Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-03-11
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

CORRESPONDENCE.
RICHMOND, VA, Wednesday
Since yesterday the friends of Tide
water oystermen have been lubilant
indeed. On Monday night Senator
Barksdals sang into sleep-msybe
an everlasting sleep, certainly for
two-yesrs' nsp-the remains of the
once Jordan Oyster bill, and citizens
from this section who have been
sitting up with the corpse are depart
ing for their homes with few tears
and as few fears.
The fight has been q stiff one
seeming to grow harder as the years
roll In the tiennial, annual, semi.
annual or quadrennial sessions, as
the case may be. A few weeks ago
the House passed the bill overwhelm-
ingly, but what is thought to have
been the solar-plexis punch was
handed the Jordan Bill on Monday
night by Senator "Pete" Barksdale,
one of those hill-country folk that
remain full of the "milk of human
kindness" and still look. upon the
people of Underwater as brethren,
blood kin. For some weeks legisla.
ton, important and unimportant,
has been up in the air-or, virtually,
down in the recesses of the Senate
calendsr-because of the obstructing
oyster bill. The State has been pay
ing q dear price for exploiting the
fanciful views Of the anti-oyster peo-
pie, and senators have been "cussing"
because they couldn't get pet schemes
over the stockade that Mr.. Jordan
erected. The temper of the whole
Legislature was never more like a
finder box. Ants and pros have
gotten dyspeptic and "touchous," and
an explosion at any moment would
be rather among the events expected
than the reverse. Among our accred-
tied foes-not altogether q deserved
title-a natural feeling of resentment
has arisen in House breasts at what
they deem dilatory proceedings in
the Senate over the Jordan bill, aud
there is e strong likelihood that even
at this late day, in retaliation there
will be concerted movement to
abolish pound-net fishing throughout
the State. Muttsrings are heard to
the effect that when . certain local
fish bill of the Northampton repre-
sentative 10 brought up Mr.. Jordan
and friends will endeavor to tack on
an amendment prohibiting the use of
the pound net in the waters of the
State. The amendment is already
drawn and the plotters are "laylng
low" but not so low as to prevent
TIdewater representatives keeping
their eyes upon them. As no new
bills can now be introduced the
amendment plan is resorted to. Lucky
for the people of Tidewster that they
have representatives here who always
sleep with one eye open, as it were; for
while our people at home are busy
expanding thousands OF dollars and
much sweat and muscle just now in
getting ready for the shad and her.
ring a menace, deep and dark, is
hanging over them in their blissful
Ignorance of its approach. What
will be the outcome none can tell,
more fortunate. possibly, than the
eagle eyes Of the defenders, is the
advent of the constitutional limits
ton of the life of the Legislature.
Unless Unexpectedly extended few
days the session of 1904 will close on
Saturday night. Even should its
life be nominally prolonged few
days We do not apprehend dire results
from their fish or oyster legislation.
The only concern it can now give our
people is the determined spirit of
some legislators to put on foot plans
for future injury. The past twelve
months has ushered in sn era laden
with great moment to Tidewater;
possibly the beginning of the end, but
which end no one can confidently
predict. Determined persistence on
the part of hill-country delegates
means a fight to the finish, whose
issues the future holds within its
breast This persistence must eventu-
ally mean a wiping out of existence
certain Tldewater industries, or else
a rest from agitation for long time
whichever way the dice m y fall.