The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-11-12
STATURE.
After the Trusta-The Report OF
Oyster Commission-Soeisi Clubs.
Fec

After the Trusta-The Report OF
Oyster commission-Soeisl Clubs,
Etc.
The Legislature convened In adjourned
session in Richmond Tuesday at noon,
speaker Ryan. presiding There were
no formalties at the opening. Ii Ia not
expected that the governor will send In
any message, and all OF the standing
committees are already In working order
The work Of the corporation commits
sion in granting charters will greatly
lessen the routine OF this character. The
report of the revision committee will
probably be submitted some time this
week. number OF other interesting
matters will come up in due course Of
time
Col. Grenville Gaines. of FauQuier, has
entered the fight for register OF the land
office. The legislature just elected will
choose Col. Richardson's successor.
Senator Barksdale introduced bill
making radical changes in the law bear
ing on the subject OF trusts. Ii lie string
ept in it's provisions against combina
tions, and prescribes fine OF from 5000
TO So 900 for every ohense.
The bill provides that any corporation
OF any kind, organized Tor any purpose,
that shall enter into any pool agree
ment, contract, or association Tor the
purpose or fixing the price or controlling
or limiting the production OF any article
OF manufacture or merchandise or pro-
duct OF agriculture shall bedeemed guilty
OF conspiracy 20 deiraud. IL defines
monopoly In sweeping terms.
Any corporation organized under the
laws OF this or any other State violating
the provisions OF the bill, or any oithem.
shall thereby forfeit it's privilege TO do
business in the Commonwealth, and Ia
forbidden so TO do under heavy penal
ties.
The bill also prohibits any corporation
thus FORGETTING its charter from buying
or selling any article or commodity in
the State, and any person acting "a agent
for or engaged In transacting any bust
ness with or for any such corporation is
liable to fine and imprisonment. The
bill also outlaws such corporations, and
il cannot sue or hold any person in the
Commonwealth liable for any debt or
obligation.
The reports submitted to the house
were those OF the revision committee,
which recommends the passage Of large
number OF bills, many OF which are nee
essary OF enactment before the change
from the county court to the circuit court
system can be made, and the report OF
the Joint oyster commission providing
Tor the breaking of the Baylor survey.
THE OYSTER COMMISSIONS REPORT.
Chairman W. d. Cardwell Julian
Bryant and +. c. Jordan signed the latter
report, which really indorses the legisla-
ton proposed in the former session by
Mr.. Jordan, while Mr.. Mathews gave
notice that he would later on offer q
minority report. There will be big
tight over this matter.
The report submitted Is quite lengthy
1t says plainly that the oyster bottoms
of Virginia are being gradually depleted
and that unless there is some remedial
legislation this valuable asset oil the
state would ultimately become worth
less
The report says there are 220. 900
acres OF oyster bottoms within the Bay
lor survey, IS per cent OF which are
worthless. or 90 depleted by overwork-
ing that they will not reseed themselves
within three years, and some not at all
under present conditions.
The report concludes: Your commit
tee recommends that this general assem-
bly, pass an act appointing a committee
to lease out such barren and exhausted
or depleted bottoms to the citizens OIL
the State. and that such committee be
given sufficiently broad powers and dis
erection in making such leases as will en-
able them TO deal fairly as between the
large and small planters, as well as TO
ADVANCE the best interests oil the state.
TO AMEND SOCIAL CLUB LAW.
A large number OF bills were introduc-
ed in the House; perhaps the most inter
esting one was that offered by Mr.. Cum
ming to amend the law In relation 70
social clubs to require them TO obtain
the regular bar room license. 1t repeats
the act OF February %, 1898, relating to
social clubs, and, more important still:
amends the revenue act approved April
16 1903. in sections 143 and IA.
Mr.. Cummings bill amends the section
90 as TO provide that no club, by virtus
of it's character, shall dispense liquors,
but shall, In addition to the poll tax re-
0uisite to maintain the charter, obtain
regular bar room license as provided In
section 143.
Mr.. Cumming introduced . bill to pro.
vide for the establishment In Virginia OF
a State school for the education oil color
ed deaf and blind children.