Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-18

that such state Of affairs would be ad
visable
In reply to a question from Mr.. owen
MIR. Bland said the oyster Industry should
pay larger revenue to the State. and
that the people OF Tidewater, generally
were anxious to have all the revenue pos
sible collected from this source but th'
laxity In the enforcement of the law wa:
the reason why no better showing was
mad In the revenue derived from this
direction He thought his bill would
bring about the desired result to the en-
tire satisfaction Of all concerned.
THE LECATO-CRAIG BILL.
Mr.. Stubs said he was not opposing
Mr.. BANDS bill or the Craig bill. but
that Il measure OF which Mr.. LeCato
was the patron was on the calendar OF
the Senate and would soon reach the
House. Therefore, he thought that the
bills pending in the committee should not
be perfected until all three came up in
the House.
Mr.. Craig said his bill was really the
LeCatO bill with certain amendments,
and that. therefore the committee was
competent at present to pass upon the
two measures.
Mr. George Bland said If there was any
jealousy as to the designations OF the
several bills when one measure was
finally agreed upon. IT should go under
the name OF the Chesapeake Bivalve
Committee bill"
Mr. Murphy suggested that a meeting
OF the three committees be held on Fri
day night to consider all the bills intro
duced and decide upon some one and re-
port It.
Mr. watkins. chairman Of the special
committee. said there seemed to be no
vast difference in the several bills; IT
was simply a matter Of detail. There
were good points in the Bland bill, and
also in Senator LeCato's measure. he
thought II Senator LeCato could be pres
ent at a meeting of the two committees
a bill could be drafted which would come
up to all requirements.
HAVE A UNION MEETING.
Mr.. Montague moved that members OF
the Senate committee and the two House
committees meet next Friday night TO
consider all bills submitted TO II.
DR.. Smith thought the LeCato bill was
the proper measure to be reported favor
ably. He produced roughly-drawn map,
showing the oyster ground. and explained
that nearly two thousand miles would
have to be travelled by the inspectors in
order that the reports might be made
properly. Therefore. he did not think that
one inspector. as provided for under Mr.
BANDS bill. could perform the work.
Mr.. Stubbs gave a brief history of the
oyster industry from 1881 to the present
time and described the oyster grounds
and the protection required 10 prevent the
"oyster pirates" from their depredations.
ent machinery of executing the law was
defective
Mr.. Watkins thought the duties of the
officers created under the LeCatO bill
were not sufficiently defined.
Mr.. Montague renewed his motion that
as many of the three committees as desired
TO do so be requested TO attend joint
meeting Friday night. This was adopted
The committee then adjourned TO meet
again Thursday night for the considera-
tion OF other matters.
THE BUTTERINE BILL.
The House Committee on Propositions
and Grievances yesterday considerd Mr.
Keezell's anti-butterine bill which recent
ly passed the Senate Mr.. keeZell appear
ed before the committee and made q
statement OF the reasons why il should
pass. Its further consideration was post
pOned The bill allowing county courts TO
license merchants TO sell drugs i'm country
districts where there is no drugstore was
decided upon adversely.
AGAINST FENCING IN TRACKS
The committee of the House on Roads
and Internal Navigation met in executive
session last night and decided almost
to report Mr.. Saunders's
fence law" bill with an unfavorable re-
commendation. Mr. A. p. Thom, of Nor
folk. was present to speak in opposition TO
the measure but as no one was on hand
the other side. ii being UNDER
stood that no argument was 10 be made
except by members of the committee, he
very gracefully retired. and the body met
behind closed doors.
There will probably be n strong fight
made upon the floor Of the House for the
passage of the bill. however, as Mr.. Saun-
iers is very much determined in his ad-
yOcacy of il.
IN FAVOR OF CHAIN-GANGS.
The House COnmittee on Prisons and
Asylums yesterday decided 10 report IA
yorably Mr.. Turpin's bill. providing for
'ules for the keeping Of chain-gangs. The
)ill provides that the Board of Supervis-
)rs in each county shall pay all the ex-
)enses for the maintenance OF the prison. |
RS in chain-gangs but that the state !
'hall contribute the sum OF p cents day |
or each one of these men for board. The |
ill also provides that corporal punishment /
hall be inflicted by order OF The court, |
Board Of Supervisors. or Council for the |
'iOlatiOn Of the rules and regulations |
After some discussion IL was decided TO |
mend the bill so that these prisoners |
Who worked i'm chain-gangs shall not cost |
he state more than if they were kept in |
all ii was also decided TO strike out |
he word corporal punishment and pro-
'ide only punishment the manner OF
which "a 10 be determined by the court,
n Council. or Board Of Supervisors.
The Bland bOiler-inspectiOn bill Will be
onsdered by the Committee on Mechan-
cs and Mechanics Arts on Thursday af-
ernOOn at 4.30 O'Clock. instead of Wednes-
ay. It having been decided TO observe the
after which is the anniversary Of the
firth OF X. T.. Lee as holiday.