The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-13
NEED LARGER FORCE
COMMISSIONERS SAY
Chairman Garnctt and Captain For
ward of Corporation Commission
Write legislature,
JUDGE RHEA HOLDS BACK
Does Not Join With Colleagues and
Considerable Comment Arises
About Talk of Unity Between
Members of Body.

Members of Body.
While there was a stiffness in the
halls of legislation Tuesday-the
members being in Camp Lee to at
tend the celebration OF the birthday
of President Lincoln--there was fur
nished to the few officers and news
paper men who remained behind a
bit OF spice in the shape of a letter
sent by Chairman Garnett and Com
missioner Forward to the members
of the appropriations committee of
the two branches of the legislature
asking favora BILE consideration of the
accommodations for increasing the
efficiency OF the commission by add
ing to the force
Right on the heels of that letter
the statement sent to the Norfolk
papers regarding the lack of coop
Grafton with the majority OF the com
mission on the part OF Commissions
William +, Rhea began to circulate.
The writer of this statement says that
members OF the legislature have been
approached by Commissioner Rhea
and their support solicited to defeat
the recommendations. The fact that
Commissioner Rhea declined or failed
20 approve the recommendations made
ny Chairman Garuett and Commits
sioner Forward land which was also
approved by Commissioner Wingfeld
before he retired from officel has Gre
ated considerable talk in Legislative
circles The showing made by Chair
man Garnett is that the Virginia
commission has a smaller force than
any commission in any state which
even approaches the amount OF bust
ness done and the expense incident
thereto.
That the usefulness Of the commits
sion could he immeasurab bly, increased
and widenN in every way Is the be
lief OF missioners, and its com
plete usefulness and purpose could be
realized il the legislature were TO pro-
vide the necessary force with which
TO reach out and discharge the duties
imposed and implied when the COM
mission was created, I'm other words,
the idea OF the commission is to meet
every requirement and obligation and
10 give to the people Of the state the
benefits OF broader operatious--limit-
ed now only bv the lack Of force to
reach out and conduct examinations
that would mean larger revenues and
benefits.
Increase Telephone RatcS.
The Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
an advance in the rates for the bust
ness In Virginia. Notice has been
given that the application viii be Gled
during the month Of March. but just
how much Of an increase Will he
asked is not known. An interesting
disc iosure has been made by the cor
pora;ioR commission tn this matter.
The revenues Of the company last
year were nearly even with the
amount OF property returned in Viz
Etnta for taNa.su. The company NOW
claims that has property worth $i2.-
o00.o in This state. yet it return al
less than one fourth Of this for taxa
lion This iatle discrepancy has been
noted ny tine comm iSs{oU, aud when
the hearing takes place the officers
cf the state nHl he ON hand to sSrcr-
tain Just why this difference.
VIII Ilcct Commissioners.
Tho people ot Virginia will elect
the members Of the state corporation
CONN issiou In future The bin pro-
viding for that change has been signed
ny Governor Davis and will lac IN force
ninety days after the adjournment o.
the Legislature, That is the provision
Of the constitution The bin was en-
acted only after half p dozen attempts
had been made 10 pass it. This time
the men who stood "a the way OF the
change were found supporting Il. and
the bin was passed This pcrtends
another hic fight iu the legislature
the election Of Judges Of the supreme
court of appeals The measure will
not succeed this year but two years
from now II VIII have gathered force
and will come to the front There are
only three states, according to mon
who watch such things, who now fol
low the system heretofore in vogue in
Virginia.
Parole OF Prisoners.
The senate committee ON courts of
justice will make a favorable report
on the bill which has for it's object
the parole Of prisoners who are con-
vicfed OF misdemeanors Certain
classes of felonies will also he incor-
porated. Judge j. Hoge Kicks. Of
the Juvenile court, explained to the
committee that the system had worked
successfully in Virginia. that many ~
the Juveniles before aim had ben re-
formed and were working and max
ing their reports to the officers The
same was true of men who had. be-
fore prohibition, became statewide
abandoned tsnir families for a time
and who were now sober and hard al
work. Judge Kicks stated that in
other states the system was producing