Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-04-17
THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURES.

inVestineht can pay better, II half as we'll
THE WORK OF THE LEGISL AZURE.
70 the Legislature which has just adjourn
we can apply the passage in the Prayer Boo
at has done the things which 1t should n
have done, and left undone the things viii
1t should have DONE" And the Democra,
party might with truth reply like the irreye
ent worshisper, eyes, and We'll do il agai
too"
When the Session commenced several N
portant questions doomed up In the horizon, X
presentation according to Population, the r
peal Of the Attachment law, more liberal @,
emption law-these were the objects to wLic
the Republican members were pledged. In at
dition our Court House needed moving, an
we We're in want OF new Constitution. IN
old one being very much out Of date. Let II
see how the Legislature met these demands G
the people. Among the most important mea
sures was equal Representation for New Castl
C"unty-and MIR. Lewis Thompson's Resolu
tion IN the House, and Mr.. Riddles Bill In tn
senate, providing for more members for thi
County in the State Legislature, were Delicate,
ny strict party Yote--the Democratic mem
bers, fearing especially the City of Wilmington
10 such an absurd extent did this feel
ing exist that the Legislature defeated a mea
sure giving wilmington another Trustee of the
lpoor, and passed The Bill giving an ad,litiona
trustee TO Appoqulnimink Hundred! One OF
tho republican members introduced liberal
exemption Bill, which was defeated in the
nonse, every member from our county voting
Tor 1t. Feeling, however, the pressure brought
on them by this measure from all parts of the
state, and seeing that the handwriting on the
wall grew palmer and palmer the Democrats
lacked shlp-and MIR. Shelldrake introduced a
modihed diluted imitation OF the original meas
lire,which is now law. For this piece OF reluct
ant justice the Democrats deserve no thanks
rs they would have avoided the whole question,
ifpossible.
Mr.. Maris introduced a bill for calling A
state Convention, but as the Kent and Sussex
members believed that to change the constitu-
uon at future day was worse than to trans
gress IL at present, they slew the Convention
'nstdnter, fate which also befell Mr.. Silver's
proposition to make the Laws of Delaware con-
form to the constitution of the United States
while MIR. Riddles Resolution TO the same eff
ieet was sent to committee, aud, like a navi-
gator gone TO the arctic pole, were never heard
OF again. Mr.. Maris worked so hard to Get the
Loan Association Tax removed that the mea
sure got into the Senate--but got no further.
and one day it died there 10 ., being the
vote. Wv
Mr. Silver attacked the Attachment Law, but
the Squires and Constabes came down, alike
the wolf on the fold, and persuaded the mem
bers that they alone were the great men of our
city, and the act was Killed in the Senate. The
stir the matter raised was more, however, than
they had bargalned for-and presently the howl
among the leaders grew long and loud, and the
senate took up the deceased Bill, and reducing
The exemption to fifty per cent on mems wages,
passed 1t through the Legislature. Speaker
Lesley being the doctor who acted as restIrec-
Zionist on this interesting occasion. Embold-
ened by this partial success, Mr.. Maris under |
took TO move the Court House from New
Castle TO Wihnington-a task to which his |
strength finally proved unequal, although |
special locomotive, and a car brimfull of legal
ability, came down from Wilmington to Dover /
10 his assistance. Dr. Lesley anchored the |
Court House, however, ard covered all the Will |
minglon lawyers with confusion and shame
and told the Senate what to do, and they did |
II too, in the most obedient manner.
Interest bills Were numerous-for reducing
the penalties, changing the rates, and so on,
and were oil knocked in the head, and gathered
10 their predecessors. Mr.. Hutchinson during
The session made an attempt to get our scatter
I'd game Laws in good order, but the members
made game Of his efforts, and brought down
his BIZ at shoit range. as they did also his
Greeley platform preamble, offered to SET off
spread-eagle resolutions got up by DR.. Martin 4
Mr. Hutchinson's efforts attracted attention.
and led to good game bill being passed later
IN the session.
The members seemed also to become verti-
cal Democrats for they voted down the Balti-
more PLATFORM lin both Houses without remorse,
and without blushing. Mr. Clark introduced
a measure To make the creditor pay the tax ON |
Mortgages, instead of the debtor, but the House
with more courage than discretion, voted the
other way. Mr.. Joel Thompson introduced
ZONE valuable measures, but they mostly went |
the way of all good measures one, however,
The bill 10 prevent the sale OF liquor on election
days, was stolen bodily by committee and
placed in the general license law.
Two Constitutional amendments were pro.
posed, one by Dr. Lesley, dividing New Castle
county, died of suspended animation; the
other, by Mr.. Riddle, providing for a general
Incorporation act, passed both Houses, and will
become part OF the Constitution. At the
next session 1t will save much OF the time of
The Legis ature, as will also Q new divorce law
which will send all disconsolate wives and hus-
bands TO the Courts, and which was originated
BY Mr.. Lewis Thompson. John Hickman, of
Sussex, headed the educational movement
which eliminated in the bigoted majority,
against his wish and advice, striking out ali
provisions for the coored people from the new
school law, and the subsequent defeat of the
bill itself in the Senate.
.
good measMes--it cbolsed oil some very bad
and questionable bills In indefinitely postpo-
ned the "Residence Bill" an Act which was
intended to disfranchise our colored voters, and
kept the Water Commission, Police Bill, Sixth |
Ward Bill, and other outrageous measures at
bay, until the end of the session-the two-thirds
rule doing the business.
The City Debt was finally allowed to be
funded, permission given to the city to borrow
$500, GOG-the Mayor got the exclusive charge
Of his police, and everything was lovely.
During the last few days, two bills concern
Ing the Assessors and Collectors Of our coun-
ties were pissed, which were simply measures
TO prevent the collection of taxes, leave voters
oil the assessment list and disfranchise them
thereby; these two outrages were introduced
by Mr.. Wiles, of Kent county. One good
measure, ut least, went through, which does
credit TO all commemorative new License law,
which Is very strict, and which was great
triumph over the liquor interest.
The only reduction in taxes was with the
Railroad. The p. W. q b. pays $27 900 direct
tax, and $4,000 IN place of the ten cent tax
and other Railroads pay in such proportion TO
$4,000 as its receipts from intro-state bear to
the receipts from intro-state travel OF the P.W.
" B. r. h. This virtually grades the ten cent
lax on the T.. w. & b. Railroad,. and takes it
off the shorter Railroads almost entirely, and
this is one Of the few good things done by the
Legislature Of 1873.
Spain Is grayiating towards the abolition Of
slavery in her colonies, having abolished the |
institution in Porto Rico.
ITO that complexion must she come at last |
The abolition of slavery in the United States |
was in effect striking the shackes from the |