The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-18
.CIST OF; THE
0Y'S':T||..|E| /, Err ; Bill BIZ |.
Review Of the Jordan Measure
as it Passed ass the
Housc. \
III WAS MUCH AMENDED
Chief Change is to, Have Com
i,1ittcc Report to Next
Legislature.

Much interest Is manifested In the final
outcome OF pending oyster legislation at
this session Of the General Assembly.
Tho Jordan bill, which proposes to break
the lines Of tho Baylor survey and to
lease out, for planting purposes barren
and depleted bottom within said survey,
has been SO amended since that measure
was first introduced that tho substitute
which passed the House on Tuesday Is
widely different from the original bill.
Mr.. Jordan amended the bill to meet
numerous objections raised by It's OPP
ponerts and finally he amended 1t still
further to comply with Constitutional
defects. suggested BY the Committee on
Courts Of Justice. Following Is a synop-
sis OF the measure which passed the
House and Is now pending In the Senate.
After brief preamble, setting forth
tho reasons for such egislation. section
4, Of the bill, lays down the following
definition Of d natural rock:
Il 'cNatural oyster BEDS rocks or shoals
IN this State are hereby defined and de-
termlned to be such ground under the
waters OF this State as produces oysters
naturally iii guch quantities as to justify
a person or persons In resorting to It
regularly for livelihood"
Committee Named.
Ali bottom within the survey not COW
cred BY this definition is declared to be
barren and subject to be leased for plant
Ing. Il II
4 Section Q appoints Messrs. e. G. Jor-
dan and George Y. Fiunley on the part
OF the House. and Senator George B..
Keezell on the part OF the Senate spe-
cial Joint committee for the purpose Of
carrying into effect the provisions Of the
act. It then sets forth that "the said
committee shall examine any public oys-
ter ground which, In their Judgment.
should be examined, after giving notice
for at least ten days before the time
fixed for such examination. by hand bills
posted at the front door Of the court
house OF the county in which said ground
lies, and at not less than three other
public places In the @ vicinity OF said
rrouna. that upon a day named In such
notice the said committee will proceed
to Investigate and examine the said
ground as hereinaft ter provided which
investigation and examination may be
adjourned from time to time until COM
5pleted. 3 RI 4. t55 s5a s 4
Resurvey and Mark.
After such Investigation said commit
tee is authorized to resurvey and perma-
5nently mark the lines OF the natural
rocks and to turn out for PLANTING pur-
poses any barren or depleted bottom not
coming within the definition set forth
above. The plots on file in the various
clerks offices are to be changed to con-
form to such resuryey, 73 ~! n
& Section n 3 provides as ! foil oWs: II ne
action OF said committee, In making such
Investigation and examination and in
causing such natural beds. rocks and
shoals to be surveyed, plotted and mark
ed, and In causing such barren ground
to be surveyed and plotted as aforesaid,
shall not become final until and unless
such action be ratified and confirmed by
an act OF the General Assembly"
Have United States Boat.
Section 1 provides for the means ana
method OF making the necessary resur,
yeys authorizing the aid OF the United
states Coast and Geodettc Survey for
the purpose.
Section approprlates the sum OF $685.
oOO or so much thereof as may be neces-
sary to defray the expenses OF the COM
mittee and the costs Of surveys. plotting,
etc. 5sa dis 6
Section s authorizes the committee to
sit during the: vacation OF the General
Assembly and directs them to make re-
port OF their action to the next session
Of the same. giving a detailed statement
and description Of such ground as they
shall have examined and surveyed and
an itemized account Of the costs and ex-
penses incurred. I'll Il Nj s,5Ss5