Evening star., 1908-12-20
OLD DOMINION AFFAIRS
Working for Compromise on
Railroad Rates.
WOULD END LITIGATION
Modification of Poll Tax Law, as to
Time Of Payment, Proposed.
SYNDICATE CONTROLS OYSTERS
State tuberculosis Sanatorium to Be
Established at Roanoke Red
Sulphur Springs.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

reached.
The question of procedure engrossed the
conferences. The purpose Is to arrive at
some understanding whereby proceedings
can be concluded and the warfare ended
for good.
1t has been decided that the roads shall
for hearing on rates. proposing that they
be changed to meet existing conditions.
Figures for the first year of the opera
tions of the two-cent rate regulation will
be the basis Of the petition.
There Is a belief that they will ask
for a fiat rate of 21a cents. the thousand
mile tickets to be abolished. There is
no ground to warrant the belief that
this will be entertained by the commits
sion.
Some years ago there came near to
being solution by provision for the two
and-a-half-cent rate. The trouble was
that. while both sides were willing. neither
would make advances necessary for con-
sideration.
There were eminent lawyers who wanted
to have tilt in the courts. They had
it, appeal to the Supreme Court of the
United States resulting in draw. What
ever may be the action Of the roads-and
they will have to take the initiative In
the future-the people of the state will
finally decided on it's merits.
That is the contract which the state
has with the carriers, having been made
by Gov Swanson more than year ago
Repeal Of Poll Taxes.
Violent opposition exists in many parts
of the state regarding the poll tax. An
tagonism is not so much to the payment
of the tax as to the requirement that
ha sot ciy he
prior to the regular election in which the
voters offer to vote
1t is claimed that this works untold
hardship on the voters. many of whom
have not In the past been able to pay
the sum so far in advance of elections
! There Is proposition to amend the
| constitution to require payments either
forty-f1ve or thirty days before election
| The vote would be much larger, it is
contended. as after the campaign has
been on for few weeks citizens would
be aroused and would want to vote. Ir
this the state would gain. as the tax
would be paid. The revenues would be
| larger and the bulk of the tax would
go to the school funds.
Oysters Plentiful and High.
w. Mcdonald Lee, state fish commits
sioner, reports that there are more and
finer oysters in the waters of Virginia
this year than at any time during the
last twenty-five years. Yet they are
higher than they have been for a Ions
time. Mr.. Lee explains that the interests
which are seeking to obtain possession of
the oyster bottoms are striving to COM
pei the small tongers and planters to re-
tire from business.
Months ago it was announced that the
oysters were poor and scarce. This
forced dealers who have for years been
n
| make arrangements with other markets.
So when the tongers and dredgers made
their catch and went to the markets they
were met with the information that con-
tracts had been made for the supply
The prices paid by dealers to the oyster
syndicate are higher than are asked by the
tongers. Since the conditions have be-
come known the vessels are beginning to
| come to the local wharves and to offer the
best grades of oysters at lower figures
than the local dealers are receiving
One planter stated that there were hun
dreds Of thousands of bushels of oysters
in Gloucester that could be sold, and
gladly sold, at one-third less than was re-
ceived a year ago but that there was no
market. The tongers are living hard this
winter, one reason being that many people
have no money to buy oysters.
tuberculosis Sanatorium.
DR.. Ennion G. Williams. state health
the purchase Of the Roanoke Red Sulphur
Springs property. With the beginning OF
March of next year the state will take
| culosis sanatorium.
The state paid some $4,000 cash for
the property, the tract containing some
$50 acres OF land. There are several
comfortable buildings, there is an abun-
dance of farming lands. mineral water.
mountain scenery, fresh air. excellent
drainage.
The site Is declared by physicians one
of the most desirable to be found any
where in the country. The springs are
located In the high section of the state.
easily reached and one of the healthiest
parts Of the Old Dominion.
D. g. Miller Is Wanted.
A man was in Richmond this week who
visited business houses which have men
on the road selling goods and asking sup
port for the SulzeC rate bill. now pending
in Congress. The man would make a
small collection when obtaining sigma
lures. presenting letters on the letterhead
of members of Congress. One letter bore
the name of William Sulzer
The man collected a large sum. and
tectives took him to headquarters. He
had plenty of money.
Chief Werner told him he did not think
1t was advisable to operate in this city.
In the meantime a telegram was sent to
Chicago asking the police about Miller
and the Interstate Commercial Travellers.
Neither was known in that city.
The police set out to get Miller. He
had departed.
The Travellers Protective Association,
through Secretary HarwoOd, notified the
public that 1t had nothing to do with the
man and that he did not represent that
body Just what charge the police have
against the man is not made public. but
they want him.
Augmenting the Road Force.
Police Justice Crutchf1eld is a strong
advocate OF good roads. A soldier in the
Confederate army. he had to ride a good
deal between this city and Petersburg
The roads then were bad. and have not
improved to any great extent.
The new state law which provides that
a certain class Of persons convicted of
misdemeanors can be sent to the roads
for one month to one year has given him
a chance to show his hand. White and
black loafers and idiers. who for many
| wears have been kept in the jails during
the winter months at expense to the
| taxpayers. are now sent to the roads
There are several gangs at work In the
| state One Is building q good road from
Petersburg to this city. 1t Is the larg-
| est and Is augmented each day.
Where formerly II was sixty days in
iail now the sentence is ninety days on