Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-12-25
THE OYSTER BILL.
Legislation In Coming = What
this People Must Do and
Expect.

Editorial Correspondence
A gallant fight, the hardest ever
made for oysters, has just closed.
There viii be no oyster legislation
this session. The Jordan bill is
sleeping, only. The new year will
see it aroused and some sort of an
oyster law enacted; what kind it
will be no man can foretell. One
thing is certain, whether right or
wrong, the western people will de-
mand more revenue from Underwater.
1t seems useless for the tonger to say
he will pay big license; they will
not be satisfied with this; the rapa-
cious nav is open and demands
more. Nothing short of the rental
of so-cslled depleted, barren bot
toms will satisfy. The State Senate
Is practically committed to this
policy; and it will come. 1t is sup
to" our people to meet the issue
squarely and get the best terms posi-
bic. When your hand is in the
lions mouth get it out the easiest
way.
In recounting the fight we desire
to show candidly the temper of the
Legislature on the subject of oys-
tiers. The House will pass by q
good majority any bill on this sub
ject that Messrs. Jordan and Card
we'll ask. The Senate is mole con-
sentative, moves slowly and probes
deep, but there is no rubbing out
the fact that the Senate, too, is largely
in favor of new oyster legislation,
and will take hold of a measure
that it believes constitutional. The
Senate declared that the principle
Of the Jordan bill was right-that
is, renting depleted rocks - and
would next time vote that way, but
the bill must be perfected. The
Jordan bill was defeated, not on its
merits, but because of the legal
flaws. The speeches of Senators
Sears and Walker, in particular, con-
WINGED several Senator'S that the bill
would not stand the courts. These
several Senators decided to vote
against it, but voted to "recommit''
the bill in order to perfect it; or,
rather, to declare that the principle
was right but the drafting wrong.
The Senate thereby committed itself
to the passage of some sort of
measure to let out the depleted
rock, and Tidewater Senators, among
them Sears and Walker, are fully
determined that our people must
get together and settle on some
bill that will satisfy the west, get.
ting of as easy as possible. The
great question now is what kind of a
bill will Tidewster present? We
warn the oyster people that they
must compromise; the man that
goes there rabidly opposed to any
kind of legislation will help bring q
curse upon his people. The Senate
says we will listen to you if you
offer some remedy Gas they term it),
but if you oppose all measures and
offer none we will take the bit in our
teeth. The day of inactivity, or op-
posing all legislation, has passed.
The Senate, our recent savior, has
made the pronunciamento, and it
behooves us to come to terms.
Senator Sears and some others
favor a new survey that will let
out the small portion of barren
rock that may be within the present
survey. 10 this, as probably to any
other method, there may be several
objections, The oyster people are
afraid of a new survey, particularly
80 as it will be under the manage
ment of the Board of Fisheries,
which board does not stand in high
favor with the oyster people. One
other objection is the cost. Another
suggestion is the Jordan bill modi-
fed; the appointment of three or
more commissioners who shall care
fully let out the depleted bottoms,
subject to the right of appeal to the
District Court. This would elimi-
nate the Board of Fisheries, but
would take chances of getting a
better or worse commission.
The CITIZEN ia not prepared to
say which of these plans is the least
harmful, or even to offer now better
suggestion. But We do say that
some plan must be set upon and
overtures made to the new Legisls-
ture, which is five to one against
u.s. Underwater now has not fifteen
members of the 140 that are stand
ing by the oyster people. All that
section around Norfolk\and Hamp-
ton has deserted and gone over to
those determined to lease ont barren
Not even a tax of SIS ON
the longer, which would bring in a
large revenue. will satisfy these
people, so it is best not to mention
that any more. for our willingness
to this may cause both evils to come
upon us-high tax and renting of
rocks. Nothing but some of the
depleted bottoms will satisfy them
and the problem is now how little
can We get off with. ANY man who
goes to the Assembly in January
next must be prepared to submit on
this point. If not they will ride
over him and he will fare worse.
We cannot refrain from eulopiz.
ng the work Of some of our repre-.
'entatives. In the House Mr.. Mat.