Saint Mary's beacon., 1900-10-25

The General Assembly of Maryland
a. its Session Of 1900 passed an "Oysssr
Law" that In some sections seems 20 bs
meeting with strenuous opposition and
indiscriminase condemnation. The Com
mittee that framed the Act was one OF
the hardest working and most pAinstsk-
Ing Of the Lsgislature-is was composed
OF plain. practical men. men Who had
the best interest Of the oystermsn ct
heart. and they drafted G Law that In
their Opinion wee best calculated 90 pre-
serve and fostsr the indassFy. In lsoo,
new conditions confronted the Commit.
tee on the Chesapeake Bay and Ice
Tributaries. Lavish expenditures Of
she oyster fund threatened such q drsin
upon the State Treasury that the repre-
sentatives of tbe non oyster producing
counties were ciamoriag 20 have the
burden lifted OF their shoulder, and
there we're delegates from some Of she
oyster counties who were avowed advo.
Gates Of leasing the bars Confronted
by such conditions the committee oct
about framing . bill that would make
the protection Of the oyster beds no
longer burden upon che State. bus
would place In the hands Of the oyster.
men the means Of working out their own
salvation The men who propossd che
Law were genuine friends Of che oyster.
men and were Acsuxted by real desire
90 conserve their interests.
To save the Tobacco Warehouses 20
che farmer the system had 90 be made
self sustaining. aud the friends of the
oystermen we're confronted By precise.
ly similar dilemma A BIN. No 4e3,
House Pile. entitled an "Act % establish
and promote the industry Of Oyster Cul
ture In the State OF Maryland" had bsen
introduced; the report Of the Compsrol.
ler showed that she Oyster Funj. Sep-
tember 30, 1899. had 20 its credit bus
ASS. n. aud an appropriation Of ess,.
600 had tO be voted 90 pay the salaries
and expenses Of the Oyster Police Force
from October !, 1899 ts Ocsobsr I, 1900.
(See Chap. 80, Acts 1SeO.) Messrs. sas-
tsrfield. Of Caroline. and Lancaster, OF
Charles, both members Of the Committee
on Chesapeaks Bay and Tributaries, one
Democrat and shs other Rspublican,
advocated on the foos Of the House the
leasing Of portions OF the bottoms, and
Ar. Lakin. Of Frederick, and Others,
whose names We caanOs now recall, sus-
tanned their contention. Il was evideat
TO the most casual observer thai there
was sentiment i'm the State and q
growing and aggressive sentiment tor.
that meant and meaas 10 push the idea
OF leasing she oyster bottoms OF Mary
land. To deprive these advocates OF
leasing Of their strongest argument, shs
committee set t0 work to devise means
so raise revenue from the Ovsiers that
would make the industry self protective.
We hope they have succeeded, fer ne
think that they honestly tried. Some
Of the means adapted may now sesm
harsh. bus they we're necessary, and we
believe thai the sober sscsnd shoughl of
Intelligent oystsrmes will sustain them
Instead Of fcoRdemning. 90. Asrys'ssw0
Representatives upsa the Camnistee.
Measrs. wilkins.n. In the Senate, aad
Garner. In the House, spared no effort
60 safeguard the interests of the oyssss-
Een. and II it has NOT been done a was
nos for lack Of earnest sndeavoF. TIE
members Of the Assembly. outside ofshs
cnmmittesmen have iissle opportunity
60 give bills careful scrutiny and
have of necessity to accept the report
"f ,he COMMITTEES or DIS without legisls-
ti"a We hazard the prediction that !,
aisl n"t b. tnRg ere the nsyse.m~n ..f
th~ state wiii s~~ = ish CLEARER si~i.sn lh u
ths Oy-s-. i.a~ of 1900 - an ss.s against.
hu: . = sheir iaterest. The e.sarre af
ti,s camnaiste In frsming the lac ws.
conservative. and l. rHn veil atfnri Ia
leave ihr '.u'eamr ~ H. i.ts.rs Is s,s
ieissd hy ans I.saiis.