The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-29
THE OYSTER QUESTION:
It a Constitutional Convention Is Held If
will be Brought Up.
THE STATE TO SELL Her OYSTER BEDS.
somo arc Anxious for Convcntiora 10
Pear with the Smbjoct = AnotIies
S""ern"i"ri"i Candidate = A G,ps;
nance in Real iirc-Iong DIstnnea
Ieiephone viii G-t franchise.


Teiephone Will Get "a Frnnchisa.
Richmond, Va, Jan. 9s.--tSpeciat.l--
It can be stated upon very good an.
monty mat IL constitutional conyer,.s
tlon is held an effort VIII be made to
ADOPT provision prohibiting the Com.
Iroilweii'h ~, from holding oyster grounds.
In other words, the scheme has for its
OBJECT the sale OF all rights the State
mas IN oyster grounds. There ore some
people anxious for a convention "a lie
caiieu Tor purpose OF dealing with the
oyster question. IA
CONTRACT LABOR
An organized and determined efYorf
VIII be made at the next session Of ffa
Leglsiaiure to abolish the system OF con-
@ armct laoor IN Virginia. Already the.
question Is being quietly agitated. am
to!d tnat a gentleman who expects to-
serve IN The next Senate Is now at work
on n'il 20 accomplish this object. me
scheme Is TO put conYicts 10 work on
me PUBIC roads. 1t Is Argued that it Ia
,, pe..gr 10 DO this than build a new PEN
ten tiary, which the report of the Super-s
intendent shows Is necessary. All1tfas
lipor organizations are in favor OF the
pan. with reference TO the new peni-g
tehtiary, a gentleman who has a hand II,
the management OF the institution here.
ientiaries located in different parts OF
the State. h 25S1j
Now 1t Is stated that Hon. Z. e. Mere
dith, the Congressman from the Eighth
district, who failed OF denomination, will
be a candidate for Governor
Candidates for State offices are very
slow In expressing themselves on the
que: ton of calling constitutional con-
vention. have Interviewed a few OF
them recently, and all said they had no
views on the subject to express at this
time: The truth Is the party Is so much
divided as to the expedency OF holding
the convention, that the candidates are
not anxious to commit themselves. i
received letter to-day from q gentle-
man who is high up in the councils OF the
party, saving he was really unable to
say whether or not convention should
be called, for thece are arguments that
can be used for and against It."
MUCH DESTITUTIoN.
The cold weather has developed the
fact that there Is much more poverty
here than any one dreamed OF. A fami-,
ly named Sterling was found to-day Ia
pit!ahle condition. The father Is out
OF work, has no shoes. nor clothing fiti
to appear in on the streets. There are
four half starved children in the house
and the family Will be evicted on Nom
day If the rent Is not paid. AS soon as
the good people of the city learned Of
the condition of these people, who are
too proud 10 beg, they went generously
TO their assistance.
The wife of DR.. George B. Steel died
to-day after long illness. She was be-
fore her marriage a Miss Garnett, Of
and was DR.. Steers
fourth wife. Those wives who preceded
10 ha atl lD,,-t Il A. ~,
side In Hollywood, and she will be laid
TO rest with them tomorrow. Mrs. Steel
leaves five children. DR.. Steel had seve-
raj children by former marriages.
a REAL ROMANCE. &
The course of true love has not the
reputation of running smoothly, but at
the end OF its journey there Is almost:
always marriage :ven In these flt1 de
steele times. as there was in times gone
by. To-day there was marriage, which
eliminated very romantic courtship In
some respects The interested parties
were Mr.. II. B. Robinson, an opera.
tor in the employ of the Western Union
telegraph company, and Miss Pearl Kel-l
ly, the attractive daughter Of ME-;
First street. Rev. DR.. Hoge performed
the ceremony at the home of the bride
in the presence of few rela tives. The
happy couple left on tn. noon train on
their honeymoon. Mr.. andMr s.Roblnsonj
were to have been married last Decens4
bert bu; lovers Quarrel occurred ahd;
the ceremony did not take place them,
Since then they were reconclled and;
their marriage took place to-day.
WILL FRANCHISE PHONES.
The Street Committee Tonight decided
to grant franchise 10 the American
Long Distance Telegraph md Telephone
company. but postponed the considera-8
to-, IS. 1at, tie .f ~