The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-17
Hon. G. G. Baker Praises the
Northern Neck.
THE ANNEXATION BILLS
House Member Says the Gardner Mea-
sure viii Pass-Tonnage Tax Bill
Goes Over After Speeches in
Opposition.

OF the Northern Neck Of Virginia as "the
outside row. said Hon. c. G. Baker, Of
Westmoreland, yesterday, ut seems to
have become habit with certain peo-
ple to speak of It In rather sighting
terms. as q part OF the State which Is
behind other sections In latter-day de-
yclopments; as section which relies on
the great men 1t has produced in the
past for any consideration 1t expects In
the present. This Is great mistake.
While our people are rusty proud Of the
great men OF the past, and while II Is
true that the lack Of railroad facilities
has been drawback to Its full Develop
ment. our people are by no means lack
Ing in either push, pluck or capital. We
have in the Northern Neck the largest
fish factories in the world. We have
more and better vegetable canning fac
tories than any other section of Vir-
GINA. and our canned goods are Of
better grade than any other on the mar
kets. We have in my county West
moreland) one of the largest. prettiest
and most popular summer resorts in
Virginia-Colonial Beach. Thousands
OF dollars are invested there, and the
town is growing and improving In the
beauty OF its homes and the extent of
It's mrcantile and other Industries year
Neck three prosperous local newspapers,
which will compare favoraby with any
In the United States as local papers, and
we have four hourshing banks, two OF
which are national and two State banks.
run by the Munford Banking Company.
Nearly every town has handsome town
hall. In the upper end OF my county
there Is a magnificent plant engaged in
manufacturing bricks from nfusorial
earth. OF which we have large deposits,
while near me on the Potomac extern
sive marie beds, from which the Balu-
more guano manufactures draw their
best material. In the past decade farm
Ing has made long strides toward i'm
provement in methods and in faciitie.
for shipping to market, and through the
canneries In preserving In marketable
shape, what was once waste, even when
produced.
II We had railroad through this sec
ton verify believe that no part OF
virginia could compare with 1t in any
particular
The annexation proposition is now
1--we one In legislative circles The cities
or the State have all combined and are
OF the Anderson bill. In the mean time
the counties Of the State are not idle
and have able advocates at work in be-
half of the Gradner bill. A prominent
member said to-day that he believed the
Gardner bill would and ought to pass
both houses. He said: "The Gardner
bill recognizes that the question OF an
nexaton of territory to city presents
two phases. First, a political question:
IN that the people In territory to be an
nexed VIII be asked to transfer their po-
litical allegiance from the county to the
city. The county pepole may be in the
enjoyment OF an economical and honest
government and requested to transfer
their allegiance and their residence to
a city government and assume the great
er burdens OF the city government This
IS a purely political question, and the
people should be allowed to vote on Il
Then there is the other question OF com
pensation to the county, whose territory
Is taken for It's public property and less
OF revenue. The Gardner bill leaves the
nrst OF these questions to the people.
where 1t belongs. and tht question Of
compensation. which is a judicial aues-
ton, TO the Circuit Court, while the An
derson bill confounds the two distinct
propositions and leaves the whole mat
ter. judicial and political. to judge
dence OF this country"
Hon. Frank T. West. OF Louisa. occu-
pied the Chair in the House during tha
consideration Of the general revenue bill.
MI. West held his own splendidly, al
'i.ou5h seFeidi VI MS colleagues attempt
ed for fun to throw him off his guard.
At one time there was much confusion
and Mr.. Duke thought it was good
opportunity to rattle the Speaker pro
tempore So he proceeded by innocently
inquiring what was before the House
Nothing; save the gentleman from Al.
bemarle," was the quick response and
Mr.. Duke dropped into his seat. amid
great laughter.
The Committee on Finance Of the
House heard argument yesterday after
noon In opposition to the Whitehead ton
mage tax bill. and indefinitely postponed
Its further consideration.
Mr.. w. A. Glasgow. Jr.. Of Roanoke.
made strong speech against the bill,
and he was followed on the Same line
by Major Jones. Of the Clayton mines.
General Rufus A. Ayers. Of Wise, and