Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-02-15

THE DIVORCE UNCONSTITUTIONAL OF
KENT CoUATY's INTEREST IN the STATE
HousE-UsURY BiLLs-THE WATER COM
MISSION BILL.
DOVER, Feb l3lh.- The Senate has gone
into divorce legislation in husiucss.lke
manner. Conflicting petitions in the Roberts
divorce case having been sent TO that body
il ordered an investigation into the facts
of the case and for is evenings this wrek
the divorce committees Of both Houses
have been holding stcrtt sessions aud eX-
aminiug witnesses in an endeavor to sift
out a little truth from the mass of charges
and counter charges made by the plaiDtiti
and defendant. Both parties have been
represented by counsel. IL Is not known
Just what the character of the committee
report will be, but 1t is looked forward 10
with much interest by the scandal mongers
of the town, as Mr.. Roberts and his wife
both live here and are very respectfully
connecled.H
II is well understood here that the Joint
committee on public buildings has offered
TO the county $l5,0UO for its interest In
that old barn, which is called by some,
out Of respect for its age, the State House.
| Those who have the authority to do SO
have accepted this oiIer, aud in doing SO
have made for Kent county about S14,95O
as the Old hui ding would have been dean
10 the State at $50; indeed, it is worth
nothing md during the rain storm yes
terday 1t was necessary to vacate the lobby
| Of the House. SO coliOusly did the rail-
pour through the roof Of the building. Nc
business man wonld have ever eiver
$4,000 for an acre OF such rattle-traps
II is impossible to say how much more tn,
building will cost before il will be a fl
place in which to toausact business. Tn,
expenditure of money, however, must b.
large before the result Is attained.
There seems to be no end to usury bills
and the waste of white paper on whicl
they are drafted. Mr.. Maris presented on
yesterd1t, Mr.. Silver had one read to-day
but whose turn il is TO morrow TO introduce
a similar bill has not yet been decided.
all the strength Of those who are in favo
of repeating the nsury law was ccnterel
on one bill, the friends of the measure II
the Legislature would make respectabl
show. But there are now too many bill
of this class, and not enough strength t
: carry any of them half through.
Senator Leslie, who by the way, seem
TO take a dep interest in opposing a.
. good measures and engineering question:
bic ones, to-day presented another bill re
, lating to The city of Wilmington. TIL
! bill provides for the appointment of thre
Water Commissioners who are authorize
i, and empowered to do almost anything
and gracefully granted permission to u
: crease the Water Loan 10 S500,u00. TIL
: IS bad and dangerous measure, an
\ should it b come law and tue commit
q -ioners appointed under il should be Inc
untitled for the position, the most al
/. a-trous resu IS would follow. Under Il
= present bill there is no limit to their NJ
i, thority. They could purchase a $40, OF
!, pump, lay $50 900 main, build 5000, 0C
" reservoir or anything else, and accoul
= for it to themselves only.
III A bill for the relief Catharine jon
:. came up to-day for final consideration an
y created a deal of discussion betwet
!, Messrs. Maris and Lewis Thompson 70
. and Silver against it. The first nam,
. gentlemen, however, carried their poi
and the bill passed.
= Mr.. Sheldrdke's exemption bill and Lew
y Thompsoh's bill for the protection OF ma
= red women will soon be cal Ell up for H.
:, confederation. Their chances in the Hou
81 ire good. The bill for thu Prevention
a Crue t. u Atima,s paced tie House \
I, day, but in suchR shaps that the fran
!, - of it will hardly recognize even the skel
ton OF the original. W. s. P.
n - ss--