The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-04
CAUSES BIG STIR
IN LEGISLATURE
Resolution introduced by Dele
gate Houston at Request Of
Number Of His Constituents,
Who Allege Neglect Of
immortality and
1nconpetency.
1nconlpetency
BY LEWIS n. MACHES.

Like q bolt from tho blue came the
Joint resolution presented to the House
OF Delegates yesterday, calling for the
Investigation OF charges OF neglect OF
duty, immortality and incompetency
against Juhge j. W. G. Blackstone. or
Accomac.
lature there had been rumors that such
an inquiry would be demanded. but
the talk had died down and the idea
was supposed to have been abandoned.
Especially since the Rhea Investigation
f,ds so seriously crippled the work OF
xhe committees and OF the Legislature
generally. It was felt that one or two
more Investigations would put the Gem
eral Assembly out OF business as q
law making institution, and confine It's
activities to the functions OF grand
and petit juries. However. petitions
30 numerously and strongly signed
came to Delegate Houston from ms
constituents that he reluctantly and
reEretfully discharged his official duty
M their representative and presented
the resolution In spite OF his personal
inclination to allow the matter to be
dealt with in some other manner.
Function of Committees.
The resolution and the petitions were
promptly referred by Speaker Byrd
to the Committee for Courts Of JUSTICE
but the effect OF the resolution upon
the House was profound and disquiet-
ing. Enough concerning the judge
alleged faiiings has appeared In the
newspapers since Judge BLACKSTONE 5
alleged exchange OF hoasal,,.ss ,,.;n. WIZ M
members OF the Legislature WIN the
fact that should the Investigation oc.
cur the charges would be OF the moss
such nature as TO make all recent
investigations seem tame In compari-
II is believed that the only function
should pass. When the House com.
mittee shall have reported upon that
question the House may ADOPT araI,, or re.
1Ion. or not, as 1t deems best.
Should the resolution pass It VII.
go to- the Senate and be. considered
s bvf the Courts Committee of that body.
and the report OF that committee Will
lie acted upon by the Senate IN like
manner. II the Senate adopt the res.
olution Joint committee VIII doun..
and report to both houses whether
impaachment proceedings should be IN
stituted.
If articles OF impeachment are pre- re-
ferred by the House OF Delegates the
Senate under oath will try the same
and decide whether they. are sustained
by the evidence. majority Of two.
thirds Of the sena tors present being
necessary to imDeach.
May Sit During Recess.
For the purpose Of trying the arn-
elss of !mpeachment the Senate t.anar.; may
Assembly. The Judgment In case OF
Impeachment can e1 tend only to re.
moval from Office and disqualification
Tor every State office.
Should the committee OF investiga.
tion decide to recommend removal from
office instead of impeachment the two
houses may adopt that suggestion
The removal OF judge may be az
compl' shed by the concurrent vote OF
both houses. a majority Of the mem
bere OF each house concurrfnR. and the
cause OF removal entered upon the
sought to be removed must have no.
tice OF the proposed removal and a
copy of the causes alleged at least
rwentv davs before such action Is TAX
en-. The Immediate effects OF impeach-
ment and OF removal are the same. but
removal would not legally disal,a!-
ify for the holding OF other offices or
even OF the same Office for later
term.