The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-13

o'clock in room No. on the upper floor
Of the Capitol building. with DIT. . H.
Walker. OF Augusta, in the chair. Ihe
0rst him taken up was one introduced by
Mr.. A. l.. Mlnter. OF Bedford, provdins
for rhe collection and publication Of sta
tistics relating to the fruit-srowing in
terests IN this State.
inc hill sets forth that the sum OF
$500 be appropriated for that purpose am
nually. the money 20 be expended by
the state Horticultural Society OF Viz
ginia. which IS TO be created Il Board oil
Horticulture Mr. AIinter, who was pres
ent. explained the Importance OF the
passage Of such a measure IN order 10
advance horticulture.
The committee finally decided 20 report
the bill with the recommendation that
It do not pass.
The committee then took up bill I'm
troduced by Or. Winston. OF Hanover,
authorizing the Commissioner OF Agri-
culture. with tho APPROVAL of the Board OF
Agriculture. TO employ a man 20 collect.
classify and take charge Of all specimens
Of mineral TOT nd in this state and make
assays OF them. Reports OF his work arc
10 be filed I'm the office Of the Commits
sioner Of Agriculture.
The person so employed IS 70 be paid
salary of 5000. 20 be taken for tho
first year from the fertilizer fund, while
thereafter Il is to be paid out OF fund
10 be created under the bill from fees
OF $40 each for minerals reported on. These
fees, together with all actual expenses
are 20 be collected from the owner Of
the land from which the mineral is taken
DR.. Winston. who appeared before the
committee. explained the provisions Of
the bill as did also Mr. w D. Cardwell.
Of Hanover, who felt an interest in the
matter.
The committee finally decided 20 report
the bin with the recommendation that IL
do not pass
Working Coal Mines.
The last bill taken up was one intro
duced by Mr. Maupin. OF Henrico.
The bill provides for the amending of
section $50 OF the Code IN relation to
working coal and other mines near land
Of another without his consent. II pro-
vides that no owner or tenant OF any land
containing coal, sulphur or other min
erals within the State shah open or dig
or work any mine or shaft on such land
within fifty feet Of the line dividing his
land from that of another person without
the consent in writing OF every person in
terested In the adjoining lands Violations
~ this provision shall cause thar person
20 forfeit the sum OF $500 10 any one VIII }
may sue for the same.
Mr.. Maupin was not present but the
committee decided 10 hear Mr.. Ware b..
Gay. who appeared In opposition TO the
measure Mr. Cay stated that ho repre-
scented large coal mining interests I'm
Chesterfield. HenricO and GoOchland coun-
tics. He was opposed 10 the bill for two
reasons. In the first place. the mineral
interests We're best benefited by The
least new legislation possible. His second
reason was a personal one.
The present law provided that the
limit for digging mines. etc. should be
five feet from the lire OF tho adjoining
property and under that provision he
had purchased the property In question.
II Mr. Mauplns BIN was enacted, he
would lose the sum Of 10000 at the rate
OF one cent per ton of coal
In the absence of the patron OF the bill
the committee decided 20 pass the bill by.
A New Oyster Bill.
The Senate Committee on Fish and
Came met yesterday afternoon ana
beard Hon. Howard Hathaway. Of Lam
caster explain bill he had prepared
To include in the Geodeuc survey. made
Inv Captain Baylor, certain oyster grounds
not now included.
The committee decided 70 report the
measure favordbly.
Anti-Flirting Bill.
The NfcCune anti-nirting bin will come
bofora The Senate Committee on Public
institutions and Education AZ +. VI.
senator McCune will be on hand 10 adj
vocate the measure. lie viii present let-
Tors giving strong endorsement 70 the
biil from Rev. Or. j. =. Hyde. principal
OF valley Female Seminary, al Winches-
ter. Rev. James Cannon, Jr principal or
the Blackstone Female Academy, ana
many other prominent educators IN VIZ