The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-03-09
THE HANNAH BILL.

ate Committee on the Chesapeake
Bay and Its Tributaries made a unan-
imous report in favor Of the bill with
amendments.
The amendments are embodied in
lengthy document which is in effect a
substitute for the original bill, but
which embodies its salient features,
namely, the Haman- rentals, the reve
nue. for roads, the administration OF
the law by a COM 'ssion appointed oy
the Board of Public Works and
careful provision for boatmen. In or
der to get as many eystering people
as possible i Interested in planting, the
lots in county waters are reduced in
size from 80 to 10 acres. The amend
ment omits the definition of a naturai
oyster bed and leaves the commission
to lay down the oyster beds according
to their common sense, and from their
opinion there IS an appeal.
Tue amended bill was presented to
the committee by the committee which
came here to press the Haman bill, and
most of them are we'll satisfied with it.
Mr.. Steve nson A. Williams, one OF the
committee, says that the enactment OF
this amended bill will be q great tri-
umph and vindication for Mr.. B. How
ard Haman. who has contended 50 long
tor oyster culture. Mr.. Williams de.
clares that the revised Haman bill
contains every important feature for
which MIR. Haman contsnded in all the
wears be has been engaged in it.
Mr.. B. Howard Haman, in speaking
of be bill as reported, said:
Il am in favor OF; the passage OF the
amended Haman bill, which was re
ported favorably this morning by the
Senate Committee on the Chesapeake
Bay and Its Tributaries. This bill
not only contains the essential features
of for mer drafts of the same measure.
but it has the inestimbale advantage
of having the assent Of most OF the
representatives in the Senate Of the
tidewater region Of the State. This in
itself is enough to counterbalance
whatever it may be considered to bave
been lost in the amendments that have
been made.
For Is years l adhered practically
to one proposition. 1t never seemed
quite the th ing to offer concessions
until the arrival of the time when BY
such concessions a reasonably good
bill could be passed. This time has
now come. The amended bill, As re
ported, preserves the rentals intact
1t also preserves the rlpar ian land
features and the. preferences to oyster
men. There is also the same prehibi
tion of leases to corporations as exist
ed in the former drafts. The defDl
itsn of natural bed is struck out IN
Difference to the general wish OF friends
of oyster culture from the Easter
Shore and Southern Maryland. There
is no doubt in q matter of this grav.
Importance that fair and jus com
mission will be appointed, and sucI
an appointment will safeguard the IN
terests of the Stats, while not ell
croaching on the ancient privileges OF
the oystermen. 1t is, indeed, a happy
thing that the end Of this long agita.
tion seems in sight and that there is
probability that an era of general good
feeling will take the place Of the bitter
controversies OF the past. Every good
citizen should rejoice over such stu
alton.
sit may not be uninteresting as
piece OF history to say that when the
committee, which has been we'll called
the Cancellation committee determin-
ed that new law should be drafted,
which contained good features OF both
General Sc, his Survey bill and the
bill | had long stood for, | was re-
quested to prepare such bill, and the
amended Haman bill is the result of
conferences between General Seth and
the committee and between the com
mittee and myself. l prepared it as
it stanns, except the amendments
which were added last night. As late
as this morning, my information was,
first, most of the Senators represent.
ing the tidewater counties were not
authorized by their constituents to in
dorse any leasing bill, and for this rea-
son, as well as on account Of the three
proposed last night, !
concluded once more to back the Ha
man bill presented to the legislature
with amendments, that we're generally
desired, i was informed, also this
morning, that the latter bill would be