Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-02-14

III Richmond was ever in a civil hub
bub it is just now, produced largely by
one of the most exciting legislative
sessions of many years.
Strange-yet not strangezmost the
Juror, a large per cent of it with
out stable foundation, emanates from
either Republican sources or inspira-
lions of sore heads and factional Demo
Gratis on the outside who have in some
cases been kicked out of the party or who
have been long fasting on the outside
with hungry eyes. The spirit of inves-
tigation has permeated the dir, let
loose by the disgruntled, and backed up
by men of haug-dog expression and no
foundation bat personal or fractional
malice. An excerpt from Legislative
doings in the Times Dispatch covers
the situation tersely-
There are good many common scolds
IN the State who abuse the Legislature
lndiscrlminately for everything it does,
Tor not doing enough and for doing too
much. The cracking of thorns under a
pot is music to the braying of this class. +"
Commioner of Agriculture Koiner
and his Board are at logger heads, and
the "lie'' is being passed through the
newspapers. The Board is calling for
an investigation, and fighting the
Adams Churchman bill before the Leg
islature to reorganize the Board.
Congressman Jones has been writing
confidential letters to close friends in
the legislature to oppose the work and
appropriation for the Board of Fisheries
because of bitter personal hatred to
the Boards chairman. One Of the let
ters got out and has raised such storm
of Indignation that the House of Dele
gates committee on Chesapeake and it's
Tributaries unanimously reported favor
ably the $50, 900 annual appropriation to
the Board and raised salaries of Chair
man to 81, 500 and the Secretary 81, 800.
Immediately the bill was taken over by
the Finance Committee and at once
promptly and unanimously endorsed by
those custodians of the State Treasury.
Editor Lee, of the VIRGINIA CITIZEN.
happened to be attending the Grand
Lodge ofMasons here when the unhap-
py letter of the meddling Congressman
was exploded, and when bitter TRADE
by Mr.. Jones' home paper, the Nor
thern Neck News, was published in the
papers here in glowing headlines, and
we editorwas given impromptu ovation
In the hotels and legislative halls for
his prompt resentment of the underhand
digs. Indignation that the high-pedes
tai Congressman should stoop to, and
be caught in, such small tricks was
high, and many men long his friends
and prominent in State affairs hurried
to disclaim any sympathy with the
attacks.
This, with the Judge Blackstone matter.
are the absorbing public topics of the
week. Charges against Judge Black
stone of immortality were printed in the
papers, but are too foul to be reproduced
IN family periodicals. The Legislature
has decided, though the term is short.
to fully investigate the charges, and
the Rhea sensation will be followed in
close order by the Blackstone horrors.
Judge Rhea will be completely. and
probably unanimously, indicated. He
has been known as a hard hitter and
valiant fighter for Democracy in the
turbulent southwest, and Republicans as
well as fractional Democratic enemies
have been pelting at warrior whom
they thought they had down. He comes
out unscathed and higher in the estima-
ton of Virginians, while his foes. even
IN the Democratic camp, are Sinking
away.
So, all in all, the sore-heads who have
long been down and out are furnishing
interesting talk and reading, but
boomerangs are quickly returning and
smiling the cringing flingersl
The bill for breaking the Baylor lines
is practically dead. AT the public hear
ing Wednesday the State Board of
Fisheries registered its opposition to
the Watkins-Greene bill and up
country members of the Assembly an
nounce that they will be guided by the
advice of the Board.