Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-18
RUM0R SAYS COX HAS
CHOSEN PROBE COMMITTEE
Speaker Said to Be Awaiting Accept
ances Before Announcing
Personnel.
POWELL HELD TO BE IMMUNE
Committee Would Have No Power
to Investigate Any Countercharges
That Might Be Brought Against
Spotsylvania Member.

Speaker Edwin p. Cox was not pre-
pared yesterday afternoon to announce
his appointments to the committee
that Will probe the charges made by
| Delegate S. p. Powell. OF Spotsylvania,
against Judge r. II. L. Chichester. of
the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. but It
was reported about the Capitol that
the committee had been selected. that
the appointments had been rendered.
and the Speaker was only waiting for
Acknowledgements from his appointees
before announcing the personnel of
the body commissioned for the grave
duty.
The reason ascribed for the Speak
er's disinclinat!on to make known his
appointments before all OF the ap-
pointees had been heard from was the
possibility that one or more of them
mightbe so circumstanced as TO be
unable to serve.
OLIVER REGARDED AS
PROBABLE CHAIRMAN
Chairman Walter Tansill oliver, of
the House Committee for Courts OF Jus
tice. who. IL seems 10 be commonly ac-
copied, VIII head the investigating
committee. is still in the city, giving
his attention to legislative affairs He
Is one or the few members remaining
to lend his presence to the constructive
, sessions. which VIII be concluded to-
morrow.
1t Is believed the investigation OF
Judge Chichester's official conduct will
extend through period Of several
months. According to some OF the
legislators the impress that Dele
gate Powell Is involved in the investi-
CATION otherwise than as an accusing
witness that countercharges of any
character that may be brought against
him Will also occupy the attention OF
the investigators. Is erroneous. There
is no official complaint against Dele
gate Powell to this time. it is pointed
out.
Whatever the merits OF his allega-
tions against the Jurlst, and even
should he fail to make good his
charges, the member from Spotsyl-
vana cannot be held answerable to the
committee created by the House 1t
is explained that under the Constitu-
ton n member OF the General Assem-
bly, is privileged while speaking on
the floor OF either branch OF tho Legis-
lature. and cannot be held liable In n
court OF law. or "in any other place.
| for his utterances on the floor regard
less OF the truth or falsity OF what he
says. Free speech IN tho broadcast sense
Of the term Is given to him by the
Constitution.
COMMITTEE MUST REPORT
TO PRESENT LEGISLATURE
1t Is further contended that should
the Investigating committee find that
the charges are unwarranted and that
Delegate Powell is guilty of reckless
and unjusti1able conduct in making
the charges against Judge Chichester
the committee can take no official
cognizanoe OF such findings beyond ex-
pressing nm opinion to that effect The
committee is instructed to make it's
report and findings to the present
Legislature. The investigating body
ceases to exist by Limitation at the end
of this year. 1t has no authority to
make recommendations to tho next
House OF Delegates. Hence the case
OF Judge Chichester must be disposed
OF before the next General Assembly
Is organized.
/ In the event that the charges against
tho jurist. In part or rs whole. should
be substantiated by the evidence ad.
duced at the hearings tho committee
may recommend impeachment pro-
ceedinBs against the accused Judge.
which may necsssitats another apsolal