Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-05
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THE OYSTER QUESTION.
lsneci.l Dispatch to the ALEXANDRIA GAZET7

(Specal Dispatch to the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.)
RICHMOND, Feb. 5.-The special CON-
mittee appointed By the Maryland Leglsia-
ture to confer with similar committee OF
the Virginia Legislature on the subject OF
the boundary line between the two States,
arrived here last evening.
The two houses appointed joint COM
mittee, consisting Of Senator Christian and
Delegates Evans and Lawson, to wait upon
| the visitors aud extend to them the privl-
leges of the two houses At one O'Clock
they came to the House and were intro
duced by Mr.. Evans and were received by
Speaker Stuart.
The House took recess for ten minutes,
and during that interval the members, es-
pecially those from the tidewater country,
were introduced to the visitors.
In the Senate the strangers were intro
duced to that body by Mr.. Christian. Sen
ator Gill, Of Baltimore, a member of the
Maryland legislative committee, made few
remarks thanking the Senate for its courte-
sy and hospitality.
President pro tenn Hurt responded in be-
half of the Senate. That body then took a
recess of Is minutes during which the Mary
land lawmakers were introduced to the Vir-
ginia Senators.
The strangers have never visited this city
before, and manifested considerable interest
in the legislative proceedings and the mem
bers.
Newberry, of the big four" was subject
of special interest to them. Several made
inquiries about Parson Massey and other
prominent readjusters who gave respecta-
bilty to Mahonos party in other days.
During the presence of the strangers in
the Senate chamber message was received
from the Governor on the very subject
which brought them here. In that commu-
nication the executive recalls the fact
sembly bill formulated by committee of
the Maryland Legislature defining the boun.
diary between the two States was passed.
1t was to become operative when the Mary
land Legislature passed similar law. The
committee returned home and the subject
was never attended to. Governor Cameron
recommends substantially that our Legis-
lature treat the visitors on this occasion
with all due hospitality and courtesy, but
take no initiative steps in the matter of de-
6ning the boundary line. He expresses the
opinion that our Legislature went as for as it
could in the action taken at the last session.
That having received no attention at the
hands of the Maryland Legislature, al
though emanating from a committee of that
body, he does not think the Virginia Leg
islature would manifest proper respect for
itself, in opening any further negotiations.
The message was read through in the pre-
sence Of the visitors, who occupied seats in
the Senate. One Of them smilingly re-
marked at the conclusion of the reading that
he was not surprised at the recommendations of
the Governor under the circumstances.
| Tonight the visitors will meet the House com
mitee on the Chesapeake and its tributaries, and
the Senate committee on fish and game The
| measures looking to the protection of the oyster
| interest now pending in the Legislature will be
explained to them so fur as the question of bound
| airy line is concerned but the tide water members
| seem to give it little attention. They are much
more interested in securing laws to prevent Mary
Ianders from depredating upon the waters in por-
toas of the State where there is no dispute about
the boundary lines.