The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-19

Burti,cn.
The owner or master of any boat or
vessel found taking or buying sncl,
bc fined not less than $50 nor more
tDnn 500. And any owner or muster
OF any boat or vessel violating tile pro-
or knowingly selling such seed Oys-
tcrs to be taken elsewhere and for any
other purpose thnn to be planted In
the waters OF Mnrylnnd or Virginia.
mere thnn $1,000, md In addition
thereto the boat or vessel NO used shall
with Its cargo be forfeited to the State
wherein such offender IL convicted.
The Baylor Survey.
The oyster question, that is that
phase of 1t as to the expediency of
modifying the Baylor survey, continues
to be a subject of no small amount of
discussion. Senator Walkers letter to
The Times Dispatch published in Sun
days issue, in which he mentions a
moral obligation upon the General AS
,scmbly by reason of the constitutional
prohibition as to selling or leasing the
natural rocks was clear presentation
of the views held by number Of
Tidewater members.
When seen last night one Of the adj
vocates of the pending Watkins Green
bill stated that he concurred with
Senator Walker that the Constitution
imposed trust upon the General Assem-
bly, by It's limitations to hold the actual
natural rocks, beds and shoals In trust,
but not the whole area In the Baylor
survey: for. said he, had the conven-
ton SO intended. it would not have
provided as section IT'S Of the Consti-
tuition does that. "The General Asscm-
|, t,. I,,,o IN 1s,1a. haflnn
and determine such natural beds,
rocks or shoals, by surveys or other
Xisc.''
This power expressly conferred upon
the General Assembly shows that the
Constitution makers realized that
changed conditions would necessitate
a change in the existing artificial lines
which under existing laws define stat
utory oyster rocks and shoals.
In answer to the suggestion that
1t was said by some that the Watkins
Green bill might be unconstitutional
because it delegated powers to the
Board of Fisheries. this gentleman re-
piled that this objection was without
| merit The General Assembly under
the terms of this blu exercises its con-
stitutional and lawful authority by de-
filming and determining what is a
| natural rock. This having been done,
whether a certain parcel of bottom Is
| or is not a natural rock is a question
of fact which may be delegated to the
| Board of Fisheries. In other words
under the Constitution the General As
| senbly may define a natural rock or
| shoal. Whether a given area within
| the Baylor line measures up to this
1 legislative requirement or standard
may be ascertained by any board OF
! commission designated and authorized
1 by the Legislature.
| The Byrd bill, designed to break
the Baylor survey. has been trans
| ferred from the House Finance Com.
mittee to the Committee on the Chesa-
! peake and Its Tributaries at the In
stance of Hon. John r. Rev. of Acco.
mae. chairman of the latter committee
1 Mr.. Rev moved yesterday to discharge
| the Finance Committee from the fur
| tier consideration OF the measure ant
| to have 1t referred to his committee
| and this was agreed. to by all parties
in interest upon the promise of Mr.
Rev that it would be promptly re.
ported back The first and, perhaps
the final hearing on the measure vii
| be had tomorrow afternoon at
| o'clock. and it is difficult now to fore
| cast what will be its fate. The Com
tmittec on the Chesapeake and 1t:
/ Tributaries is composed mainly O.
| Underwater members. and a strong eff
fort will be made by the majority
/ forces to kill the bill.
Few measures offered at the presen
session are of more general interes
and Importance than this one, and i
the members decide to sit longer thar
the term prescribed by the Consttu
i ton, it will certainly provoke warn
j discussion. Many prominent Tidewate
4 people are on the ground to watch de
velopments. :,
I To Enforce Laws
Hon. Davis B. Powers, .Ir., Of Caro-
: line county, has offered in the Hous
bill making provision for the de
!: lection of spirituous and malt liquor
|: and preparations which produce intoNi
; cation which are kept for Illegal sale
The bill has for it's object the pro
per enforcement of the local option
& laws of the State. The patron con
t tends that while the State has al
! necessary legislation on the sub1ec
OF the liquor traffic, it is almost i'm
/, possible to secure it's enforcement
: under the present laws The viSorou
: policy of the patron would pursue WI
be readily, seen, as one section of tn
> bill contemplates the issuance O
). search warrants to detect the pres
ence of all spirituous or malt liquors
: whiskey. alcoholic bitters or prepare
!. tons which produce intoSication, wher
r same are kept for illegal sale in an
: local option district, county or cor
: poratior.
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