The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-11
GOLDEN GOOSE BUT NO Ed GS
The Oyster Revenue Question n us
Scanned Up by Legislator.
TOEGUELESS BIYALYE CRGl7ES TIKI K
A Lengthy Paisyer Last Night B"i"S" '"'
House Committee on the Chesapesk"
and Its Tributarics over Mr.. Stubs
Natural Rock survey Measure.


about three hours. Mr.. Stubs bill pro-
vidine Tor "A survey OF natural oyster
rocks in counties where such rocks nave
not vet been taken into the geod'uc sur
vcy. was the subject under discuss'o"'
In view OF The fact that number al tile
members from the mountain distflc's
wore present the debate took a rather
wide range 30 that those who were no'
familiar with the oyster question migh.
az least 10 some extent learn. 1nc bill
was finally passed hy TO bc considered
again on "Wednesday evening
Dr. Charles Smith. OF Northampton.
occi,picd The chair Mr. j. s. Craig. OF
Rcckbridgc. stated Chat he had prepared
n hn, concerning revenue TO Doe derived
from che oyster industry. which. however
had not YET been completed. Tie. tucre-
fore. asked that action De postponed on
all revenue bills until his bill was before
the committee.
MORE MONEY.
Mr. James y Stubs. OF Gloucester,
called Up his bin which provides that
county courts In various counties shall
take the necessary steps 10 have all
natural oyster rocks surveyed that have
not been Included in the geodeuc survey.
M Stubs explained that he had no de-
sire to interfere with the geodctic sur
vev where natural oyster rocks had al
ready been assigned. In 1891 the Legis-
laturc oefned i'm a bin what natural
oyster rocks were. but unfortunately That
bill was vetoed by Governor Mckinney
and this had been the cause Of all the
troubles I'm the oyster Industry since that
time The provisions as TO how these
natural rocks are 90 be surveyed are the
same as in the existing laws.
Mr. Craig desired 60 know whether the
fa.f rtg4fge If
the natural rocks left out by the survey
should be rented out TO the planters in
stead Of having them surveyed.
Mr.. Stubbs thought the state should en-
courage the longer 10y not giving natural
rock 20 the planter. and more revenue
would be- increased by taking the natural
rock into the geOdetic survey. lie thought
the tax Of 81 charged the toncer now
should be reduced 10 81. or to 40 cents
per 800 worth Of oysters caught by them
during the season. If this was done, he
felt convinced that the tongers would
gladly pay their taxes
MIR. craig said there should be no trou-
Bile between the tongers and planters. be
cause the line had been strictly drawn.
There were about 1900 tongcrs I'm this
state. and n the State should receive
from them $500 annually as AK. this
would zoe only at the rate of - cents per
acre II there were 1900 acres of ma
tional oyster rocks taken I'm the survey.
the state would lose 81 per acre on such.
The State wanted 10 derive additional
revenue from the oyster industry. and II
this committee did not procure the neces-
sary legislation. then the mountain people
would take the matter I'm hand and gee
that this revenue be- secured. No oyster
bill should be brought into the House be-
inc N q
creased revenue from the oyster industry
FOR PROPER MACHINERY.
Mr. &. II. Jennings Of Washington. who
Is member of the special committee
from the various congressional districts
appointed 10 suggest some additional reve-
nue. stated that ne was in favor of up
holding the necessary machinery TO pro-
tect the oyster industry He did not
know much Of that industry. but would
have 10 Ice guided largely by the mem
bers from the Tidcwater District.
Mr. CHARLES r. Bland. of Portsmouth.
said while he was IN favor of UNFOLDING
the revenues of the State. the people Of
the state had some rights also. The
present law on the statute book was good.
The only fault IS that It is not carried
out. and that there was no one response
ble for its enforcement.
When asked Dy Mr.. Murphy. OF this
city. Mr.. Bland stated that at present
the revenues received by the State from
the oyster industry amounted to 10000
per year. while the expenses of protecting
the oyster industry amounted 10 about
S2a0O0. leaving net balance OF from $500
% $1,000 lie thought the members OF the
committee would draw their own con-
illusions and reach amicable settlement
o. the question.
Mr. =. g. Murphy. of this cioy. said
as ne understood the oyster shore was
for rent. bat why was it not rented, if 50
very valuable?
The chair thought an the good ground
was taken and II the other ground was
;akon up. it would cost several hundred
dollars to plant IL.
Mr Murphy thought II would he a mis-
take TO throw the oyster grounds open
90 people from other States. II was a
great mistake 70 think that the state
would ever get a large revenue from the
oyster industry. II the machinery was
set properly In motion. the revenues
might be increased but not to any large
extent To plant the oyster grounds was
not a paying investment for the people
would come and steal the oysters right
before the eyes of the planter and the
latter could not prevent g.
Messrs T.. &. Jordan. OF Frederick. and
j. NJ Gwyn. Of Smyth, who had entered
the room in the mean time. then took a
part in the conversation and desired "a
know why the planter could not be- pre-
vented from being robbed OF his oysters
and Mr. Murphy replied because he would
he shot at. This remark created great
merriment and the two representg tivc'
Of the mountain districts wondered why
the planter would not shoot too.
1~NIu ANIME frTFr s1TIT ALTON
Mr.. Siubbs in explaining the situation
IN TYdcwater stated that the Senatorial
District which he had represented was
composed Of 5000 population. 2io0o OF
whom were negroes and the 22.ooo white
people OF that district paid more take:
into the State Treasury then any othe'
22OO0 white people I'm any other section o
the state. at the rate OF SIS per capita
man woman and child Formerly TIA
section was Republican and II any law
was passed disagreeable 20 that section OF
The state. IL would 20 Republican
The land bordering on the Tidewate
was assested twice as high az more fer
tilc land I'm the interior. because it Wa
adjacent 20 the watercoursc. There wa
$1,000 600 worth OF real estate on the waite
courses assessed higher than land in tn
interior Of the State. In the counties o
Accomac and Northampton the sum o
$500 IS paid annually as the share o
these two counties on oyster revenues
Al that his people asked was 20 have tn
III. In raf Nilt