The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-25
.pERsoNAL, PAYMENT.

aonal estate, or does 1t mean a paw
iner1t in physical person? so far as
the question affects the roll tar.
4, Judge Martin has decided that per-
seonal payment means the latter HIS
decision IL the Supreme Court OF APP
gspsals sustains 1t, will disqualify
many thousands OF voters in the State
;;,os Virginia:
There is apparently good ground for
Believing that the Supreme Court VIII
sustain 1t. A recent decision handed
down by that body includes this SEN
stence: Where person is authorized
: to make payment ana there is natn-
ing requiring that the payment shall
tbe made personally he can make It
seither In person or through some
friend or agent" The Implication is
that where there is something "requir-
ing that the payment shall be made
personally he cannot make 1t through
some friend or agent. Moreover. tile
further Language Of the court strong
So indicates literal construction Of
She word personal"
IS The decision of the Chancefy Court
As binding upon the littgonrs only.
The decision Of the Supreme Court
will be authoritative throughout the
State. The Supreme Court will meet
Sin September and might possibly hand
down decision before the first Tues
day after the first Monday in Noven-
Der. It's Interpretation Of the single
word under discussion may cut in two
virginias presidential vote OF 1864
iii 1904. It is hardly conceivable. how
ever, that 1t can have any bearing on
her electoral vote.
The absolute disinterestedness of
the trial Judge is disclosed by the re-
port that his decision, II upheld. will
cost him his vote. With him will go
down thousands OF the States "best
citizens" The intent OF sections 81
and % OF the Constitution are here
called In question, and 1t appears that
s the trainers Of that instrument are
themselves dramatically disagreed as
to what these sections intended. Un-
official observers will doubtless agree
sthat what the Constitution aimed at,
or should have aimed at. was the as
surance that the voter paid his capita
ttion tax with his own money, and not
with somebody else's. BY the side of
4 this guarantee, the bodily presence OF
the payer at the Treasurer's office is
8 CT insignificant Importance.
- ,5t
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BATTLE
SHIPS.
The iinsistcnce OF President Roosevelt
to procure from the naval conference
al Newport the truth in regard to our
battleships Is more important and far
more profitable to the country than his
demand for stSpendaus navy.
THE criticisms 81 Mr.. Roosevelt and
several line officers that the design and
construction of the battleshipss are
faulty aroused universal anxiety. These
criticisms have NOT been satisfactorily
answered by those who attempted to
dot. Nor has the anxiety been allayed
4 by the investigation of the Senate Com
mittee on Naval Affairs. The exami-
nation was suddenly cut off. and it
was too restricted while itlasted.
~ If the battleships are defective, the
fact should be made known, the de-
fects remedied, and not repeated in
those ships to be built. II they arc not
defective it is essential that that also
he known and the present anxiety
come to an end. II
3 The question is NOT one the lay mind
Can decide for itself. The public has
keen desire to ascertain the truth,
) but In order to do this it must have
the free, unbiased Judgment OF pro-
! fessional experts. Red tape and ON
sacial etiquette have hitherto prevented
1.-The nation from knowing what this
judgment is.
MIR. RooSEVELrS REBUkE no THE
/ H 5 ii COuitr
With his usual inpetuous conviction
& before trial Of those charged with
crime. President Roosevelt meets the
\ q.
decision OF the Circuit Court Of APP
peals in the Standard OH rebate case.
d There is absolutely no question OF
Vi the guilt OF the defendant or of the
Exceptionally grave character of the
II offense." is portion of the Prcsi-
ss5dents criticism of the decision.
This is mo doubt true. but the Cir
cult Court of Appeals, through Judge
Grosscup has said in effect that ths
guilt or Innocence OF the STANDARD OF
Company in the particular case wa
not fairly tried; that the general repu
ton OF the company determined tn
U rulings OF Judge Lands. and not tn
case presented,
1T Is unfortunate that one in til
position Of President Of the Unite
States should have so little compre
4 Shension OF what is the function OF 1
scourt of Justice as does Mr.. Roose
Welt. Having himself decided on tn
sullt OF the company, ne is impatien
iS bGpailses fiie court has DIST arlfii ned ha