The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-08
Overwhelming Majorityin
Favor Of Measure. and
House Will Concur.
FIGHT COMING
OVER CLUB LAW.
Delegates Adopt Resolution
Looking to Election Of Com
lnissioners Of Revenue by
People-Dramatic Scene
as Judge Rhea Sat
Through Attack.
by LEWIS II. MACHEN.

IIlOliSIt AlldSk.
by LEWIS II. NIACHEN.
Not since the Legislature convened
have more events of absorbing inter-
est occurred at the Capitol. both in and
out OF the chambers OF the two houses.
than was the case on yesterday.
BY the almost unanimous vote OF 30
to the Senate passed the bill repeal
Ing the statute prohibiting the paral-
leling OF the Richmond. Fredericksburg
and Potomac Railway. The House
adopted resolution looking to an
amendment to the Constitution allow
ing commissioners OF the revenue. even
when elected by the people, to succeed
themselves. as before the new Consti-
tuition. The vote was 12 to s.
Fake Social Clubs.
The Finance Committees OF the
House and Senate agreed to report ia
vorably bill to do away with fake
social clubs. and. in addition, to pro-
hibit the bona fide clubs from serving
liquors on Sunday.
Above all. the arguments in the
Rhea Investigation were concluded 1t
night in the Senate chamber. with tne
floor and the gallery crowded with
eager listeners bent on catching every
word OF the forceful and eloquent at
torneys who pleaded for Judge Rhea's
condemnation and for his vindication.
The long, wordy warfare in the Sem
ate over the repeal bill came suddeniy
to an end, and the victory for the
repeal was even more sweeping than
Its most ardent friends expected. The
two proposals for conditional repeal
had some small support, but when
they were voted down the bill went
through with rush.
The Sims measure will soon be sub
stituted for the House bill on the cal
endar of that body, and will meet with
slight opposition. 1t has some oppo-
ncnts there. but they realize that
further struggle Will be unavatiing.
Big Fight Coming.
The bona iide social clubs will make
determined fight against the placing
of their institutions in any sense upon
the level of saloons. They say that
the temperance people have professed
that they were after the fake clubs
only, and did not wish to meddle with
the manner in which gentlemen may
minister to their wants in the privacy
of their club houses. 1t has seemed.
however. that some OF the crusaders
are after scalps, and wish to say that
they have triumphed even over the
aristocratic clubs and compelled them
to shut up portion of their club
houses on Sunday. That any practical
good would come of it nobody even
plausibly contends. II the club houses
could be locked on the outside the
police put on guard at all the en-
frances, perhaps 1t might be possible
to prevent drinks being taken there on
Sunday. No doubt some of the cru
saders would like to close the clubs
on week days also. but that is a propo-
sition which Will doubtless keep until
next session.
The House wishes to have the com.
missioners of the revenue elected by
the people. but voted last session to
have them appointed in order to save
the old commissioners.
The resolution adopted yesterday
paves the way for return to the cleo
tive system, without ousting the pres
ent commissioners. 4 similar reso-
luton was introduced In the Senate
last session. but was killed in the
crusk.
Dramatic Scene.
Not In years has there been witnessed
at the Capitol more dramatic scene
than was enacted last night when
Judge Rhea, accused OF high crime and
misdemeanors, listened to the earnest.
cogent and able argument of his friend
and counsel ard also to the terrible
arraignment OF the attorney for the
prosecution. Never were sweet and
bitter mixed In such large quantities
in such a spac. Of time. All the while
the central figure sat, apparently calm
and unmoved. though none could doubt
that he was being torn by a multitude
Of emotions. 1t was the climax of
one OF the most absorbingly interesting
Investigations ever held in this State
an investigation which has been con-
Quoted with skill and ability, as well
as with fcarlessness and vigor on both
side,.
The committee will meet again Tues
day night. If they can agree pronpt-
ly upon a report they will make: It to
the General Assembly atTonce. II the
committee should be divided, 1t may
take some days for them to formulate
their differences. The Impression that
there will be two reports is growing,
though there is no tangible evidence
upon whcl, to base such q prediction,
Ey the time this investigation closes
d the Legislature will he ready to start
with another. Few and short are the
periods In recent years when the Legis-
lature has been without an tnvesti-
cation on It's hands.
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