The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-21
CLEARING U ]. /
CALENDARS.
Both Houses Of the General AS
scmbly Yesterday Engaged
in Advancing Bills.
DISCUSSION IN IN THE | Nc: SENATE Z. n. ! :
Mr.Kcezcll's Anc,1dn1ent,to Per
init Non-Rcsidcrts to Plant
Oysters Failed.

Yesterday was cleaning UP day In tho
General Assembly, both houses devotIng
their sessions to clearing UP the calcn.
/ tlars ana advancing the accumulated bills
thereon, Of which there Is large NUM-
/, Dor III each house.
Both houses adjourned until Monday
at tho usual hour. neither having any
proposition offered for an observance OF
Wastington's birthday. 1t appears to be
tho belief Of tho members Of both houses
that tho day can best be celebrated by
doing good days work. Tx
Considerable discussion ensucd In the
Senate over an amendment by Mr.. Kec-
celtic d, bill of Mr.. Walker. the effect,
sof he amendment being to allow non
residents to become stockholders In COM
B panies or corpora lions designed to take.
catch or plant oysters In the waters OF
this state. The two senators named were
engaged II, tho debate. Mr.. Sears. OF Ma
thews, also chipping In his opposition to,
tho measure. After considerable discus
sion the amendment was voted down,
and the bill, unnmcndcd, ordered en-
4 crossed 8
There was no discussion Of any notc
In tho House. the bill proposing TO strike
out the Jail punishment for selling LIQUOR
In violation of the Mann bill being ders
ferred AZ until certain opponents Of the
proposition might be present,
Thirteen bills were offered In the Sen
atc and half a dozen In the House. but
nothing In thesetis OF especial interest.
The Senate.
The scnac OF Virginia held two sessions
yesterday one continuing from noo,, un-s
8 III 2 P. NJ. and the second from until
56 p. NJ Tho two scssionsy We're chiefly
f devoted to first and second readings Oh
~. ,ter 6f
Z bills which have accumulated on the cal
endar. The attendance 8nt the early ses-!
sion was large, but there was barely a
quorum present at tho later sitting
Lieutenant-G Governor Willard presided
over both sessions yesterday There was
no prayer.
Seven or eight House bills. passed by
that body on Friday. were Scommunicatcd
and referredSto committees
The only discussion of the days ses.s
sion worthy Of note was that which
onsued on the amendment offered by Mr..
Keezell, OF Rockingham. to Senate bill
g.. which provides for prohibiting on
residents becoming stockholders In com
panies organized to catch oysters ard
fish. This is bill offered by AR. Walker.
and reported to the Senate, the bill being
on the calendar on Its second rca ding. inc
bill IS merely designed to perpetuate the.
uniform and long established policy OF
the State in excluding non-residents from.
taking fish or oysters in the waters OF
this State and from becoming stock
holders In "a ny, ornoratipn chartered Tor
tho purpose OF taking or atchinG fish or
oysters in this State. The old statute,
which contained almost precisely the
same angauge, applied to charters grant
ed by the court, but when the method OF
granting charters was taken from the
courts and lodged In the State Corpora-
ton Commission, It became necessary TO
amend the Code 80 as to continue IN
effect the statutory prohibition upon the
holding or purchasing of stock In COM
panies to take oysters and fish. The
Walker bill. which Mr.. Keezcll proposed
TO amend, merely replaces the old law On
the subject and continues the unvnryiEs
policy of the State. Mr.. Keezell proposed
10 strike out the words "or planting
oysters therein
Mr.. Walker Immediately took Issue with
Mr.. Keezell as TO the amendment points
Ing out It's effect In enabling ron-resi-
dents to acquire oyster lands IN th.s
State. He explained tho purpose and pro.
vision OF the bill and the necessity for
such enactment to maintain the estab-
lished policy OF the State.
Mr.. Keezell took vthe ground that what
tho State needed was the investment OF
outside capitalsin this State. and this his
bill was designed to make possible. There
were thousands of acres OF barren oyster
bottoms In this state which had not been
and were not being developed for lack
1 OF capital.
Mr.. Walker opposed tho proposition and
spoke at length for his position as Mr..
Keezell had dono for the amendment Tn 2
discussion between the two senators took
I rather broad range, involving the entire
question OF sthe policy OF the state IN
Offering Inducements to outside capital
and also bringing in the oyster question
and the matter OF breaking the Baylor
survey. Mr.. Keezel advocated the prin-
crple Of invitln. the investment OF the