Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-20
A HEAVY DAYS WORK
The DEBT BILL FINALLY DISPOSED
OF BY THE LEGISLATURE.
Tho Senate Passes the General Oyster
Law--Calendar Cleared Of Many
Local RlIls.

The Senate was called TO order NJ II
o'clock promptly. and the proceedings
opened with prayer by Rev. DIR. Sledd.
The trst measure considered was the bill
for the settlement % the public debt "a
amended by the House. The amendments
were concurred in without opposition or
debate, though Mr. Wickham spoke in ad-
vocacy of the amendments.
Mr.. Wickham said that he hoped II would be the
pleasure 81 the Senate 20 concur. that the SEN
ate would remember no had stated upon the IN
PRODUCTION Of the bill that although II had re-
cetved the best thought OF tho committee he
recognized that II was lar from being a perfect
measure and he was erstihed TO find that after
receiving the careful scrutiny OF both houses %
few defects had been found. Most of tho amend
ments we're corrections OF phraseology. and that
the most important one was limiting the COM
mission charged by the Sinking Fund Commits
eioners 20 the bondholders who did not iund
through the Ocott committee 20 the same per-
centage charged by the Olcott committee, IN no
event 70 exceed 3l1 per cent.
He paid high compliment 20 the good faith
and fair dealing which characterized The actions
OF the Olcott committee, whom he termed
amongst tho foremost financiers OF tho world.
He alluded briefly 10 the fact that the people
OF Virginia had occasion 10 congratulate them
selves that this debt settlement hal been cri-
ticised from only one quarter. A distinguished
of1cer OF the State Government had seen NJ TO
charge that tho debt commission had taken
counsel OF its hopes rather than its Tears ana
quoted TINT
"Hope twin brother to fear more gaily clad.
The merrier fool Of the two and twice as MAD,
70 which he would answer that his
doubts were traitors
That make us lose the good NO Oft might win
BY fearing TO attempt IT,"
Had the Debt Commission taken counsel OF its
fears and not its hopes this end 80 devOuily de-
sired by all good and patriotic cltizens. ~oulo
never have been accomplished.
AYAIrHFUL ADVOCATE, HOWEVER
Hetook pleasure, however, In adding that he be-
heved the State would have no more faithful
executor Of Its laws and this debt Dill wOulh
have no mere earnest advocate In the iuturo
than the gentleman who had felt II bis duty 70
criticiseit, but who now, since u became q Jaw,
faithfully and fairly acquiosced with the Stale
and would give II his most cordial support,
He added. further, that the estimates which
the Debt Commission had worked upon, ana
upon which he believed the message OF tho
Governor was based, were made up 10y the Au-
oitor OF Pablic Accounts from years prior 10
1891 and that on these estimates. as was state
in the Governors message, there would De an
apparent deficit OF $4,000. Had the Debt
Commission taken counsel OF its fears instead
OF its hopes, the danger of deficit might nave
been alarming but since the Governor me-
SAGE had been prepared the taoulateh stale-
ments OF the Auditor, which accompanied his
report for 1891. had been published. lie then
reviewed the estimates upon which the DeDt
Commission had acted In the light obtained from
the report for 1891, and said this apparent dc
Gclt Of $4,000 was by those revised estimates
wiped out. and 80 far from there being any dem
cit he would undertake 70 say there "oulu DC
surplus Of some $4,000.
From this surplus we can provide An increase
fcr our disabled Confederate soldiers ana theii
home and maintain TO our Institutions the ASSIST
ance they 50 sOrely need without endangerlnl
or jcopardizing TO any degree the payment OF the
interest or the settlement OF the debt ana WIN
out Interfering with our school and the neccssh
ties OF our state Government.
THE COMMISSIONS ADVISERS.
In conclusion Mr. Wickham referred 10 the
graceful compliment paid 10 the Debt Commls-
sion by the distinguished and scholarly senator
from Lyncnburg, Mr.. Mcdonald, on yesterday
but sa'' that II was right for the people OF Ntr-
1inia know that the thanks Of Virginia. If due
10 anybody, were also due 10 those patriotic men
outside Of the Debt Commission who had aided
with their talents and their time. That II would
be inyidiOus 20 draw distinctions whore 50 many
hal aided but that ho could not refrain from
acknowledging the deb, due 70 those men who
now so faithfully guard the Interests OF virginia
in the United States Senate, the Hon. John ;.
Barbour and the Hon. John W. Daniel.
