Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-01-29
STATE REFORM.

TIoN ACT AND TAX ON LOAN saocIATIoNs-oTHER
MEAsUREs-A TEMPERATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Special Correspondents Of ats Commercial
DOVER, Jan. 28.
Until to-day the progress of the several great
measures of Reform demanded by the people,
though nothing had been finally passed, and
none had moved rapidly, was not especially dis
oouraging. None had come to q decisive Issue,
and hopes were entertained by the friends of
Reform that some of the measures would receive
favorable consideration, and that in few par
ticulars. at least, the Democratic majority would
chow themselves willing to ameliorate the con
dition of the people. They had not yet distinct
ly committed themselves TO the defeat of any
important proposition. This afternoon, how
ever, two Of the measures were deliberately
slaughtered, the two being the Exemption Act
and the Act repeating the tax on Loan Associa-
tions. The former was defeated in the House !;
the latter in the Senate The details will give
further on in this letter.
The composition of the Legislature, il is re-
marked on all hands, is better than at any pre-
vious session for long time. A large proper
tion of members are either strictly Total Absti-
nent or very Temperate men. and the amount
of drinking among the two bodies is very small.
The general disposition is favorable TO legislation
with view to checking Intemperance, and Q
joint Committee Of the two Houses has the sub
iect In charge. The bill to prohibit the sale of
liquor on 6l6CtlOn uhyb was IhVOfhDiy fepOrt0u
the House this morning though with an amend
ment removing the penalty for "giving away"
liquor This will probably make it practicable for
candidates to bring liquor on the election giounds
and dispense it to their partisans, keeping up,
in many cases, As much drunkenness at the polls
as though the sale should be continued, and
perpetuatiRg that sort of bribery which is prac-
ticable where voters are purchasable for whis-
key.
Upon the general question of temperance,
there is an apparent purpose to very considera-
bly, modify The present loose license laws, guard
ing the process OF securing license with more
stingent provisions; AT present, the Clerks OF
the Peace are not able, IL they were 30 desirous,
to judge of the value and regularity Of the ap-
plications for license presented 10 them, and tho
applicant IL 30 disposed, may secure his permit
to sell, upon the endorsement of persons not
contemplated by the law. Moreover, IL is TO the
interest of the Clerks to throw no obstacle in
the way Of granting licenses more of them
the more fees.
These subjects naturally associated them
selves with my remarks as to the personal
character OF the members. | will speak, now,
though briefly, OF the vital measures Of Reform
bearing upon the general and fundamental
rights of the citizens Of Delaware. First, as
to Equal Representation The bill presented in
the Senate by Mr.. Riddle has had two readings
and gives, as the readers Of the COMMERCIAL
understand, representation, according to popu-
lation, to the people resident in New Castle
county. Such measure has no possible chance
ed, every Democrat will vote against ii, even in
oluding the two Senators of that party from New
Castle county. Upon the question of Equal
Representation, the Democratic majority are
ready to place themselves squarely in opposition
to 1t, and throw their party directly across the
path of Progress, in defiance of every principle of
Equality and Democracy, as we'll as of Justice.
AS for increased representation to the people
of New Castle county, modified degree Of the
justice to which the 63 600 citizens OF Delaware,
who choose to live North of Duck Creek, are en-
titled-it 10 very little more likely to obtain any
favor in the Senate. The adverse vote in that
body will include, no doubt, all the Senators from
Kent and Sussex countless and while the two
Democratic Senators from Now Castle will Join
Mr. Riddle in voting for some increase Of repre-
sentation, it is not likely that even they will ask
any considerable addition to the present mem-
bership-a measure giving two more representa-
tives, and one more Senator, being suggested
Aa to Constitutional Convention, little has
yet been said regarding it. In the House,
this morning, Mr. Maris, offered bill provi-
ding for q special election, as required by the
Constitution, in May next, to determine whether
a Convention shall be held. What the DISPOSE
ton of members may be, in regard to this, re-
mains to be developed.
The Educational Committee are favorable TO
general revision Of the School laws, and are
considering the details of bill for that purpose.
In the House, this morning, Mr. Hickman re-
ported from the Committee this fact, and added
that measures looking to the relief Of the oolored
consideration.
AS to the repeal of the Attachment Law, which
is now ready to be put on it's final reading, in
the Senate, the prospect remains that every
Democratic Senator will vote it, though there
are rumors that pressure is to be brought from
Wilmington to change this decision. Unless
this be accomplished. however, the adverse vote
will be to riddle alone in the affirmative.
The bill repeating the taxes on Loan Assooa-
tions, is from present indications, about strong
ly opposed-probably to 2.
AS to the Exemption ACT, the House, this after
noon deliberately killed IL, although its provis-
ions had been amended, (by Democratic Aotion,)
80 as to materially reduce the amount exempted
Republicans, and Democrats rs follows. Clark
Cloud, Ferris, Hickman Hutchinson, Maris Sill
yer, Joel Thompson, Lewis Thompson against
the bill, Douis, Holland, Jones, Martin, Shell
drake, SteuensOn, Van Gdsben, WiLds, Wilson,
Wright, and BurChindl, Speaker all Democrats, IL
in number. This is the first distinct evidence that
the Democratic members remain resolutely OPP
posed to measures Of progress, but 1t will not be
the last. Those of the people who suffer under
the present severe laws for collecting debts, and
who ardently hoped that more just and humane
system might be established, may understand
distinctly thatthe Democratic Party, by its ma
iority in the General Assembly lis responsible for
this betrayal of their hopes.
Added to this, however, is the defeat OF the
repeal of the Loan Association taxes The vote
was almost strictly . party one Yeas, Riddle
and Lesley Nays the sevon other Democratic
Senators. 80 much for that There is to be no
let up on the Peoples Savings Banks. The me-
ohanics OF Wilmington, saving and scraplng to
secure home, may remember this fact.