Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-03-03
ALDEN BELLS BILL
Is GIVEN A BLOW
Rouse Against Election Of Corpo-
ration Commissioners by vote
Of the People.

* y
Nv a vote of Al 20 : and follow /
ing a peppery debate. the House to-
aay refused 10 order 10 us engross-
nent and third reading Delegate /
RelTs bill providing for the election
sf Corporation Commissioners by the
people. Fridays action means the de-
feat of the bill
Deiegats William Bullitt Fitzhugh.
sf Northampton. opened the debate
with a ringing speech IN favor OF the
passage OF the bill. Tie stated at the
eutset that he had not word 20 say
against either Of the three men now
constituting the commission. Each.
IN his opinion. was the right man IN
the right place. hut the people never
theless should have the right 20 vote
for them. MT. Fitzhugh declared Il
was the desire OF the Democracy 20
vote for the commissioners. and they
had a right Co ask this privilege.
Judge Martin Williams. OF Giles.
followed In opposition 20 the Oil.
'Iu my humble judgement. said
he-"and I say IL as citizen-it
would bee the greatest step backward
that this state could possibly take. 70
20 back ou the constitutional Con-
Vcntion. which declared that the Gov
ern0r should appoint these officials.
Judge Williams then proceeded 60
quote figures and statistics showing
what the commission had accomplish
eG since its or-anl zafion in lNts. itt
said the assessment of railroads hac
hoen Increased S84.fS1. 200 since the
,-C.r,r,, .ssi,nere began their work
This. he maintained. had been accom-
pNsned. because the commissioner
mere free from political influence.
No Time for Experiments.
The speaker urged nis hearers no
90 he swarei by sentiment ite s1i.
mis- WA. Az tfrre Ter experiments Una
might afeCf tle finances Nl tnr stat.
Who's drmandiug thus change
sucricd Judge Williams. They sa
the people. How are they tolnE be-
have heard uo demand except troi
rhese gentlemen here.
Judge Williams maintained that Oh
Legislature could make uo worse mus
take than go pass the hill-to reis
gate the comm ission back 20 me cess
pool 90 politics
Next 60 take the floor was DeieEa'
Alden Bel. +he patron 90 the bin. Ut
Rel made humorous thrust az De
ea,ira Roosevelt Page. who "a Few GA,
ago had "shied his castor before Cd
House in an effort to Kill thc bill
The Cs-ineper laWmoN cr also pa
his respects 90 the gentleman fro
Gloucester" (Afr. Stuhbsl. who 3D.
ridden his Eaily caparisoncd Rost
ante into the arena with the purpo
81 aiding the opposition.
AIr Bcll alluciug 90 Judge W
uams' statistics as 90 the good VOL
81 the commission. said there was
reason Why the same line resuI
might not accrue from the COMM
zion were SIS members elected by q
people
NJ PETS speech was full OF On
Rnecd0te and poetry. and when ne =
suTned his seat ne was literally a
oasty for the Rich.
vigorous speech against the r
was made bv Delegate Harry r. Ho'
ton. az Hampton. who thought IA
mistake would be made ~ the CO
mission were thrown into the m
and SCUM OF politics Mr. hous'
said the proposed change would
the office only within the grasp OF
rfch. II would cost the candida
from $4,000 20 $4,000 20 make IN
Rghts fo~ the position" said he.
Was there ever a rich man on
com mission p sttrcasucall} Quer
Delegate II. q. l. Mopcure or
Hampton member.
Judge Rhea was poor man vi
~ was elected" exclaimed DeleE
Martin Williams. bouncing q his u
A good deal OF wrangling ens'
81 this iunCture. but Delegate no
ton valiantly held his ground, and
sisted that Do commissioners "
elected by the people. only the 7
could seek the position. And IN
rich. ne added. would necessa
have corporate interests
epeech next made by Delegate OH
Of Fairfax. in favor OF the bin.
statement ne made can certainly
he cainsaid. go Governor" decla
ne. -hos ever yet appointed on
commission "a man who was not
political friend. We md right
rhat wehaye politics IN &c.. do note
icise this and ] DO not criticise
men who have served on the conn
sion. But we know not how soon
commission VIII Doe dragged IN
nira and scum OF politics.
DELEGATE Deal. OF Norfolk.
spoke briefly against Che bin.
said his constituents We're perf'
satisfied with the present ARA
ment
Al this point the pending cues
was caileG-a move which saved
House from a Niagara OF talk
nearly everybody seemed incline
'orate."