Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-01-30
BATTLE ROYAL NOW BEING WAGEO
lismptcn Representative Puts up Il
Rrsvc Combat, But Has Most of
the Tidcwatcr SoIons Against Him
-Schmclz Bros Are Doing Their
Rcst to Down Measure.


Especial To the Daily Prcss)
RICHMOND. VA. Jan. 29.-Whcn
The Rev crab bill. which was passed
ny last Saturday. came up in the reg
ula: order of business on its second
reading. Delegate Houston asked for
further indulgence. He requested
that the bill be made a special order
for later in the week. Mr.. Houston
said he had not been able TO advise
with the representatives Of his con-
stitucnts in Hampton. who are OPP
posed to the bill. He said he had
several amendments which he de-
sired To offer
Ono of those amendments will be
exploded with tho force of bomb"
said Mr.. Houston.
II think it is too late to try to
nxpouc any bombs. now" called out
hlr. Few from his seat.
Houston Will Be There
delegate Houston provoked laugh
ter and applause when he said: The
s,ge1lleman has proclaimed that he
Will fight for his bill to the last ditch.
WANT to tell him that when he
reaches that ditch he will find Hous-
ION there waiting for him and pro
pared To give him representation
of the Petersburg crater"
Delegates Rev and Mason fought
for an immediate consideration of the
bill but so earnest were the pleadings
If MIR. Houston. that his request
was granted. Crabs will again he
"n the legislative bill of fare We'd
rest'ay.
Fortunes Made in Crabs.
The founder of the establishment
III Hampton known as the McAlena.
min plant. the largest crab-packinr
plant in the world. accumulated n for.
tune In comparatively short SPACE
"i years. The crab meat packed at
Hampton is shipped to all sections OF
the world and the demand is in ex
cess of the supply at all seasons of
the year.
The plant at Hampton gives EN-
rlnymen' to Il small army of men and
women. If the bill is passed and a
closed season declared these persons
will be thrown out OF work for many
months each year. The financial loss
TO the McMcnamin people will be
enormous.
SchmeIz Bros. Interested.
The Schmelz Bros, bankers. at
Hampton and Newport News, are
working for the defeat Of the meas
irc. They are among the wealUhiest
men on the Virginia peninsula. Geo.
~. Schmclz is the administrator of
the McMcnamin estate.
William j. Payne, the millionaire
at the head of the corporate interests
III control of the railway, light and
power service on the lower end OF
the peninsula. was at the capitol this
morning He has business affilia,
ions with the Schmelz Bros. which
hrm is Interested in the Payne rail.
ways.
Houston Fights by Himself.
Harry II. Houston, the only mem.
oer from Underwater who Is fighting
against the measure. is waglng the
battle in behalf of his constituency.
which is largely represented by men
10 whom the closing down of the
crabpacking plant would mean. the
loss of steady employment. Hum.
dreds of these poor people depend
upon the operation of tho plant for
their daily bread.
FORMER State Senator S. Gordon
Cumming, who has been conspicuous
In the fight to defeat the Rev bill
Is counsel for the Payne interests.
Jhc committee on tho Chcsapcake
and its tributaries. which twice ba,
reported the bill TO the House. IL