The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-01
The 0YSTERMAN
GATHERING FAST
Hotel Lobbies Alive With
Friends and Foes Of the
Jordan Bill.

The hosts are gathering here for tho
great fight IN the General Assembly over
the oyster question. which was begun
In the House OF Delegates yesterday.
when the Jordan bill, to break the Bay
lor survey was taken up. Many men from
Underwater Virginia, vitality Interested IN
tho subject one way or the other. are
here To aid In securing the triumph OF
their view
There are oyster tongers and private
ple nters. large planters and packers and
attorneys enlisted In behalf OF the OPP
pe:nents OF the Jordan bill.
What the ultimate fate OF this bill.
which Is SO sLrenuously opposed by the
oystermen, Is going to be can only be
conjectured. 1t Is now practically con-
coded thai tile bill will pass the House
In that body It Is only question as to
how much time the discussion, consideras.
ton OF and action Of the bill IL going to
take. Naturally the opponents OF the
measure, whose only hope OF beating
the bill ID to retard its passage VIII 40
all that minority can do legltimately.
under the rules to antagon'ze ana oeiay
the bill. On the other hand. the advo-
Gates Of the mea sure conscious Of their
strength In the House, are willing to give
reasona BILE time for discussion. but open
~ admit that they will tolerate no hli-
buster or dilatory tactics. and II either
he attempted. will cut off debate by call
ing the pending question.
Though the bill pass the House. wnlch
IS conceded. It ls not so certnn tnat u 's
going to get through the Senate, In tact
the homes Of the opponents OF the mear
ure rest chiefly In adverse action or Its
equivalent, non-action by that body. In
the Senate several of the strongest de-
,,aters and most Influential men On the
floor are opposed to the Jordan bill ar :
many othe~s nre opposed toll To the en-
| font that they will not delay or suhordi-
nate to the oyster fight the other import
| mt legsla ton necessary to be enacted.
It may he asserted rs fact that the
| Senate will not hasten to act on the
oyster question The general IMPRESSION
Is that the body will dispose OF the bus
ircss before It with due care and without
hurry and then II tnere be time to SPARE.
IT, ey may take up the Jordan Dill. \ du'et
canvass Is being made OF the senators
| a1ready, to see how and where they
stand. Many are known to be tavora Die
to leaving the lsnotty question as reg
acy to the next General Assembly,
whether this number with those opposed
TO the Jordan bill will be sufficient tt
stave off action on the bill until mex
session Is uncertain. but II Is regarded al
not improbable It Is going to be very
close to Christmas when the SENATE con
| cludes consideration OF the really I'M
portant legislation regarded as imper
| ative and with this concluded there ar
rnany who favor adjourning at the earn
est practicable date Many are unalter
ably opposed to remaining here wrans
Ing over any question, which they say
r,,ay be deferred until the next month.
Many members will retire January III
and these generally do not care 70 tax
action on a measure over which there J
great difference OF opinion as to the wis
dom OF enactlng.
The friends and foes Of the bill wer
active In the hotel Hobbies last nigh
especially at Murphy's and The Powha
tsn, Among those here opposed to IN
bill are Hon, claggett q, Jones, OF Kin
and Queen; Judge Thomas BlAkey.
.re ppa hammock; Or. Kellam, OF Accomac
". Mcdonald Lee OF Lancaster, an
many others. There are also many oys
Ter planters and packers here urging tn
passage of the bill, among them bein
Mr Armstrong and many others fro'
the Norfolk Vicinity, Others are on IN