The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-17

real interests OF the tongers Of the State
was fully safeguarded by the bill, and eX-
dressing the opinion that every longer
would favor the measure IL he believed
that he could get an acre or two OF GER
tain fertile oyster rock In the lease.
The speaker was several times piled
with questions by Senators Opie. Barks-
dale and others. Mr. Opie asked If the
present law. In relation to the lease Of
oyster grounds for planting, not included
In the nat raj rock, did not require thirty
days no. ce OF such application of a
planter, for lease, and receiving an aff1r-
native reply, asked further why then,
this bill did not require similar notice
tc be given when 1t was proposed to
lease area within the survey. Mr.. Wat
kins, In his reply, hesi tated somewhat
and answered that 1t was not necessary
TO do this as 1t was a mere form. He
was not welded to the plan, that gave
the special Joint committee the duty and
power OF leasing barren oyster rock with
IN the survey. are so far as he was con-
cerned he would be Just as well salts
fled to nave the Board Of Fisheries lease
the grounds. In the most earnest manner
the speaker impressed upon his hearers
that his only interest In the matter was
that OF the people Of the whole State and
the. desire TO see more oysters grown and
taken and moro revenue turned into the
treasury
TIE OPPOSITION.
Speaking Of the opposition to the bill,
Mr. Watkins charged that 1t was con fined
almost wholly to the seven thousand tong
ers Of the State, and IN this connection
lie summarized the expense OF maintaining
the oyster police boats and protecting
the States .ystcr beds from pratical
raids and charged that the very element
which was here fighting this bill was
that which required this large annual cN-
penditure to enforce the law which was
being constantly violated. despite the
utmost vigilance. Even while the COM
mittee was cruising the oyster patrol
boat had captured in an adjacent strean m
eighteen canoes. engaged In taking oys"
ters off OF forbidden territory and fifteen
of them had pleaded guilty to violating
tho law.
/ neloquent and rhythmic phrases, the
speaker warned the Senate against the
song OF the siren, which was being sung
by the opponents Of the pending LII, and
urged the senator's not to be influenced
BY that song and their walls OF lmpend-
Ing woe.
ii closing his argument for the bill,
Mr.. Watkins spoke In a very Impressive
manner, and incidentally his appeal was
In the nature OF valedlctory to the
senate, from which he will retire in q
week O. two. He urged this Dill as the
Last thing he would ask the Senate to
do, and he asked this only from a pro-
found conviction that what he was asking
was in the Interest of the people OF the
Commonwealth, OF the revenues OF the
State and the preservation OF tho greas
oyster wealth Of Virginia.
AFTERNOON SESSION,
When the Senate reconvened at p NJ,
tier. was larger attendance OF senator's
than at the earlier session and quite as
many visitors.
Mr.. Gunter, of Accomac, successor in
the Senate to the late Dr.. George W,
LIE Cato, an eminent authority on the
oyster question. was recognized. and
smoke for about forty-five minutes In adj
vocacy. Of the committee report and In
opposition to the Jordan-Cardwell bill,
This was the maiden speech OF the sena-
tor from Accomac, and he made fine
IMPRESSION. A trained lawyer and an
experienced public speaker Mr. Gunter
mnds strong coherent argument
against the hilh couched In graceful die
t!on and admirably delivered, S95
In the course Of his argument Mr., Gum