The Washington herald., 1908-01-22
ATTACKS JUDGE RHEA
Senator Noel Charges Fraud
in Virginia Assembly.
TAMPERED WITH THE BALLOT
Accusation Meets with strong De-
Tense from Democratic Friends,
10 Face-FiHht Arose over the Con-
firmatiOn of Nomination.

4 Special 10 The Washington Herald
/ Richmond, Va, Jan. 1.-THE two houses
of the general assembly in joint session
to-day recommltted the confirmation OF
/ Judge Rhea's nomination for the further
consideration of the joint committee on
/ confirmation of officers.
The vote 70 recommit was unanimous
and followed sensational charges against
/ the committee favorite for vacancy In
/ the State corporation commission. brought
| by Senator Noel the Republican repre-
/ sentative Of Lee County.
| Senator Noels charges severely CRITICS
ed the character Of the Bristol Judge
and he stated boldly in the house that the
| aspirant for the vacancy in the commits
/ sion had been guilty Of changing the re-
/ turns OF the election in which he was de-
feated for Congress by Campbell Slemp
/ The bold announcement from the Lee
| County senator Immediately created a
/ sensation, and several Democrats arose to
answer in behalf Of Judge Rhea
Friends Defended Him.
Conspicuous among those who appeared
for the nominee were Judge Martin vii
liams. OF Giles County. and Senator
Mann. from Nottoway With the con
tinuance of the charges by Senator Noel
the defense weakened, the better judg-
ment Of the Democrats prevailed. and
they joined with the Republicans in
making the motion for recommittsl
unanimous.
Even though Senator Noel reiterated
his charges. the sentiment among the
Democrats is that Judge Rhea can clear
his character, and this he Will be given
an opportunity to do when he and Sen
ator Noel appear face to face In the
committee room as acCuser and accused.
The Democrats I'm acquiescing did so in
the belief that the Bristol asplrant for
political honors would not accept the seat
in the commission until he had cleared
himself Of all charges brought against
him
During the session in which the
nomination of Judge Rhea was re
committed. all persons not members Of
either legislative body or an employe
were rejected. The meeting was held
for the purposes Of confirming the
nominations as made by Gov. Swanson.
Others whose nominations were unani-
mously confirmed were. Judge Prentis.
of Suffolk. OF the corporations commits
sion, and St Julian Wilson. as high
way commissioner
Railway Question Up,
The first intimation Of those who
would oppose the repeal Of the statute
prohibiting the paraueIing of the
mt, r..-1
mac Railway, came this morning when
it was announced that at meeting Of
States proxies Of the railroad the ma
jortty had voted against the repeal OF
the statute and a committee had been
appointed 20 appear before the Joint
committee on roads and internal nav
igation tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock. when the fight will be
launched.
Even in the meeting OF the proxies
there were those who favored the straight
repeal holding that the State had held
the law IN force long enough, and that
it was now time TO yield Those favoring
the repeal were ex-Gov. Andrew J. Mon
tague c. Lee Moore. and Charles Y
Meredith. The announcement that Dele
gate Evans who offered restrictions TO
the repeal bin. would present his amend
ment ia a manner different from that
outlined IN the house day or two ago
created much talk, and put the lighters
for the repeal on their guard TO be ready
for surprises
That the members of the Supreme Court
bench will be requested TO wear siIReH
robes. while on the bench in future. is
almost assured, as the senate committee
on courts OF justice to-day made its re-
port in favor of the passage Of such a
bill. The bin has already been passed
in the house. and the majority Of the
senators are said 10 favor the statute.