Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-04-19
Leginlative Notes.

After both Houses had adjourned last
night at a late hour, many members,
thinking II would be the last night they
would be compelled 10 remain In dull and
dreary Dover, determined 10 hold Jolli-
ncation and Immediately organized. Mes
sergers were then dispatched to Fountains
Hotel with orders for liberal quantity
Of champagne, and In due time the orders
were filled and the old State House was
filled with the music Of popping corks,
and the merry laughter Of a crowd conf
posed of persons whose pinnacles became
weaker and uncertain In the same pro-
portion as wine bottles were empued.
Speeches were made, songs were sung,
all sorts of resolutions and motions
offered, desks were knocked over, like
wise men, aud everything In general was
turned topsy-turvy. More wine was
ordered, more speeches made, etc., and
the little aaturnalia continued until the
"wee sma' hours"
The Jolly crowd found the State House
too warm for comfort and adjourned to
the street. The noise continued, and the
dreams Of old maids and fair maidens
were disturbed therebyi and now and
then a night-cap would appear at q
sccoBd-story window aud its possessor
would demand In excited tones 10 know
"Where's the fret" But everything
must end; and the frollc of this jovial
band was no exception to the rule-for
by four O'Clock this morning the crowd
had sought repose, and the "audlble
silence" which usually regns supreme
here after night.fal, was again In power.
Both Houses have been In session all
day aud met again tonight. But little
has been done-indeed there was but
little to do, and had the Senate worked
as 1t should, the Legislature could have
adjourned sine die at noon to-day. The
House had nothing at all to do, but, Of
course, had to wait GU the Senate. The
two Houses got at loggerheads over the
new bill levying taxes on the p, W. q
B. X. R., and the House requested com
mittee of conference TO consider the
measure. he Senate was notified, and
after a useless delay for hours, tue request
was granted. 1t took several motions to
have the committee appointed, and the
strange action of Speaker Lesley In not
entertaining motions and acting promptly
In the matter, Is severely criticised
and generally condemned. When the
committee was appointed On the
part of the Sena'e, it was done
contrary 10 all parliamentary law,
| huu WIZ VIM * AhN AiO-
ton to appoint and was supposed to be
in favor Of fair tax bill, was left off
the committee. Afterwards the Confer
ence Committee met and reported back a
bill taxing the Rail- Dad Company $40, 900
providing for grading the passenger tax
according 10 distance travelled and leaving
the peach tax about where It Is. The
Railroad Company have acce pied this
bill and IL has passed. In answer to u
question IL the bill would relieve the
peach interest TO any extent, prominent
grower Informed me that the $3.50 tax
would be somewhat reduced, but would
still be heavy.
All Of those high flown, trashy resolu
lions denouncing civil rights, Charles
Sumner, negro equality, Congress, aud
enforcement act have passed, been enroll
ed, after much labor, and have been
signed. Much good is expected from the
adoption of these resolutions by the foolish
and short sighted men who supported
them but fancy the civil and political
rights enjoyed by the colored man will
not be taken from him that Charles
Sumner will still exist, and that Congress
and tue enforcement act will not be In
jured in the least by the adoption of such
trashy stuff
Lewis Thompson to-day introduced a
preamble and joint resolution, which were
adopted, to the effect that just and equit-
able donations Of public lands by Con-
gress to the different States OF the Union
for the maintenance Of public schools
will merit and receive the appreciation OF
the General Assembly OF this State.
Both branches to-day adopted resolu-
tons sympathzlng with the McEnery
| .,n,,e Of aufaioua ard danOuuc.
Ing Kellogg as a usurper and the General
Government for supporting him. had
hoped the Legislature would not stoop to
thus notice the local quarrels and bicker
ings of two rotten men at the head of
two equally rotten factions of another
State +; but the forte Of the present Legis-
lature seems 10 be, to do that which 1t
ought not do and Vies versa, and to keep
It's hands constantly besmcared by dab
bling In lust such dirty mudholcs as that
OF Louisiana politics.
The committees on accounts reported
to-day, and allowed the clerk of the House
Sl4OO and the clerk of the Senate $1,000,
, These amounts arc somewhat below those
: allowed the clerks of former sessions.
The pay Of the Sergeants-at-Arms aud
) others Is about the same as last sessions.
r The members have been given warrants
on the State Treasurer, for their mileage,
and per diem and many have presented
: them, and pocketed the money. The
amount alloNed each member Is about
1875 this on the ninety-seNen days sinc'
4 the Legislature met.
LATER.
: DOVER, April 11-MIDNIGHT. - Boil
Houses have Just adjourned until to-mor
row morning at 9 O'Clock. Befor'
c adiourning the railroad tax bill was re
considered and recommitled to the Con
= ference Committees, who subsequent!
!. reported the bill back with amendment
e which change the original TO the follow
I ing: Taxing the p, W. Il B. COMPANY
s27, 900 in lieu Of all taxes other thar
k the per capita or ten cent tax. Tn
}, State will accept $4,000 for tn
gross per capita and the com
pany may graduate this tax us
e desires. Discrimination 10 fares o.
freIghts against any one is positive J
d prohibited, and any one overcharged ma.
IS sue aud receive ten-fold the amount over
charged. This bill Is also said to b
;. acceptable to the P, W. IL B. Company
h Another bill incorporated into the aooy'
provides for the graduation Of the tel
IT cent tax by permitting all other road
d TO pay such sums as Will be proportions
d 10 the passengers receipts in the same rati
:. as in the case of the p, W. q B. Cou
a pany." VIZ