Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-05-30

secretary of the New York Cen
tral Trust Company, on the oc-
casion Of his recent visit TO Lor-
don. When a reporter asked
the Governor this afternoon
what will be the outcome of the
meeting of the commission next
week, he replied: "You news
paper men know just as well as
/ do. if not better. I haven't
any idea The big bone of
contention is going to be over
the question of accepting the
sum of about six million dollars
of coupons outlawed under the
Wickham amendment. Then,
too, the length of time it is be-
lieved it will be proposed that
the bonds shall run may be
another obstacle.
THE ALLIANCE AND THE LEGIsLA-
TURE.
1t IS now reasonably certain
that the alliance people intend
to make a determined fight this
fall for members of the Legisla-
ture. The most influential lead
ers of that order express the be-
lief that their fight will, as far
as practicable, be conducted
within the Democratic party.
There is no sort of disposition
manifested by any of these gen
tlemen to take any action which
may create discord within the
ranks of the party to which a
great majority of their members
owe allegiance.
Of course there are ofiice-seek-
ers among the alliance leaders
of Virginia, but the great mass
of the members Of the order aim
only to secure the enactment by
the Legislature of certain laws
which by them are deemed es-
sential to the prosperity of their
class. If they can accomplish
these objects they will rest sat
isfed.
There was a desire manifest
ed by some few that the organi-
zation should make Il contest for
the local offices this spring. This,
however, was not encouraged
by the leaders or conservative
members. The Virginia farm
ers are among the most conser-
vative people in the country.
They are always opposed to
adopting measures that have in
them anything like radicalism.
The farmers believe that in the
matter of freight traffic the rail
roads in this State have for a
long time past shown unjust
discrimination against them in
favor cf the larger markets OF
the country. 1t is the hope of
remedying this injustice that
the enactment of a railroad COM
mission law is demanded. With
such protection as they believe
that law would afford, the farm
ers hope to be able to bring
about mere liberal charges for
local freight.
OPPOSED TO LEASING TIE OYs-
TER BEDS.
The idea of increasing the
States revenue by leasing out
to capitalists her valuable oys-
ter grounds has been thrown out
by well-informed financiers. If
this plan were pursued, it is
roughly estimated that it would
annually yield enough revenue
to pay the interest On the State
debt. The plan is not likely to
be carried out. If there were no
other obstacle in the way, the
constitution stands in its path.
Col. Mcdonald, the United States
fish commissioner, who has given
a great deal of attention and
consideration of the oyster in
dustry, was asked what he
thought of this scheme. His re-
ply was: "As a citizen of Vir-
GINA I should oppose strenously
the leasing of large tracts of the
bottom to any syndicate, wheth-
er domestic or foreign capital,
unless the areas thus leased
should be so located as not to in
clude any portion of the bay or
it's tributaries which now natur-
ally produce oysters, and to
which our citizens, and more
particularly the tongers, ARE now
accustomed to resort as a means
of livelihood. The policy of the
State should be, first of all, to
define, mark out and reserve for
public use all those portions of
the Chesapeake which are now
producing oysters in sufficient
number to furnish q motive for
longing or dredging. Having
done that, the rest of the bottoms
under water could be leased or
sold, the State limiting the areas
to be held under terms of lease
or sale by corporations or indi-
viduals. Under such a policy
full and reasonable protection
would be given to the industry
as it is now pursued, and such
encouragement to the invest