The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-19
The boundary Committee.


HYGE1A HorrL. OLD PoIST. July IS
Especial. sunday was spent quietly by the
Virginia delegation most OF whom remained
at Old Point. while few of them early in
the morning went TO Virginia Beach. ms
morning a conference was held at o'clock
in one of the psrlors of the hotel for the
better information Of the Virginia members.
Speaker Cardweil offered the following
resolution, while Senator Stubs occupied
the chair:
Resolved, That four subcommittee be
appointed to whom shall be referred the
following subjects respectively: First, on the
Potomac: second, on the PocomOke; third,
on the Culling law fourth, on the report 10
be made to the Legislature of Virginia.
Said committees. except the committee on
the Potomac. which has been already ap-
pointed. shall be composed Of five mem bers
each, to be appointed by tho chairman OF
the Virginia joint committee, and except
further that the subcommittee 10 make the
report TO the Legislature OF Virginia shal
be composed of only three members, and be
elected by the Virginia joint committee.
Second. Said committees on the Potomac.
the PocOmoke and the Culling law shall have
authority to make such further lnYestlga-
ton Of the subjects referred TO them re-
spectively as they may deem necessary or
advisable and make their report IN writing
to the chairman of the Virginia joint CON-
mittee 10 be considered by the full COM
mittee al future meeting.
Third. The subcommittee 10 prepare the
report 10 the Legislature Of Virginia shall
first submit the report prepared by them TO
the full committee for revision and APP
proval.
The resolution was adopted after some
little discussion, and the speaker appointed
the committees as follows:
IN Ia 11nf tfaaara ElaQkefOnp / it
tie. Washington, Chambers and Cooke.
On the Poc0mOke -Messrs. Echols, Ryan,
McllWane. Williams and Blackstone.
On the Culling -Lieutenant-Goy
nor Tyler and Messrs. Stubs. James. jack
son aud Chambers.
The Joint committee then elected the fol-
lowing members OF the committee on the
report TO be made to the Legislature OF Viz
GINA: Messrs. Cardwell, Gibson and Black
stone.
After deciding to inform the Maryland
delegation of the action just taken, the con-
ference adjourned TO meet at once IN con-
ference with the Maryland committee.
The Maryland committee soon after ar
rived from Virginia Beach on their steamer
Governor Thomas. and about IL o'clock the
Joint conference of the COMMITTEES from Viz
GINA and Maryland began in the banquet
hall with observation-disclosures Tyler II the
chair.
Mr.. Miles. of Dorchester. opened the dis
cussiOn on behalf OF the Maryland delega-
ton, and stated that no would conhne him.
self 70 the equities of the case. The men,
bers of the two commissions occupied
peculiar position in representing the differ
ent sides of tho question, and could not
arrive at any conclusions unless mutual con-
cessions were made. The Black and Jen-
kins award had nothing TO do with the fish
ing rights in PocOmOke sound. These fish
ing rights we're derived from the compact
of 1885. The Black and jenkins award only
established jurisdictional and terri
toral rights. and had nothing TO do
with the piscatOrial rights. 1t could GER
tainiy not be possible that the framing of
the Compact Of 1885 especially those who re
presented Maryland intended TO give away
all the rights of fishing IN the Potomac
river without receiving any consideration in
return. IL WAS not likely that the trainers
of that compact meant TO treat Of the
fishing rights in the Potomac Chesapeake
bay. and what some people now call POGO
moke river. and TO leave out large sheet of
water. the Pocomoke sound. What was
originally known as the Weyco river and
now as Pocomoke sound was nothing else
but PocomOke river. If the Black and
jenkins award had anything to do with
Marylands fishing rights then II referred as
well to the fishing rights IN the Potomac as
in the Pocomoke. Would it be right for
the citizens Of Virginia TO enjoy the right of
fishing in tho broad Potomac in common
with the citizens of Maryland and by some
legal question shut of the latter from exer-
cislng similar rights in the PocomOksy The
people OF Maryland did not desire 70 take the
case into the United States Court. but if the
two commissions had 10 fall back u legal
techncaltles then an agreement would never
be reached. IL under the legal construction Of
/ 81 .. .
Maryland could not enjoy the right OF fish
ish IN the Pocomoke. then 1t would certainly
not be fair for the citizens of Virginia TO
exercise such rights in the Potomac.
Mr.. Chambers. or NORTHAMPTON, replied
70 the gentleman from Maryland. prefacine
his remarks by saying that not being a
lawyer, it would be impossible for him 10
consider the legal aspect of the question.
He would only consider the equities from
the standpoint of business man. and lie
did 80 in very able. clear and concise
manner. He spoke of the line drawn by
Colonel Edmund Scarborough in Colonial
times under King James l.. and which run
from the ocean IN westerly direction 10 a
stone planted on Smiths Island, and from
there 10 the centre line OF the Potomac
river. BY the arbltrators Of 1877 this line
in the Potomac had been moved back 10 the
southern shore.
Senator Hayes. the chairman of the Mary
land delegation. here interrupted Mr..
Chambers by stating that If Virginia would
give to Maryland what the line of leSs d.
vided from Watkins Point 10 the ocean.
the citizens OF the latter State would be
perfectly satisfied.
Mr.. Chambers thought that Mr.. HAYES
was mistaken and that the territory which
might be adludicated 70 MARYLAND under
that line would not be worth having. He
added that he felt convinced from what he
had heard the Maryland gentlemen say that
they wanted all Of Pocomoke sound. He
placed the rights of Virginia still stronger
before the TWO commissions by pointing out
that In every arbitration made by Agreement
on the part of the two States Maryland had
Loaf gu tArritorH and for what rassony IA.