The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-21

How a Norfolk Paper Tried GO" Beat" the
Commonwealth.

The Norfolk vlrginian of yesterday
says.
Tho Portsmouth Star. of Saturday,
makes serious charges as to the publ
cation of q proposed amendment TO the
Cor st.tutiOn of Virginia. which, under
law. is required 10 be published in ono
reWsulDor published in ca II of the cttl IS
of the Commonwealth having more than
1000 inhabitants, etc. The star charges
that Colonel j. Bell Bgger, Keeper OF
the Rolls of Virginia, under impression
that the PortsIr Outh Progress was in eN-
istcnCc AMI in recognition or the rights
OF Portsmouth in the premises, sent un-
der cover to the Port smouth Progress,
Portsmouth, Va, not knowing thdt the
paper was defunct, a copy OF the pro-
posed amendment, ana mat ne IN due
time received a copy of the paper con-
tar ing the same. headed Ports lith
Progress. Portsmouth. Va, july ~ 1870.
The star shows that the advertisement
found appeared In the Evening News or
this city. and that the issue Of the Ports
mouth Progress. which Colonel ) Ben
Bigger received, was found 10 be copy
Of the Evening NcWs, with the meaning
Of Portsmouth Progress substituted
for its proper name at the mead Oh lts
first page
%, ms incredible save for the Outspok.n
and emphatic expose OF the star. II Is a
most serious reflection upga virginia
journalism. IL is deserving the rlshtc , rs
Condemnation OF every sels-resp 'tirg
journalist In Virginia, and the develop
m snt in the matter viii be watched vain
interest.
In regard to the above, Colonel Bigger
m lde the following statement.
"Near before last. In compliance VIC. a
Joint resolution Of the encr1l Assembly
Of N.rg MIA. proposing an amen I'm mn 10
the Constitution, | was requif -, under
its terms. to seld copy OF inc aneha-
ment to one newspaper in every r'y ~
IN. Commonwealth having m )rr thi., TO-
O0j inhabitants. There were cght sucn
papers. namely. The Richmond Dispatch
Norfolk Nirginian, POrf SIN Jntn Pr1srers'
Petersburg indeX-Appeai Roanoke Times.
I.y lchburg News. Alexandra Gazette, ana
Dalville Register.
necessary TO publish another proposed
constitutional amendment ana ! GOV ohl
the book in which ! had recorded the
names of the aWspapers mentlOneu
above. and sent copy TO cach one Just
as | had done before. Among them was
the Portsmouth Progress. and | address
ed my letter 10 IL plainly, Portsmouth
Progress. Portsmouth, Va. In due time ]
received a copy of the paper containing
the amendment. The heading. IN con-
spicious letters. was Portsmouth Progress
Portsmouth. Va.
- clipped out the publication and hled
IL away thinking no more Of the matter
Until SOME DAYS after ! received "a hltr.
from the Portsmouth Star, SAYING that
il did not seem right that NJ star, tu'
only parer published I'm Portsmouth,
should not be given the right TO PRINT
the amendment I replied 10 the SIN
thar | was unable 20 allow them 10 PRINT
the matter referred 10, having already
given the same 20 the Progress. was
astcnished a short time after 10 rec I'VE
Information that the Progress had pesh
deLnct for year
Il also received letters from Messrs.
Leigh Watts, Richard Marshall, and rem
tfess IN regard TO the matter informing
me that the Progress Was out OF existence
and that the amen imcnt was being puD-
1ished By the Norfolk Nireinlan, 20 when
l had sent H. and the NOrfOlk Evening
News I'm disregard of the law that onr
one paper In each city should puhisn ~,
Upon receiving this information ] I'M
modiately wrote TO the alleged Ports
mouth Progress. addressing my letter
Just as the one I'm which | had sent the
amendment 10 Dee printed, and sad mat
az had been informed that the Progress
had discontinued publication, my instruc-
ti)ns to them I'm regard 20 printing inc
amendment We're without force ! then
wrote Immediately 10 the Portsmouth
Star. giving orders FOR its publication M
that paper, which H. now being done.
II then received "a request from MI
Watts 10 send him the copy % tHo Ports
msrfh Progress which was sent me
containing the first publication If rho
amendment / hunted 10 up. and sent Dr.
10 him hut before doing so. / noticed FOR
the first time that on The first page wsre
the words Portsmouth Progress. WINE
within was the statement that the Eve
ming News was tho hest paper publisher
I'm he city. and n dawncd upon me tnat
the paper I'm question had been printed
esneciallv for my private benefit"
Colonel bigger SAID that the account
Of mo aT0ir nr'lirrod ~ tho Norfolk
Nirciniar wes entirely correct