The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-09
TIE OYSTER Law.
What One Opposed to It Has to Say
About It.

obeance from the city several interviews of
vour Atlanta correspondent with Maj
rivals in reference to the oyster law
a3nearsd in your paper. My attention has
iTst been called TO that Of Aug. &C. aud
Thich makes allusion to me in the "story
told by the major in his own way,h aud l
baO room in your columns for the following
reply:
notice was given that such a bill would be
introduced" l affirm that the bill in its
originsl shape was only published in part
and too late to admit of concerted action in
onDosition to it before the bill passed. And
as To the substitute, in which shape the bill
became law, it was not published at all,
and the declaration of our old friend,
Dr. Oemler, made just before the legisla-
ture met, as to his having in preparation
lin TO amend the oyster law, cannot be
considered as fair notice of such bill as
he intended to have enacted into a law,
rhen taken in connection with his state
ments at that time. He then said that the
oyster law needed amendment III two par
tculars-one as to the placing OF stakes
ct the line of high water instead of at that
Of low water, and the other, as to the carry
ing Of lights by oystermen whilst longing
oysters at night. He, also, stated that oyster
sypdicates were stalking up all the oyster
rivers and streams on the lower coast, and
INV one else if it continued, ard that there
should be legislation to stop it. He, also,
stated that he had received information that
a capitalist of Stratford. Conn, named
Lewis, had gone to q charitable institution
in New England and had made a
donation to it for the purpose of getting
the use of the names of the inmates to take
up oyster leases in Georgia, and the old
gentleman Uemler TRADED vehemently
against such rapacity, as to make me regard
him as the man, Of all men, to devise the
remedy for such wrong, and little dreamed
then that he was capable of taking part in
cunningly devised law to do
that Maj. KyGls had introduced a
bill to amend the oyster law
| thought that it embodied the needed
amendments which the doctor had sug-
gested and was estounded when | saw that
the bills main purpose was TO make brakes
survey conclusive evidence as to the loca-
ton Of the oyster beds and vacant territory
and TO legalize and confirm and validate
fraudulent leases, and enable persons who
had raped the states oyster beds to
speculate i'll them by investing the lessees
with the power to transfer their leases.
AS to the aiors assertion that copy of
the coast survey bulletin No. 19) was at
Thunderbolt free for the inspection of the
public | have only to say that live at
map being free for inspection, and that |
can find no one outside of the stockholders
Ut employees in the "Oemler Oyster Com
pany" who has.
AS to the assertion THAT there were reA
peated conferences Of friends and oppo-
nents of the measure" l defy proof of the
assertion. / would like to know when and
where such a conference was held, and the
names of the opponents of the measure
who attended it.
As to the assertion chat the bill finally
passed in a slightly amended shape l
affirm that the most pernicious section in
the bill is section s, for it places the great
state of Georgia on record as legislat-
ing to legalize, confirm and validate
fraud and unless the expedient
of the governor, evidently suggested with
patriotic and honest Intentions, to eliminate
from the act its pernicious features, succeeds
during the present session of the legislature,
the minds of those who hereafter read this
act will revert to the Yazoo fraud and a
circumstance which should tinge with shame
the cheek OF every Georgian, is, that the
most pernicious feature of the act
was suggested, If not absolutely dictated,
II by the Connec lieut. lawyer who figured so
odiously as a lobbyist in behalf of oyster
syndicates with which he is connected dur
ing the last session of the legislature. The
whole Of section S was evidently framed
with the special purpose of giving validity
to leases procured by fraud or misrepre-
sentation and to enable those who have
raped the states oyster beds to speculate
upon their ill-gotten holdings by selling and
transferring their leases to others.
1t should be expunged at once from the
statutes Of Georgia.
As to the majors statement of his inter-
view with me on the way to Atlanta, | will
state that | had not then seen the substitute
ana was not prepared to discuss it. Besides,
II mad come to my knowledge that DR..
Oemler the factotu m OF the "Oemler Oyster
company" had gotten up the bill in its
original shape, aud that Mai RIVALS was O
stockholder in the'comnany, and these cir
cumStances, In connection with the fact
that Maj Ryais had speeded the bill with
It's unpublished substitute, through the leg
lslature, despite the fact that he knew. that
u similar scheme TO open to the rapacity OF
syndlcates te public oyster beds OF the state
had been folled by the people Of this section
OF the state in 1889 and that these people
nad thon manifested intense oppo.
sitlon to such monopoIistic legislation,
linen deferred from revealing my mission to
MIN. felt that no stakeholder in an oyster
company should know of it until after had
OBTAINED audience with the governor | felt
That l should be especially re.icent in the
matter to stockholder who bad exhibited
SO much zeal in behalf Of the bill as
!aaJ hyals had, and one who was
IN position which would perhaps
enable him to get an Immediate
approval OF the bill il he had discovered nv
mission before had seen the governor, and
subsequent circumstances attest the sagacity
VI my retlcence toward him in the matter
ms refusal to consent to a withdrawal of
I4e OH when Representatives Clifton and
nartrloge and Senator Williams were will
ltE Ghat 1t should be withdrawn in order to
tio tne Dill OF the perncious features. which
sue memorial and accompanying atfidavits
nsu disclosed to them, aud for which they
we're IN no wise to blame. inasmuch rs
saey mad been led to believe that the
oll was intended to promote and pro-
w. Tue interests OF the people in the nat
SIal oyster beds of the state. instead of
oelng cunningly devised instrument to
opeH tuefn 20 the rapacity of oyster CONS
panles; and his subsequent course i'm refer
onSe W the amended bill which the gov
ethor says Maj RIVALS agreed to introduce,
So rau winch, your Atlanta corre-
sooadeh1 reported him correctly, he
t hiI ne would not introduce, and then
rs esgerness to get bill into the House
N zen nen ne Iouad that Senator Williams was
sttsdt 70 introduce one in the Senate, all
Nv oOSv my sagacty In Withholding from him
bsS purpose OF my visit to Atlanta until I
Co, uIst obtained an inter view with the
hoIS Iuor ana induced him TO agree to with
be;,,,H is signature until the memorial then
# hin. couiu Dc forwarded TO
IA outai5 people OF the whole seaboard section
oaVslde of the ovstar ex,,,5ioot.. -.