The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-18
A BILL BY ANY OTHER NAME
Hints at Jealousy Among Authors Of
House Oyster Measures.
Mr.. G. C. BLAND SUGGESTS A TITLE.
Call the "Bill of the Congressional DE-
valve Committed" lie says-No Fence
Law for Kailroads-Justic John
and Mr.. Wilson.

and Mr.. wilson.
The House Committee on the Chcsa-
peake and its Tributaries held another
lengthy session in Room No. in the base
ment Of the Capitol building and wres'leo
with the oyster question FOR more than
foyr hours. Dr. Charles smith, Oh
Northumberland presided as usual
The Bland bill providing for a chief oys-
ter inspector under the jurisdiction OF the
present Board on tho Chesapeake was at
first taken UP and Mr. Charles +. Bland
Of Portsmouth, the patron, explained lis
provision in detail
Mr.. Harry B. owen on behalf oil 'no
spccial Congressional Committee oil Ten
CHARGED with investigating the matter Oh
the oyster industry. stated that that body
desired 10 be I'm close touch with the Com
mittee on the Chesapeake, and he hopeo
that the latter would. before acting on a
hin refer these measures Ca the Congres-
sional Committee for us approval Mr..
owen desired 10 know why III was tn'I
during tho fiscal year lNo- h inc oyster
,,,d,,sfr, had given a surplus of AlJO'
while during the next year tnere was
deficit of $0Zl. o.,
MIR bland replied that the fault was IN
,be lack of enforcing the law. Since the
beginning of the present oyster season
the sum of $1,000 had been paid into the
stote Treasury from the oyster Industry.
MIR. James y. Stubbs. OF Gloucester
stated that two payments of 500 ana sou
had been made during the new hscai
wear which had 10 be credited to- the last
year. which gave at the end of that year
a balance Of $3.50 To- the credit OF the oys-
ter industry.
Mr. owen then desired 10 know whether
there had been am increase in the area OF
planting grounds during the past year ana
Mr.. Stubbs replied that some additional
acres had been planted, but a great many
acres of old planting grounds had been
abandoned.
PREFERRED HIS BILL
Mr. Bland in speaking Of his bill said
Il was % be preferred 20 the LeCato-
Craig bin because he did not make the
chairman. who is to be chief inspector IN
the other bin and the secretary OF the
Board Of Fisheries. members or the com
mission. WneIt lNtN WbuiA nave 81 wa
on questions chat should be left 20 be de-
cided by others than salaried officers
Mr. Subbs stated the position of the
committee. which, he said was peculiar
one. The Senate committee mad just una
nimously reported the LcCato oyster bill
which would likely be passed by the Sem
ate. The House would likely pass either
the LoCato bin with the Craig amend
monts or tho Bland bin and the bill pass
ed bv the House would widely differ from
that OF the Senate. I'm his opinion it
would be best for the committee TO walt
and see what the Senate would do, and IL
would be easy 90 amend the bill passed
bv tho Senate 1t would be valuable time
lost TO perfect either of the bills now be-
fore the committee
Mr. J. S Craig. OF Rockbridge. thought
the committee could just as well decide
at once between his bin and the Bland
bill.
no CAUSE FOR JEALOUSY.
Mr. George G. Bland. OF King and
Queen. thought that IL there should exist
any jealousy as TO whom the bin should
be named after then he would suggest 10
call il the bill OF the "Congrcssional
Bivalvc Committee
Mr Y. H. Murphy. 81 this city, sug-
ecsted that the committee postpone final
action until next Friday evening. when
he thought the Senate bin would have
been passed. and be in the possession of
the committee.
Mr.. Charles n. Bland wanted 20 have
the two bills now before the committee
refererd 20 the Congressional Committee so
that that body might frame one bill from
IT,
Judge Asa y. watkins. Of Prince Ed
ward. the chairman OF the Congressional
Committee. thought there was no great
difference I'm the basis of operation bee
tween the two bills, there only existed
a difference as 20 the details, which could
be easily adjusted.
Mr.. T.. T. Montague OF Elizabeth city.
moved that when the committee adjourned
il did so with the understanding 90 meet
again on Friday evening az 5 o'clock. and
that the Congressional Committee and The
Senate Committee on Fish and Game be
invited 90 meet with them at that time.
TOO MUCH FOR ONE.
Dr. smith thought no one man could
DO the work assigned 90 the chief inspec-
tor in the Bland bill. lie described the
territory over which the inspector wOulc
have to- travel. which contained nearly
TWO thousand miles. one man could not
90 II in one month and it could hardly
DO accomplished uA TWO men III lMN
months although the bin called for
monthly inspections lie thought tho
LeCatO bin was the proper one.
The Inspector would also have TO look
after the Grabbing. claiming and fishing
industries, and he would have to see that
the seed oysters are not carried out of
the State. \ fine OF 500 was prescribed
for the stealing of seed oysters. but no
fine had ever been collected. DR.. Smith
was very anxious 90 impress on the COM
mttoo the fact that no one man could
perform all those duties
The motion made by Mr.. Montague %
| postpone The further consideration of the
| craig and Bland bills until next Friday
evening at S o'clock. was then adopted
and the committee adjourned until next
| Thursday evening at s o'clock. when sev.
! cral other important measures will be
considered.
Mr.. UJLSON ON JUSTTCE JOHN.
| The Legislator Greets the Judge and In
yitcs Him to His seat in the House.
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