Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-05
SAYS REV POLLUTION BILL
. BENEFITS FOUR PLANTERS
City Attorney Of Newport News
Sharply Attacks Legislation
to Protect Oysters.
LENGTHY HEARING IS HELD
Professor Whipplc Says Oyster Qucs-
ton Is Only In Slight degree re.
lated to Public Notwithstanding
Answers NaSSle'S Statement.

Interest was injected into what
promised to be a formal hearing last
night before the House Committee ON
Joseph \. Massie. City Attorney Of
Newport News. tina, the Rev pollution
bill benefits solely four rich oyster
planters OF Hampton bar.
This bill is solely in the interest OF
the four gentlemen who appear before
YOU tonight ana who lease Hampton
bar from the Statc'at 81 AN acre de-
clarcd Mr.. Massic. For the sake OF
this paltry sum they wish To impose
millions in expense upon all the other
communities in Tidcwatcr Virginia
They arc now suing the city Of New
port News because Of alleged pollution
of their oyster beds. If they arc en-
titled to redress tho courts will grant
it: If they arc motif is not the business
Of the Legislature OF Virginia I" give
it to them"
Frank W. Darling. OF Hampton. ono
OF the oyster planters to whom Mr..
Massic referred, denied that lac had
anything 10 do with tie introduction
Of tho bill, but dccla-od that It is for
tn" benefit not only If the planters.
but of the oyster industry in Virginia.
Of tho packers of Norfolk and Of the
=.
LARGE DELIBERATIONS HERE
FROM TIDENATEW VIRGINIA
The hearing bcfor the committee
lasted for about three hours, dcicga-
tions for and against /, being heard,
from Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport;
News and Hampton. That Underwater
Virginia is not unitc1 IN opposition TO
the measure, which grants greater con-
troll over local sewerage systems to the
State Board OF Health, was cv:dciccd
by the presence cf number OF oyste"
planters and packers In favor Of the
measure. Among those who spoke for the
bill were Louis Fuerstein and Captain
~ won Nyvcnheim. Of Norfolk: Louis
Johnson and ". u Holt, &C Hampton;
Dr. Hugh Cumming, of ;hc United
states Public Health Service; Richard
Messcr. sanitary engineer of the state
Board Of Health. and others.
Speaking in opposition to the meas
ure were representatives OF the munich
palitics and trade organizations OF
Newport News. Norfolk and Ports
mouth. Among them were Or. Tow
hatan Schenck. city health officer: Wal
ter Taylor. city engineer: W. w. Old.
Jr.. Councilman, and others OF Nor
folk: Professor George G. Whipple. of
Harvard. speaking for the Norfolk
btiIt bl NoHlIoi' JUN ' I'leN 'ili NY
Attorney Mas1ir cf Newport News.
The committee referred the question
to subcommittee OF three. with In
structions TO report next week. The
subcommittee will meet at the Capitol
this morning AT $3.50 o'clock.
SAYS OYSTER QUESTION
BEARS SLIGHTLY on HEALTH
Speaking TO the measure Mr.. Fucr-
stein declared that sewage dumped into
the harbor at Norfolk undoubtedly has
/ its effect on oysters. and that some
thing ought TO be done to prevent il.
Suits are now pending against the city
OF Hampton because of damage caused
by sewage, said Harry IItlt and unless
something is done the County Of Eliza
beth City. dependent upon the oyster
industry, will suffer
w. w. old opposed TIE bill because
he did not beii,v. in such large CEN
itralization OF power. while DR.. Schcnck
claimed that Norfolk is Il II dangerous
IL polluting tie oyster beds, and ought
TO he exempted from the operation OF
, the bill. Professor Whipple thought
the bill a good one far as it applies
, to the public alter supply but that
the oyster question is in but slight de-
gree related TO that OF public health.
There are many better ways for Nor
. folk TO spend money for public health
than by treating her sewage. he said.