Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-08-15

cessfully passed Gays Ueiore iei'
Richmond, otherwise l should have
been compelled to have sacrificed my
great personal interest then demand
ing my attention at home, and to
have remained until all doubt and
danger had passed. AS it was, re-
fused to leave Richmond until as
sured by friends of the measure that
it's passage was absolutely safe, even
without my presence and vote.
Richmond, Va, August 3, 1908.
Hon. g.. wilkins Matthews,
Assawomap, Va.
My dear sir:-In response to your
letter of inquiry on the subject,
wish to give you my recollection OF
your record in the House of Dele
gates on the Mann Liquor Bill and
the Jordan Bill for the breaking OF
the Baylor Survey.
Every time any question came up
bearing on the Mann bill you voted
with the friends of the measure, vot-
ing for all amendments and motions
proposed by its friends and against
all amendments and motions pro-
posed by it's opponents. The most
important vote on the bill was taken
April 3rd, 1908, and you were present
and voted for the motion OF Mr..
Davis, the leader for the measure in
the House of Delegates. This vote
resulted in tie, so that If there had
been one more affirmative vote the
whole matter would have been set
tied at that time. You were not
present when the final vote on the
passage of the general tax bill was
taken, but this was of no Importance,
as the Mann bill had already been
embodied in the tax bill while you
were present. And it was we'll
known that the general tax bill
would certainly pass by large ma
jority, as it contained allthe tax laws
of the State and the government
could not be run without its passage.
1t was passed by an overwhelming
majority. Your absence at the time
the last named vote was taken did
not and could not have affected the
result.
l do not see how you can be justly
criticised for your record in the
House of Delegates on questions af>
fecting the Baylor Survey. 1t lie
true that you did offer and get pass.
ed bill to lease out certain barren
area in the survey on the Eastern
side of Accomac, but upon being con-
vinced that it might work some in
jury to your people, you promptly
had the same repealed. While you
have at all times diligently watched
and vigorously guarded the rights oil
your people. you have been specially
active in all matters affecting the
oyster industry. You have always
opposed and fought in every honor
able way what is known as the Jor
dan Bill, having for its object the
leasing out of barren and depleted
area in the Baylor Survey. You
being the chairman and / being ONE
of the members of the Committee or
Chesapeake and its Tributaries anc
being intimately associated with yor
In all matters concerning fish, oys
tiers, crabs and CLAIMS, which came
before this committee, can testify
that no man could possibly have beer
more earnest, able and diligent il
looking after the rights OF his constit
uents in these matters than you hav'
been. understand it has been stat
ed that the bill above referred to
leasing out certain barren area OF
1.-the Eastern side of Accomac, was tn,
first dill breaking the Baylor Surve,
that was introduced in the Legisla
ture. This is certainly not true, a
I know that several bills had beef
introduced prior to the time you in
troduced yours, and come of them a
former sessions.
i sincerely hope that there is NJ
Fdoubt OF your reelection to tn
House this fall. 1t would be yer,
serious mistake for your county t.
send a new man at this time, in vieN
of the fact that you are member o
the Joint Special Committee appoint
ed to investigate the barren area ii
the Baylor Survey, and also becaus
you are Chairman of the COMMITTEE
on Chesapeake and Its Tributaries
: which is the most important commit
ltee to your people. II you do no