The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-20


III 5s,.s a Is : =. Z. 80 t
The oyster question came mp yester-
day afternoon before a meeting of the
House Committee on the Chesapeake
and Its tributaries. A subcommittee
had been given charge of the bill pro-
posing q codification OF all laws re-
lating to oysters, and this subcommit-
tee made report favoring the bill
and suggesting that 500 copies of II
be printed.
W. w Old. Jr., OF Norfolk. appeared
before the committee and explained
the proposed changes; For the most
part, he said, they related to giving
the authorities the power to enforce
the oyster laws, providing heavy
penalties for their violation. The IL
cense is made payable on December
1, along with other State taxes, after
which . per cent. penalty is added.
In addition, 1t is provided that the
Commission OF Fisheries shall have
the power to select a surveyor to go
over the oyster grounds. instead of
leaving this work in every case to
the county surveyors The latter are
sometimes hard to get. and, it was
said. usually side in questions at issue
against the commission.
1t Is also proposed to change the
Ciosed season, SO as 10 make II from
April 25 to September Is, instead Of
from April / to September /. as at
present This will take from the pro-
Queer fifteen days in September and
| give him twenty-five days In April
presenting him with net gain of ten
days in each year during the opening
season.
The committee considered the bill.
| after addresses by Mr.. Old and Com
missioner w. Mcdonald Lee, in cxecu-
tive session.
Creation OF department or game
and inland fish for the preservation of
certain animals. birds their nests and
eggs and fish, and to prevent unlaw-
tul hunting and fishing, was introduced
yesterday by Senator Hart, OF Roanoke.
" bill proposed BY Mr. West. Of
Sunolk. becomes a law. convicts who
nave term OF ten years or less will
be eligible for work on the public
roads. At present only prisoners with
terms not exceeding five years arc used
In the convict camps.
1 Opposition to Mr. Cox's bills to in
crease the taxes on express companies
and on Pullman companies will meet
i with vigorous opposition. Mr.. cox
called up his bills yesterday morning
| before the Committee on Finance Of this
House, and argued them at soma
length. w. A. Michigan, manager for
the Adams and Southern Express Com
| panies in Richmond. was present and
asked that next Wednesday be set as
as the time for a hearing on the ex-
press bill. The Senate committee would
hear the bill next Tuesday, he said.
and the selection OF Wednesday would
be a matter Of convenience to officials
or attorneys for the companies who
would be here from distance In the
absence OF objection, that date was
fixed
Scott. Buchanan & Cardwell repre-
sented the Palace Car Company. and
upon suggestion the hearing on this
matter was also fixed for Wednesday.
Mr.. Cox presented some startling
figures in support OF his bill. He said
that the total license tax received
from express companies In this State
is now less than $4,000, while the tag
| on property owned In this State Is
only $197 Tho express companies, he
asserted, are paying only lilo as mucl
as the railways and the sleeping cal
company only 1880 as much as rail.
roads. We all know" no said, "tha1
Il tho express companies arc doing thu
\ business, and ! believe that they should
i be made to pay MS much, IL not more
i than the railroad companies,,, Th,
i |railroads own $Sa,oo0.0Oo worth 20
i|lsproperty in Virginia, and tho express
lIlcompanies only 100000 worth. AS t,