Newport daily independent., 1903-03-11
NEW LEGISLATION
 AS TO MUSSELS.
Myers Dissatisfied With Measure En- acted And Will Present Another Bill For Protection of Clam
 ming Industry.

On Tuesday, Governor Davis made public his signature of the Myers mus sel bill, which thus becomes law, but no sooner is this measure placed upon the statutes, than the whsle contro- versy is reopened through the intro duction of another bill.
 Speaking for publication Tuesday, Representative J. H. Myers of Law renee county said
 In view of the fact that so much opp position to the Myers mussel bill, as amended by the senate, has shown up,
 and as some just protection is abso- Ilutely demanded to save one of the
 state's greatest industries, |, as the
 author of this bill, have prepared and
 will introduce bill, the main features of which are as follows:
 First. The creation and appoint ment of commissioner and defining his duties, such as closing any bed that
 is threatened or portion of water, the compiling of all data, amount of shells
 harvested, shipped from state, manu-
 factured at home, amount of license collected, tax, etc, also all values of
 the industry.
 1 Second. Allowing any means of
 gathering shells, except with dredges above six horse power.
 l Third Putting license for shell |
 and pearl hunting of $1 per annum
 for bonafide citizens of the state,
 above fourteen years of age, and $25 per annum for non-residents; that no female be charged license; that $1 lper ton be taxed on all shells shipped lfrom the state.
 | Fourth. That in order to promote 1.-the building up of home factories and
 the employment of thousands, the disbursement annually of millions,
 which will not come otherwise, that
 we exempt all button factories from
 taxation for ten years.
 | Fifth. That only when bed or lstream, lake or bayou shows that it
 has been stripped to point that de- Imands protection it shall be closed by the commissioner, and that there be
 no general closed season at all. Sixth. That all funds arising from
 the tonnage tax, licenses, etc., after paying cost of commissioner, shall be
 paid into the general school fund, and ! Eo1 fn hn eff fof0
 which amount for the next five years
 will be at least $6O, ,OO0 per annum, the cost of the commissioner less than
 1000.
 Seventh. That proper bonds be made by the commissioner; that the county clerks issue the licenses; that
 a license from one county be valid all over the state; that monthly reports ) and remittances to state treasurer oi , all moneys be made by the commis
 sioner.
 Eighth. That the office of commits sioner be maintained so long as the Irevenues from the industry warrant : it; that no salary or expenses be paic said commissioner, except it be frs
 derived by this law.
 3 Ninth. That it repeals the present r law of the author, which prohibited
 the use of the rrow-foot, and yet il 3 will protect the mussels so the supply will be kept up indefinitely. "In conclusion, l say" said Dr
 Myers, "this law will work no hard
 ship on anyone; that it will bring fac
 tories to the state that will disburst
 from $5,OOO, ,OOO to $7 100000 per an
 mum, and yet, with a wise and jus 7 control of the industry under a com , potent commissioner, it will last fol years and rebound to the good of the , whole people, and especially the s school children. Yet it gives the pool } man all there is in it, so far as em' 3 ployment of labor goes, and am very
 anxious to get the complete bil , through, of which the above is merely a synopsis, especially so as have beer
 placed in the light of an enemy to Ia g bOr. which was unjust to me-"