The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-16
HERE AND THERE
IN THE LEGISLATURE
Important New Oyster Bill Intro
duccd by Senator Wickllam, of
Henrico Yesterday
BYRD is AFTER RAILROAD
Hints That r., F. & P. Will Be
"Clubbed' II 1t Resists-Hot
Talk in Committees.
BYRD is AFTER RAILROAD
49, HE fight over the oyster ques.

T HE fight over the oyster que!
ton was renewed in the Ger
eral Assembly yesterday b
the Introduction in the Ser
ate by Judge Wickham. Q
Henrico county. of an important bi
providing for the ascertainment All
designation of the natural oyster rock
The chief provisions OF the bill ar
as follows:
"Wherens, IL appears to the Genera
Assembly from the report of the Bonr,
of Fisheries, mnde to the Governor a
this Commonwealth and to the Genera
Assembly, TINT there nre arens ~
natural rock now barren, which vii
never recupernte unnidcd,' within til,
lines of survey heretofore def
and whereas, 1t Is apparent to the
General Assembly that the present law
defining natural rocks, beds and shoals
should be modified so that the State
may obtain additional revenue there
from. and the natural rocks. beds and
shoals more adequately protected than
cnn be done under the existing law,
-Now. therefore, be It enacted by
the General Assembly OF Virginia TINT
the Board of Fisheries or the Com
mission of Fisheries be authorized and
directed to employ competent hydro
graphical engineer, subject to the np-
prevail of the Governor of this Com
nonwealth. and who shall be prefer
ahly United states Coast and Geodetlc
Survey officer. who shall make nm ex-
animation of the several areas include u
within the surveys known ms the
Baylor survey and examine the snme
In order to ascertain and to designate
upon proper maps. plats or charts the
location and nrens of the natural rocks,
beds md shoals in this Commonwealth,
locating the same ms accurately as may
be with reference to fixed p.ints. The
engineer 40 employed is hereby nu-
fhorizcd, subject to the approval of
the Governor of this Commonwealth, to
select mn assistant.
"Such surveyors, in co-operation
with the Board of Fisheries or Conn
mission of Ffsheries, shall examine ms
carefully rs may be all of the beds
and bottoms In the rivers, bays, creeks
and shores of the sea within the juris-
dfction of this Commonwealth and
comprehended within the Baylor Sur
reys,' beginning with the upper pnrt
of James River, and shall report to
the Governor and to the General As
sembly Mt Its next session the relative
productiveness of the several portions
of such beds and bottoms include d
the General Assembly may hereafter
fntelligently determine and define the
location and areas of the true NATURAL
rocks, beds and shoals in the jurisdic-
ton of the State OF Virginia.
'.In performing the duties required
under the terms of this act, the sait
engineer and his assistants and the
Board of Fisheries or Commisslon o.
Fisheries shall observe that the tern
actual natural rock, bed or xhonP I.
intended to include such beds and bot.
toms where oysters grow naturally NM
without artificial cultivation in sucf
quantities as to Justify person o,
persons In rcsorting to 1t regularly n,
means of livelihood.
S"2. The said engineer and his nrsist.
ant, together with the Board OF Fish.
cries or Commission of Fisheries, shall
report TO the Governor md to the Gen.
eral Assembly Mt It's next session In
detail the actual conditions Of nil OF
the beds and bottoms within the SAID
Baylor Surveys,' or so much thereof
ms can be done with the appropriation
hereby mnde, and shall accompany
their report with such recommends.
lions as will ennblc the General As
sembly to enact laws defining md de
clarlnE by true and accurate line
what portion of the said beds and bot.
toms nre nctunl natural oyster beds
rocks and shoals. as distinguished from
the present Baylor Surveys and to thu
end that the oyster industry may b'
protected ana the revenues of the Com
monwenltf tkerefrom be cquitahly ad.
justed."
The salary of the engineer is fixed
at $4,000, and that of his assistant a
not more than $1,000. An appropria
ton of $4,000 is asked to carry on
the provisions of the bill.
In discussing his bill to compel thu
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto
mac Railroad to stop Its trains upor
signal at any and all points along 1t:
line, Speaker Richard Evelyn Byrd sa
last night:
The bill offered by me to conpe
railroads to comply with the provi-
sions of their charters in respect tc
taking UP and setting down passengers
affects only the Richmond, Fredericks.
burg and Potomac Railroad Company
because the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac Is the only company
whose charter contains such a provi.
sion.
ut Is rot intended to affect the road
injuriously in any way but simply Il
compel its either to conform to it
charter requirements or to apply fo
a new charter, IN which latter case I
would become subject to the tax law
of the State and give up its exennptio,
from taxation.
1T has been suggested that this re
suit should be obtained by direct &C
for sucn purpose, This the Genera
Assembly cannot do, because the court
have held that the rights and dutie
granted or imposed by a charter consti
tute contract, and a State canno
enact law which would impair tn,
obligation of contract,
But The state can do this: It cal
way TO any railroad company chartered