The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-06
APPLICATIONS HEARD.
APPLTCANTs FOR CAPTATN FOSTER'S
PLACE BEFORE THE BOARD.
A Long Sesslon-The Contest Appears
to be Between Captains Billups
and Hudgins.

The Board Of the Chesapeake and its
tributaries met in e Executive Chamber
shortly hefo noon yesterday TO hear apph-
cations OF asprAnt- for the position OF 4 m
mander Of tle Oyster Navy, mace vacant Dy
the death Of Captain Seth Foster. the iate
Commander OF the steamer Che-apeake' Al
three members Of the board, Governor DC
Kinney. Auditor Marye and Treasurer daT-
man. were on hand, ana SecrelAiy H. -
Zolibofer recorded.
The following applican were present as
silent listeners: Captain William II Biiiips,
Of Mathews: Captain A, j. Read OF Ac-
comac: Captain T. X. Thomas, Of Accollac'
CAPTAIN William t. Hu gins. OF NorioI1,
and Capt in W. G.. Merrick. OF Larc caster.
The meeting. which lasted til3:2 D. m,
was carried on with closed doors but II was
learned afterwards that it was very good
natured one. somewhat IN the order .
family reuuien and that all ha DIS parted In
the best spirits. -
The bali was sat rolling by Judge Iheo-
dore 4. Garnet, OF Norfolk. who placed IN
nomination Captain Sam b. LAWS. OF Alex
hndria. He made lengthy speech In be IA
OF his client. aud was followed by hon.
Lloyd 4. Smith, Of NOrthumberand. VINO
nominated Captain ". q. Messick for the
position. he latter's nomination was sec
onded by Mr.. ee from tue same county.
Mr. Upshur b. Qunsiay, OF Accouac.
placed in nomination Captain a >. heac, 81
tina county and commonwealth Attorney
j. IL Fletcher Of Acc0mac nominated Cap
tain T. r. Homes. of the same county.
Hon. Harry J.. Maynard, OF Portsmouth,
who will represent that section 10 tho state
Senate during the next two sessions, placed
in nomination Captain William j.. Hudg n
OF orfoik He made IN elegant speech and
started ou1 by saying that he labored under
n disadvantage inasmuch as al no other
aspirnnt had been nominated by lawyers,
but he would under existing circumstanG 2.
endeavor to do the best he could. He pre-
sented the case Of his prOtege very tcrc-
IDLE manner.
Judge A. Brown Evans, of Midllese1, de-
liyered an eloluent speech in rOmlnat NJ
aptain William III. Billups. of Mathews
county. He was followed by Judge J.. ay or
Garnett, of Mathews county, wlo also adj
vocated the APP ointment of Captain I5h-
lups. The latter was ACCOMPANIED by quite
an array Of friends, among them Captain
John A, Curtis. of Richmond, Captain
George Hunley. as Commemorative At
torney of Mathews. and Mr.. Miller, for
mer Chairman Of the Democratic party OF
that county. Hon. John n. Tabb. member
of tie House of Delegates from Gloucester
county.
There were also the following gentlemen
placed in nomination. Captain BOnnlyile.
Of Hampton: Colonel VT. Robins. Of GlOu-
cester and Captain Barber OF Gloucester.
The Board listened patiently 10 the
various addresses aud announced that al
papers submit cd would be given due con-
sideratiou. Nearly all the applicants have
sent in numerous Endorsements by their
friends. In all probability the appointment
vii be made within the next few DAYS.
When the result o. yesterdays session OF
the Board became known. there was a grea
deal of commenting done among the 81 te--
men around the Capitol a. 10 the probable
outcome Of the competition. H.was pretty
generally admitted however. that Captain
Billups and Captain Hold gins stood the best
show and that very likely one Of the two
gentlemen would be selected. The friends
OF CAPTAIN HOdgins claim that the appoint
ment should g to Norfolk, and that mas
much as Captain Seth Foster had been a
resident of Mathews coun y. his successor
should be taken from some other portion or
| Iidewater district.
On the othe hand it is argued by mary.
that Captain Billups ought 10 he the choice
| Of the Board for the re son, that he had
| been first mate under Captain Foster and
was therefore in the direct liue Of promotion.
| IL is claimed that owing TO his familiarity
with the duties. etc, he would be much
more acceptable to the large majority OF the
oystermen than any other COMMANDER Ap-
pointed by the Board. 1t is also said that
! Captain Hodsins, who holds at present tae
position of Deputy City Co ector IN Norfolk
/ city. would better remain where he Is AT
present and look for promotion IL that
! direction.
Beside it is being argued, that Norfolk
and that section or the State has already
sufficient patronage from the federal govern
ment 10 the Numerous appointments male
in connection with tbe Portsmouth Navy
| Yard and that it would be therefore more
| becom Dc for tina. locality to let VIII Il little
! patronage there is in the gift of the State
| government. 20 TO some other section OF the
! State. thereby greatly aiding in the strength
enging of the De tocratic partyln Otherwise
rather doubtful localities.