The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-06


years with the privilege OF rc-enlisiiaS
for one. two or three years respectively.
OYSTER LEGISLATION.
Tho legislation on behalf Of the oys-
ter industry took uD a good deal OF time
and the fight between the oystormcn and
the mountalneors in the LEGISLATURE was
az times very lively. the former taking
tho ground that they have always con-
tributcd their fun share I'm State taxes
and The latter contendlng that the state
Us losing a. great deal OF it's revenue on
account OF the negligence or Indifference
Of the people in Tidewater IN paying
their taxes. After a good deal Of wrang-
ling. in which besides the standing com
mlttoe on the Chesapeake and It's Tribu-
taries special committee participated on
lle part Of the House. a bin was enacted
which created the Board Of FISHERIES.
This body consists of lye members, two
from Tldewater and three from othe'
sections Of the State. They will be ape
pointed by the Governor. who however,
first desires 20 go over the oyster ground
himself.
DO is hoped that this board which su-
perscCcs The old Board OF the Chesa-
pelke and us Tributaries. will accom-
plish the desired object. and will secure
larger revenues from the oyster INDUS
try. Thore has also been created a spe-
cial committee from the House who are
To- 80 for the delinquent oyster inspectors
and TO see that they square up their ac-
counts with the Auditor of Public Ac-
counts more promptly.
The annual appropriation for the main
tcnance of the oyster navy and the pro-
lection OF the oyster interests In the wa
ters of Virginia has been cut down from
$4,000 10 $50. 900 annually, and the season
for the taking Of oysters from hatuial
rocks has been so changed as to begin
ON September LIST and END on April -o'h'
with the exception of certain points III
Princess Anne county, where 'hey may
be taken during ten of the twelve months
every year
Occupants Of oyster planting grounds
ar. pivon permission 10 scrape theH
grounds on Chcrrystone and Hunears
bars. on the mouth of the creeks OF the
same name I'm Northampton county On
Tho eastern or ocean side Of Accomac
and Northampton counties oyster laAe'''
las well as their vessels Will hereafter
have TO De registered before they can
gather I'm the bivalves. 49,,
AGAINST SPURIOUS ARTICLES.
A successful fight was made curing
the recent session against imposing on
tine pcople by the sale of spurious articles.
4 law was enacted prohibiting the SAFE
Of oloomarearine or any similar produc'
as butter This law will so into ehect by
Julv 1st 10 give the merchants III tniS
state am opportunity TO first get ria OF the
articles which they have on hand. y
similar bin was passed two years ago
and approved by Governor q ferrali; nul
ft failed 20 became law, inasmuch as
the enactlng clause had been leit out
Laws have also been placed on Wt
statute book. prohibiting the sale or
adultcrated flour and candy. People who
sell garden seeds and those who sell Ter
tUizers are held responsible by the III"
that ihe articles which they sell are as
they ronrescnted them % Doe az the safe
Spccial attention has been paid To the
business done by the various insurance
companics I'm this state. The WhaI, on
law. which goes into erect ON July ISL
prohibits after that date any such COM
binatione I'm this state as are represented
I'm the Southeastern Tariff Association,
for tho PURPOSE Of maintaining uniform
rates on insurance policies. Every amen
casualty insurance company desiring 10 90
business IN Virginia shall hereafter DC Ie-
uulrod To have on deposit not less IMAM
500 900. dedicated 10 It's business ana 10
cover its liabilities Fire insurance coHl-
uauies shall DE compelled not only 10 pay
tho amount Of the insurance IN case the
Dropertv insured is destroyed by ire, but
/ thcy shall also DO bound 10 ieiund
premiums pro rata on policies as 10 tAe
| time before the expiration OF the latleI.
IL sbau Doc optional henceforth with M
surance companies. provided II meets
| with the approval OF tho Auditor Of
Public Accounts to publish their annual
reports in O. weekly instead of dairy
newspaper
TWO years ago the Legislature revoke cd
] 0af
suranoe companies. but this time sew
eial charters have again been added TO
/ the list OF insurance companies
| The state of Virginia. il was claimed
! had I'm former years had some sad eNpe-
! rience with officials that became short ir
! thcir accounts On account OF deiecuF,
bonds given by them when the,
went into Office and in nearly
/ every instance the Commonwealth
/ has been the loser. To remedy this evi
/ the Attorney General mas been insiructe.
| TO procure copies of the official bonds al
! clerks. troasurers etc., in order TO asceI'
| tain whether they are detective or ho'
! II tho hitter be the case. then the Attor
ney General has 10 notify the respective
/ Commonwealth Attorneys TO see that ne"
/ bonds arc furnished.
THE REFOEMATORY SCHOOL.
4 Good deal of noise was made during
the session by certain members as TO al
| legged abuses existing in the management
/ of the Roformatory School at Laurel Sla
| ton which is .in charge of me IIlaoi
/ Association OF Virginia. The House was
at one time considerably worked UP oVel
! the matter and the statement was MADE
on the floor by the chairman of the ii
! nance Committee that no appropriation
/ would be made for the institution unit
the matter was slftcd TO the bottom and
! 10 was shown that these charges had n'
| foundation. This was done, and after IN
most minute and critical examination l
was ascertaned that the Board OF Direc
tors were free from blame.
In order TO give the State at least ;
partial supervision OF tho affairs OF tn
| Reformat0ry school several new law
| were enacted. the most important one o
! which gives the Governor the finai par
/ doning power over the decision of tn
| b9A-d. Hereafter no boys shall be sen
! to the institution who shall have reach
! ed the age OF seventeen years, and IN
! one Is 10 be retained there longer thar
| his twenty-nrst year Minors SHAH oni.
be sent there upon a conviction; vagrant
shau not be kept there longer than eigh
| teen months Boys convicted OF a mis-
demeanor may be kept there from two L
! three years. and those convicted OF
felony from three 10 i've years. In oacl
| case an appeal may be taken within ff