Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-24
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER "a, 1910
FACTS IN THE OYSTER siTuA-
TON OVERLOOKED.


aid Lee is severely srraigned by the
Richmond Times-Dispatch for what is
termed his "coddling policy" toward
the oyster planters. The commits
sloner, according to our Richmond
contemporary, was coerced by
demonstration of force to arbitrarily
suspend the right of lessees OF oyster
bottoms and put an embargo on all
James river planters" After asking
why Virginia pays thirty to forty
thousand dollars year to police Its
waters If order cannot be maintained,
The Times-Dispatch says;
The tongers claim tliat planters
Lave encroached on the lands set
apart by the State for public use.
Perhaps the tongers are right. In
many cases there is no doubt that
such encroachment has taken place.
But we are not living under an Asiauc
despot who knows how TO punish one
guilty man only by Staying whole
town. And only that condition could
Justify the preposierous action Oh
Commissioner Mcdonald Lee in high
handedly ordering all planters. the
wicked. the good. the successful and
the failures. the law abiding ana the
predatory alike, TO cease making law
ful use of their rented lands.
In its hurry to denounce the pres
ent methods of the State in dealing
with the oyster situation, the Times
Dispatch seems to have overlooked
the facts in this case. IL is true that
Commissioner Lee. finally needing
the petitions and demands of the tong
ers, did agree to have made resur-
vey of the natural oyster beds in
James river for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether or not certain plant
ers are occupying portions of the nat
ural rock, in violation of the State
constitution. And he did agree to
have the planters stop work on dis
puted territory pending the resurvey.
Put if he "high-handedly ordered all
planters. the wicked. the good. etc.
to cease making lawful use OF their
rented lands. this paper has heard
nothing about IT, As a matter OF fact
many James river planters are quiet
I, working their grounds and have
rot been brought into the trouble one
way or another. These planters are
Wondering now whether or not the
natural rock is 10 be surveyed in the
vicinity of their leased beds; they
have not been communicated with.
care nothing about the disturbance
over disputed territory and are hop
inc that the resurvey will be limited
1, that territory. The only planters
who have been notified to stop work.
~ this paper understands IL. are
those holding leased grounds alleged
to be within the lines which should
mark natural rocks.
II planters are occupying pubic
rocks. and no one seems 10 doubt
that some OF them are. they ought to
he required to move on IL these
planters were put on the rocks by
ignorant OF careless surveyors repre-
senting the State. IS is very unfor
tunate. and they should be reimbGrs
&C BY the State for any loss sustained
On accoun; Of the mistake. But they
should get on the rocks. As long a.
IL IS known OF believed that they ars
ercrdhching. whether by design or oI
account ~ mistakes on the par
themselves or the States representa-
tses. public sentiment VII BE- behins
the torEcrs in their "stasepullini
bees Therefore tais paper believe
thss the commissioner Of isherie
acted wisely n ordering a resurve
Of the rocks and directing that w5sl
on the disputed territory cease pend
IEg the making Of hat survey. On
only complaint - that the step wa
naf taken long ago.
In the concluding paragraph o. q
editorial, The TimesDispafch show