thing) was duly
filed the defense, as the attorneys for
Judge Rhea describe themselves. pre-,
scented something In the nature OF
demurrer and plea in abatement com.
relating to Judge Rhea's general repu-
ratlon as an unscrupulons politician
were too uncarra!n. and indefinite. and
those relating to alleged election
frauds In congressional contests, which
had been heard and passed upon by
committees OF the House OF Representa-.
tives nd by the House itself should
be considered aa already decided. or,
as the lawyers say. as res ad1udtcata.
Political and Fcraonnl Integrity.
70 these Objections 1t was replied.
u, the opening Of tho afternoon ses.
SIGN. that general reputation as TO
1.oit!cal and persona! Integrity was
q pertinent inquiry upon the question
OF fitness for tho position to which
Judge Rtea Lad been appointed. and
that as to the contested election cases
tho issue before the congressional
committee was different from that
tryolved in the present investiga tion
.rhe5 committee. at the conclusion OF
I. the afternoon meeting. In executive
B session. determined to substantially
!. sustain the contentious Of the defense;
1 that Is, to hear testimony OF that
s tinn rpl, {oh !
to the veracitv and Integrity OF Judge
Flea. and to exclude altogether evil
i Gence In regard to those matters which
i lad been heard and decided by the
y congressional committees.
Formal Opening Mt Night.
At night there was aaformnl open
lng! by both sides upon the charges MS
finally maze up. and within the scope
OF the committees restrictions. The
/ facts of the now famous Jordan case
y were rehearsed from both standpoints
and the propr1ety Of. Judge Rhea's ac,
ton In setting aside the verdict and
discharging the prisoner was dis
4, cusseL-
The attorneys who oppose the con-
firmation asked for an adjourn nen'
to this afternoon in order to confer
with tho witnesses, some OF whom
have not yet arrived, and to arrange
\ the order in which they will be call
L ed, which request, after some discus
/ sion, was granted.
i The Issues have been SO n arrowed by
a the rulingtof the committee that3it Is
thought the taking OF the testimony
Will occupy less time than was at flrsl
4 anttcipated:f but Sund er the most favor.
able conditions. 1t is not believed the
committee Will be able to report unit
soma line next week.. $50 I3S
A eEislntive Work Cloagcd,
II 81 In the meanwhile the work of legis
lationt Is being clogged. The member:
Of the jointscommittee are also mem
berss OF other committees, which hav
important matters before them. the
consideration of which is being post
poned, .S5
These Investigations, which appea
TO beFnecessary at8eVery session OF th
LegIslature-sop, about one class o
matters and, some about another--ant
often coming up thout warning, a
much to hinder he orderly pro gres
OF strictly legislative work. Yet the,
must be gone into. and many othe
matters must wait upon their conclu
sion. These considerations apparentl.
escaped tho attention Iof tho member
OF the CONSTITUTIONS Convention whe
they decided to limit the Legislative
che administrative and advisory, func
tions5 of, the Legislature are most i'm
portant ones, and 1T is unfortunate tia
it. should be n necessary to exercise ther
under such pressure as now prevails
However, the two houses yesterda
managed to get a few matters off 9
their calendars or advanced to tn
point where-t they are ready for pas
sage,
3}'3 schoplbook Rcport Live.
The report Of the joint committee, q
which peak keri, Byrd was Q airnlan. n
which sat during the vacation OF II,
General Assembly to investigate Iii
price Of school boo lis, was presente.
and will baffound III anut ther column
comparative f1gures W hlcll. will doubl
S lees 4 be reg garded ia s signt flcant
The House again found: time ITO az
ts AEI tin1lefl IN ird Pa ~ y ~