The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-01
fisheries BILLS
OPPOSED BY JONES
He Says Industries of Tidewatcr
Virginia Threatened With
Absolute determination.
MILLIONS NOW INVESTED
Measures Would Transfer Con
troll From States to Fed
eral Government.
MILLIONS NOW INVESTED

Washington. d. G. February es.-The
Virginia are threatened with absolute
determination by tho probable passage
of one Of the two bills now before Con-
sress introduced by Congressman
Linthicum. of Maryland. providing
regulations for the industry. according
Virginia, who, ns a member of tho
House Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fishcr!ce. ha. attended the hear
ings on tho bills and vigorously op-
posed their passage.
Tho two bills before the House COM
manufactured from food fish shall he
excluded from Interstate traffic. md to
transfer 10 tho United States Depart
ment of Commerce absolute and oxclu-
sive control over the fisheries of the
country, taking away the control now
exercised by the different States.
Tho object OF the first bin may be
entirely proper. but Mr. Jones believes
its constitutionality Is more than
doubtful. He feels more certain that
the second bill Is entirely unconsti-
tutionaL and has prepared a brief to
present Co tho committee within tho
next few days citing decisions of the
United atntes Supreme Court and other
courts, showing that II is impossible
for the Federal government to eXer-
cise control over f,sh and waters with
In State limits. under the Constitution.
Under Federal Control.
y the second bill passes and Its
constituticnality Ia affirmed BY the
courts IL will mean that the vast ash
Ing interests within the tidewatc-a of
Virginia, In which tho State now has
absolute control, will be turned over
to the single department Of the Federal
government, which department is nu-
thorized to make All rules and rcsulo-
tons governing the same.
All the revenues now derived by the
several States from their fishing in
dustries VIII be taken from them and
turned into the Federal Treasury. and
tho people Of Virginia will be permitted
to take nsh from their waters accord
Ing to such rules and regulations IA
the Secretary OF Commerce may pre-
scribe.
This would affect all the people of
the state. Mr.. Jones declares. since 1t
would deprive the State Of ono OF Its
valuable. taxable assets, II would also
deprive tons of thousands OF fishermen
In Eastern Virginia OF their means of
livelihood In two counties of the
First Congressional District alone
there are employed several millions Of
dollars OF capital In the Menhaden
fisheries industry,
Mr.. Jones believes that the Federal
department would impose regulations
on the industry which would DO
great hardship Meetings have been
heard in favor OF the measure from
Ia M Ma 81 a
and Massa chusctts.
Virginia Is placed In u peculiar posi-
tion in regard to this bill, an II Is
believed that Its real purpose Is to place
the regulatory power In the hands OF
the Federal government, which. IL IS
believed, would stop the placing OF
fish nets across the mouth of tho Ches-
apeake 10y the Virginia fishermen.
Result of Oldttmc Struggle.
Roth OF the bills grow out Of the ole
time struggle between the fishermen
OF Virginia and Maryland, the Virginia
fishermen claiming the right 70 catch
the Ask anywhere they can in Virginia
waters. and the Maryland fishermen
claiming that the Virginia fishermen
catch the fish on their way TO the
spawning grounds. thereby threaten
ing their ultimate extinction.
The principle desire OF the Maryland
fishermen. however. is to have tho Nr-
gtnia fishermen stop catching tho
schools as they come up the Chesa-
peakc, but allow them TO go up as far
ms tho Susquehanna River. In Mary
land, and create fishing industry
there.
Mr.. Jones hae raised before the COM
miitcc the question or tho constitution
aiity OF this proposed act and he pro
poSes to discuss this legal question ut
length before the hearings are over
L ~. Il
mitteo TO do so. and expects TO mako
long legal argument the frat part OF
next week
Mr. Jones claims that there is nn
unbruKcn line Of decisions which hold
that Congress has no power under tic
Constitution TO regulate or control the
fisheries of the several States.