The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-09
was. upon motion Of Mr.. E. @. Leigh. Jr..
received and filed.
The Election OF Omcsrs.

nomination the present incumbent, Hon.
George J.. Christian.
Upon being nominated, Judge Christian
SAIL that he was still of the opinion that
| he had always held. that no lawyer
should be president OF the Chamber, but
that the organization should have
business man at it's head: that when NOM
| mated, at the death Of Mr.. Ainslie, several
years ago. he had absolutely declined 10
| allow his name TO be used as n nominee
for president. and that last year, when
| Colonel Purcell Unexpectedly to the
| Chamber, found e necessary to decline
| reelection, he had again taken the same
| position, but had finally yielded TO the
| influence Of prominent members OF the
| Chamber, who had thought for certain
| reasons that ne should consent TO serve
in the capacity OF president for one
year; that this he had done. and that he
would now be glad 10 have his successor
| elected
| Mr.. S. w Travers seconded the nomi-
nation Of Judge Christian, and urged
his consenting TO serve the Chamber. for
while, he said, that It was true that he
| was n lawyer yet no man felt deeper
| interest in the commercial affairs Of the
| city. and few were more familiar with
| them than Judge Christian.
| Mr.. John r. West followed Mr.. Travers
| IN secondlng the nomination. OF Judge
| Christian. saying that by reason Of his
election as a bank president, since the
| last annual meeting. he was nearer the
! pockets Of the business men. and much
| more eligible to the position, IL there was
| any force In the stand taken by him last
| year.
There being no other nominations. Mt.
! Randolph moved that the ballot be closed,
| and Mr.. Waddey moved that the secretary
! Il H.. Lpf1 ~ If a
! Chamber In favor Of Judge Christian as
president OF the Chamber FOR the ensu-
| ing year. which motions were unanimous
" adopted and the secretary accordingly
| cast the vote Of the Chamber for Judge
! Christian,
Judge Christian accepted the Office,
thanking the Chamber earnestly for the
hatterlng compliment paid him, saying
that he sincerely craved the support OF
the members Of the Chamber 10 make
| the organization one OF such influence
| that its power would be felt from the
! centre 10 the circumference Of the city.
Mr.. S. II. Halves was then nominated
as first yice-president, and was accord
ingly unanimously elected.
Mr.. s. w. Travers was nominated for
second vice-president and was unani-
! mously elected
Mr. John II. Montague was untai-
mously elected treasurer Of the Cha noer.
Mr. r. A. Dunlop was unanimously
elected secretary Of the Chamber.
The Directors.
The election Of directors being next I'm
| order, the secretary certified to the meet
! ing. according to the requirements Of the
| constitution. those who were ineligible
for reelection, under the provision that
| no member Of the board shall be eligible
| f,4rp N
$. II. Halves then moved the appoint
! ment Of a committee OF FIVE 10 nOmi-
! nate directors for the ensuing year which
motion being carried. the chair appointed
upon that committee Messrs. 5. II.
| HAYES. John r. West, T. G.. Leigh, Jr,
John p. Purcell and n Y. Randoloh.
and the committee retired to prepare
list Of nominations During the absence
Of the committee. und n the head IF un-
finished business. the chairman Of the
committee on legislation submitted he
following report upon the oyster question,
which was unanimously adopted:
The undersigned, 'Our committee on
legislation, 10 whom several communal
lions relating 10 the oyster question In
Virginia were recently referred, beg leave
to report.
That they are deeply impressed with
the Importance Ct the development Of
this valuable property Of the State. con
| tanning 500 600 acres and with the fact
that the question has not had an amount
| of attention devoted TO II by the whole
people Of he Commonwealth at all com
mensurate with the magnitude Of their
| common interest. When considered as
| resource, by means Of which the present
| burden OF taxation may be reduced
throughout the entire State, and from
which large and more adequate appro-
priations may be made practicable TO
| the many necessary public works and in
| stitutions, every citizen, irrespective Of
his location has alike the deepest inter
est in its utmost development.
Your committee is reliably Informed
that the system I'm effect prior 20 the act
to protect the oyster industry Of the
| Commonwealth. approved at the last
meeting of the Legislature, was a source
Of continuous expense 10 the State, and
| destructive Of the oyster itself. when
| It should have been source of vast reve-
| nue. to both the State and those engaged
i'm the industry That this has been the
! case solely on account Of the undeveloped
| condition OF the proerty. growing out OF
| the improvident methods OF some OF our
citizens, the destructive depredations OF
| non-residents and the failure Of the
system 10 promote and protect the In
teligent and profitable investment OF
labor and capital I'm the business. That
! while the act Of February %, 1892 Is
| move i'm the right direction, and has al
ready had it's good effects. they believe,
| from the testimony Of experts and from
! the experience of other oyster-produclns
sections Of this and other countries, that
| the peculiar nature and exposed condi-
ton of this property demands a most
vigorous. well-defned and uniform sys-
tenn: and that only by such system can
the ratio Of expense TO receipts be re-
| duced to a minimum, and this great
! interest be fully developed ana pro-
| tected
These conditions induce the opinion on
| the part Of your committee that there
Is urgent need Of an active and immediate
educational campaign, which shall result
| tn such general light being thrown upon
the question that universal interest may
be aroused. prejudice and ignorance re-
| moved and prompt efficient ana WISE
| legislation secured.
| They THEREFORE recommend that lhe
commercial organizations throughout the
| State which should. from their character
and objects, most sensibly feel the I'M
/ portance OF developing every source OF
| wealth in the Commonwealth, be request
ed to give this question I'm all its bear
ings their early and serious considera-
tions. and 10 the end that all the exigenc.es
and EQUITIES Of the situation may be fair
" and freely discussed; that they be
asked TO send delegates to meeting for
conference in Richmond during the ap-
/ preaching summer at some time 10 be
| agreed upon: and that representatives OF
| the tongmen, dredgers and planters, as
well as experts, who have given the sub
| iect special investigation and study, be
| invited to address this meeting