The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-24


sideration of the Mapp prohibition bill
having consumed more time than was
expected.
The pollution bill was brought to
the attention of the House yesterday
by Speaker Houston, who had relin-
uuished the chair to Floor Leader
Willis, of Roanoke. He moved the
House return to the morning hour for
the purpose of receiving motion.
Speaker Regrets Necessity.
Mr.. Houston expressed regret that it
had TRANSFERRED that motion to dis
charge q committee seemed necessary
He moved that the Committee on the
Chesapeake and Its Tributaries be dis
charged from further consideration
Of the pollution bill, which has been
before 1t for several weeks. and on
which Il number Of hearings have
been given. The bill, he said. was
offered at the request of the State
Health Department; has the endorse
ment of the Fisheries Commisioner,
and IL one of the most important
measures before the General Assem-
bly, affecting as it does the greatest
industry owned by the state
The delay by the committee in act
ing upon the bill he declared. Is
striking at the heart of the great oys-
ter industry of Virginia. and unless
something is done soon, that industry
will be practically banished. He
pointed to the fact that the oyster
producing States to the north have
taken action safeguarding their oys-
tiers from pollution, and insisted that
II is now time that Virginia acted.
Delegate Murray, of Newport News,
opposed He said the bill is not a
health measure. that the whole thing
Is an Industrial question between the
Tidewater cities He said that II the
bill rs passed II will cost the city of
Newport News. according to It's en-
gineer's estimate. 100000 to COM
ply with it, and certainly 1t will cost
between 100000 and 100000 and
some $4,000 yearly until eternity.
Tt would be better" he said, for
Newport News to pay tribute to the
State than to have such measure be-
come law" Mr., Murray pointed to
the fact that the bill exempted from
its provisions the cities OF Norfolk
and Portsmouth. and that there is no
way in which to stop the dangers of
pollution which Turk in the 5000 to
5000 vessels which annually pass
through the waters the bill aims to
protect.
Nv nat are you going to do with
these and with the thousands of sail
ors on the warships that find anchor
age in these waters?" he asked He
opposed both the motion TO discharge
the committee and the bill itself.
Bristow Guarantees Report.
Delegate Bristow. of Gloucester.
member of the committee and chair
man of the subcommittee which at
the time had the bin under consid-
Grafton, opposed the motion, declar-
ing that there is no reason for dis
couragement, as the subcommittee
would report TO the committee after a
meeting to be held at o'clock in the
afternoon. Later in the debate Mr.
Bristow guaranteed that the bill
would be reported to the House with
in twenty-four hours If the commit
tee were not discharged.
Mr.. Norris, of Lancaster, support
ed the motion for the discharge of the
committee. The committee. he said,
is completely hamstrung and he did
not believe 1t could agree on the bill
He felt the measure should be brought
before the House and said that he be-
lieved the bill would be given full
justice before mountainous and Tide
water men.
Mr.. Hundley, OF Essex, said the bill
was drawn, he was informed, by Cor
don Cumming for Hampton interests
He thought 1t should be left in COM
mittee.
Mr.. Jordan. of Pulaski, said he
was going to vote for the discharge of
the committee. as the House should
have chance to properly consider
the measure.
Chairman Rev, OF the committee
supported the motion of Speaker
Houston, saying the committee found
1t difficult to get together on the
Dangerous Bill, Says Davis.