The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-24
.RHEA' DECLARES THE
CHARGES UNTRUE
Goes Before a Committee
and Makes PersonalAn-
swer to His Accusers
HE AIRING SET
FOR T.U ESDAY
Public Meeting Called, at Which
Witnesses Will Be Put Under
Oatl,-Rhea and Noel Ex-
change Words, to the
Confusion OF
Latter.

In answering In a general way the
sensational charges preferred by SEN
ator Noel against confirmation OF his
appointment as member OF the state
Corporation Commission. Judge w. F.
Rhea. before the Joint Legislative COM
mlttee yesterday. announced that he
would be prepared to refute them on
Tuesday, when searching investtga.
tion will begin.
~ am ready" he suid, .sto 60 on with
this case, and mt the outset I utter the
strongest denial to all the charges
which It is possible for any gentleman
to make"
There was a sharp TIT between. Judge
Rhea and Senator Noel toward the close
Of the meeting. when the latter was
preparing to read letter with some
bearing on the Jordan case. interrupt
Ing the Senator to ask the! name OF
the writer, Judge Rhea quickly an
nounced that the author was JudE,.
Wood. fact which was admitted by
Mr. Noel amid applause.
In open session It was decided to
take up the matter on Tuesday, at
which time witnesses viii be examined.
the list to be prepared to-day. Resolu-
tons were adopted which provide that
witnesses shall be required to testify
under oath. The resolution follows:
TO swear witnesses.
1Resolvcd by the Senate OF Virginia,
the House OF Delegates concurring,
that the Joint Committee on Conflrmn-
tlon have power to SUNNI Ons and NV enr
witnesses, compel their attendance. en-
force order aud to do any aud every
thing necessary to a full investigation
OF an. charges which may be made
against, or come to the Knowledge ol
the committee. touching the character,
qualifications nntl fitness of nny APP
potntee OF the Governor to any Office
ma de subject to the confirmation by the
lGeneruI ANseH Hbly OF Virginia, or by tue
SENATE OF Eirf<inin. And the said COM
mitteo II authorized to employ Il
stenoRrnpher and pay HIS and othc ex-
pcnses OF investigation out OF the con.
tlnEent fund OF the House and senate
The above resolution. offered by
Judge Mann, was amended so as to cal
for meeting of the Joint Commftte.
Ion Confirmation Tuesday next at 3 p
". when witnesses for both sides vii
be heard.
The proceedings before the join
committee yesterday were brief. bu
4 they were at the same time full OF In
lterest. All the members OF the com
mittee were present when Chairman
West called to order, and Clerk Mar
shall B. Booker. of the Senate actet
as secretary.
For An Open Session.
The first motion submitted was b!
Mr.. Cooke.of Norfolk, who moved tha
j the sessions should be open. This mo
tton was unanimously adopted. AM
a sergeant-at-Arms Frank 3. Watkins
4 OF the Senate. was made sergeant-at
arms OF the committee. The clerk a
4 this point read the resolution adopted
by the Confirmation Committee, provid
ing for a particular day for hearinl
charges. and Senator John c. Noel. o
Lee. was recognized by the chair.
AS member OF the General Assem-
bly," he said. II raised my protes
In the joint Assembly against the ap
!! pointment OF ex.Judge w. F. Rhea a
{, a member OF the State Corporatio
il lCommission. did It out OF no per
j sonal tanimosity to Judge Rhea. an
! not because he was Democrat hu
because felt 1t was my duty to m
, State. don't say that Judge Rhea
!, |fguilty OF any OF these charges but
say they are. of sufficient moment
call for thorough Investigation. an
) II he Is vindicated.l no one will be NOR
gratifedj than IT,