Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-24
circuit and to regulate the compensa-
ton OF the judge thereof
SENATOR BARKSDALES BILL.

circuit and to regulate the compensa-
ton of the judge thereof.
SENATOR BARkSDALE'S BILL.
The Senate Committee on Finance
heard argument on Senator Banks
dales bill to assess the properties Of
telegraph. telephone and express COM
ponies for taxation. Mr.. Barksdale
| opened the debate. He was followed by
Hon. e. G. Du Bignon, of Georgia, the
! general counsel of the Southern EN-
press Company; Mr.. A. p. Thorn, of
Norfolk. and Major Robert Stiles, Of
Richmond, in opposition to the bill. Mr..
Barksdale had the closing The act
was then made the special order for
next Saturday.
FISH AND GAME.
Following are brief synopsis OF bills
reported to the Senate from the Com
mittee on Fish and Game. to meet sug-
gcstions of the State Board Of Fisher
les:
/. TO authorize the Board of Fisher
les to employ surveyor. or surveyors,
at their discretion, to re-survey, or to
verify certain assignments of planting
ground heretofore made. 1t is held by
the board that, in some sections, more
acreage Is planted than was originally
assigned, and that the State is conse-
quently losing considern BILE amount of
rental tax. In some locations also dis
putes have arisen between the tongers
and planters as to the lines of the Bay
Tor survey, and these disputes have led
to many complications and much an
noying litigation. One of the objects to
be accomplished is to provide the
board with the means of defining and
establishing these lines, when nee
eSsary.
2 To provide tax on the privilege
of taking CLAIMS which shall be the
same as that now provided by law as n
specific tax for taking oysters with
tongs But the tax in either case will
include the privilege of taking both.
No close season is prescribed for TAX
ing CLAIMS.
3. 10 amend the Gull law, so as to In
cludc oysters whose shells measure less
than three inches instead of two and a
half. as heretofore: and to put n fine
on the purchaser, or other person in
whose possession small oysters may he
found, as we'll as upon parties taking
the same
4. TO provide that county clerks shall
hereafter. In making out reports of as
sessments on planted oysters and shells,
certify said amounts are to be entered
up and credited by the Board of the
Oyster Fund
u
spectors to $4,000, instead of $4,000.
6. To amend the laws as to grabbing
license so as to include "nets and other
Devices" as we'll rs scraDers An
other bill provides that on petition of
hfty or more citizens the Board of Fish
cries may authorize the setting aside
OF certain areas TO be used exclusively
as grabbing grounds.
Z. To allow lessees of fifty or more
contiguous acres of planting ground to
dredge or scrape the same, with certain
conditions imposed and subject to the
disapproval and revocation OF the
Bonrd OF Fisheries at any time.
The subcommittee from Fish and
Game now engaged in perfecting the
amendments to the law in force as to
the fishing with nets, etc. These
amendments not likely to be important.
The foregoing likely to cover all leg
lsiation of Importance in regard to
states fisheries Mt this session. except
such joint legislation with Maryland as
may be later agreed on. An agreement
may be reached to sell seed oysters
from the upper Potomac, and a Joint
commission has already been provided
for in the interest of common fishing
laws.
ANTITRUST BILL.
The Committee on General Laws will
consider the Barksdale- Gravely anti
trust bill next Monday morning at IL
o'clock
LAND GRABBERS."
The "land grnbbers' bill and the
measure to provide for putting wires
underground comes up in the House
tomorrow morning.