That there were other names he desired To men,
ton, and no did so because he thOught IL was
right that the people OF Virginia should know
that, In his judgment, at least, If Il had not been
for the cool Judgment, tact, and high qualities OF
diplomacy displayed by the distinguished gen
tleman who presides over the destlnies OF mo
Democratic party OF the State as chairman OF IFS
committee, the Hon }. Taylor EllSson, ana 10
the wise member of that committee from Abe
marie. Mr.. Thomas :. Martin, the result which
we all 80 earnestly wished accomplished would
have failed of consummation. Mr.. Martin had
acted In the capacity OF the legal adviser oil the
Debt Commission. and be aid so with the ex-
press declaration that not one cent, either Tor
his services, his time. or his expenses shouid pe
paid lie would not charge his personal OK
penses nor would MIR. Eilyson. Senator'S knew
That much II pot the most important OF the ne
gotiation had been conducted IN preliminary IN
teryiews in New York ana Washington Mr.
Ellyson and Mr. Martin had rendered the most
important and valuable services To the state
and the thanks Of Virginia were fairly due TO
them.
debt deserved monument of bronze ana the
eternal gratitude Of the people.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. Mushbach. 10 amend the Code In rela-
zion TO the opening Of court ana making pro-
visions for Its sessions when II fails TO meet on
the day appointed or to which IL adjourned; by
the same, TO amend the charter OF the city ol
Alexandra; by Mr.. Marshall, TO provide CIR
cult court for the city OF Radtord; by the same
10 amend the act establishing a corporation
court for the city Of kadfOrd; by Mr.. Jones. tt
amen the charter of Beuna Vista; by Mr. SANDS
20 amend the act Incorporating the bIookiano
Railway Company; by Sir. 1Rrfell. 10 ainenl
the Code in relation to Hen on crops Tor advances
10 farmers; by Mr. Parrish 10 incorporate th'
Disciples Union Of Manchester; by Ar. turner
10 authorize the holding of primary elections II
the city Of Portsmouth,; by Mr.. Peters, Tor the re
lief Of c. w. lngles, treasurer OF Henry county
by Mr.. Barnes (by reluest), To incorporate I'M
b. Mr.. Green, relative 20 licenses To sell liquo II
Wythe, Giles, Bland. and Pulaski counties. %
Mir Harrison, 10 regulate charges by TELEGRAPH
md telephone companies; by Mr.. watson, u
promote the health Of Incorporated villages.
Mr. IOvenstein introduced a hill to provide
charter for the Veteran Cavalry Association
The following petitions were introduced an
referred: ny Mr. Washington, from the cltizen
Of Richmond county, relative 10 temperate
LEGISLATION; by Mr. Stubs, from citizens O
Gloucester county, ON same suu'ect; py vi
Marshall, from citizens Of Elliston, Montggmer
county, asking the passage oil the Kent railroa'
bill
Senate Bills: For opening, working, and Ike eI
lug in order the public roads and Tor DuEdin
ana repairing public bridges in the county Z
hc,omac: 10 incorporate the FredericksDur
street. Railway Company; 10 INCORPORATE th
Disciples In on OF Richmond and Manchester
THE OYSTER BILL
When the hour OF / arrived, by consent OF MI
Blackstone the special order, the criminal eS
pense bills, was passed by in order TO give wa
Tor the Observation-Disclosures oyster Oh
THIS Is the general oyster phl "n n
was reported from the Committee on RS
and Game, Mr.. Little, chairman, with eel
tain amendments, which have been printed
in the DIsPATCH The amendments agreed upo
an the committee had been adopted, whel
MIR, Hurt offered as a substitute for the whole
his hill 10 authorize The Board OF Public Work
10 rent out the oyster-grOunds OF the state 2
s3 per acre per annum for period OF te
years. This brought Mr.. Washington 10 MS let
and he explained the original biz, which provide
that the rental shall be VI per acre, an
limits amount Of ground to be held D
any ono person to 200 acres IN u
rivers, creeks, &c. Mr. Washington spoke nearl
an hour and was piled with questions, all {
which he answered most concisely, and made
vigorous attack on Mr.. Hurts substitute. l
framing the bill he had he declared, put q
heavy tax on the oyster interests as II coul
bear, aud at the same time raise q large rev
nue. for the State Recurring TO the substitute
ne contended that II was In violation OF u
Democratic platform, and Inconsistent with NJ
Hurt'r position III signing the report OF the con
uittee appointed by the last Legislature to II
vestigate aud report on the oyster interest.
Mr.. Hurt cOntended that his substitute wa
neither in violation Of the Democratic platfori
or incompatible with his signing the report
MIR. Little asked Sir. Hurt II when he intr
duced his substitute he did not say that he had
man or men In the city who were willing TO pl
up check for $4,000 for the rent OF 1000
acres.
Mr.. Hurt replied in the Affirmative. Also, til,
he proposed under the bill 20 rent out some
the natural rocks TO plant the planting-ground
Mr.. Little contended that IL was clear from NJ
Hurts admissions that he wanted TO rent out II
pstural rocks or allow them 10 be demolished