The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-15
ON OYSTER
LEGISLATION
The Minority Report OF Hon. S
Wilkins Mathews Presented
to the House.
A BIG FIGHT IN PROSPECT
Session Of the Legislature Yes
terday Devoted Almost En-
tirely to Routine Matters.

The General Assembly sat for two
hours yesterday, but without quorum
of either house. The time was consumed
!. I'm reading bills embraced in the supple
mentary report of the Revision Commit
Tee for amendment. The Senate read LOT
amendment the bills from S9S to 4ol, ana
n number OF verbal amendments on
consequential changes designed to perfect
The bills were offered. IT was the dry
est. dullest session yet held. Several
bills which had passed both houses and
been enrrossed were signed by the Presi-
dent of the Senate.
Not single bill was introduced IN the
Senate, and in tho House only one OF
general interest, that of MIR. Green, to
hermit law students under tWenty-ohe
wears OF age to take the examination
befoS. tho Supreme Court OF Appeals
for leave to practice law Several local
bills were offered in the House.
Mi. Mathews, of Accomac, offered the
minority report of the Joint legislative
committee on the oyster, and 1t was
ordered printed.
hill will be prepared and introduced
next week carrying into effect the vac
concentrations of the majority or TINS
committee, which, In brief. p>Vldes fot
the breaking of the Baylor survey ana
the leasing Of barren or depleted oyster
rock to the highest bidder This bill
viii take the usual course, going TO the
Committee on the Chesapeake and Its
tributaries. Whether or not this com
mittae will give hearings to cystermen
on tho bill to be presented remains TO De
seen. If the oystermen ask hearing
it Is presumed the committee Will grant
II. but 1t may limit the time of hearings
y prolonged contest is In prospect over
the oyster question. That is assured.
The members from the oyster counties
have received voluminous petitions pray
ing the General Assembly not to break
the survey.
Senate of Virginia.
The Rcv. Russell Cecil again offered
tbe opening prayer in the Senate yes
terday. There was not n quorum OF
members present at any time. Ai\'ng
those in their seats were Senator's Bruce,
Of Wise. and Rev,rcomb, of Allegheny.
Three bills, which had been engrossed
by the presiding officer, as required by
law now go to tho Governor for his
signature. They are as follows:
10 VallOdle iSNoi 10 ~ >',0
County Court of Bedford.
To require clerks of circuits courts or
counties or corporations or hustings
courts OF cities to send to the Secretary
of the Commonwealth certified lists OF
county, district and city officers. and
providing penalty for failure SO to no.
To require commissioners of the rev.
enue to assess all duly registered voters
with the State poll tax or capitatlon
tax, and to require the treasurers OF
counties and cities to receive the State
poll or captntion tax of any person who
is assessable Herewith, although he has
not been assessed Herewith by the COM
missioner Of revenue.
The Senate then resumed work on the
consideration of the volume of Senate
bills reported by the Committee on Rs.
vision. the bills being read at length for
amendment. a number of amendments
designed to perf.ct the language Of the
bills or those made necessary by other
changes in the draft of tho bills were
offered. This was all that could be done
with th, small attendance of members
The Senate made considerable progress
concluding the bill No. 4o3, the last bill
considered being that providing for thu