Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-01-08
From Dover.

THE OLD STATE HOUSE BELL AND THE DISPOSITION
TO BE MADE OF IT-FIRsT GIVEN TO THE HIS
ToRICAL SOCIETY AND THEN TAKEN AwAY-IN-
CREASED DIFFERENTIATION -REsIaNAT1oN OF THE
CHAPLAIN OF THE HoUsE-No MIDNIGHT CA
RoUsALs EXPECTED TIL SESSION.
From our Regular Correspondent
DOVER, Jan. T.
1t cannot be said yet that the Legislature has
got into working trim, and though speaker Stock
10y WAS prompt in the appointment Of the Stand
ing Committees OF the Senate, that work will not
be done in the House until tomorrow mornings
session. The members will then go to their
homes and come back ON Monday prepared for
active work.
II the Senate adheres to its refusal to appoint
a committee on Divorce, much business will be
removed from the Legislative halls to the Courts
where it properly belongs, and no good reason
exists why the session need not be short one.
THE STATE HOUSE BELL
has all at once become unconsciousy matter Of
controversy. For l02 years its tones have awoke
the inhabitants of the land AZ far AZ the wine
could watt them. Scarcely had the joyous
chimes of the Old Independence bell at Phila-
depha died away upon the breeze, upon the
memorable 4th of July, 1776, than its far of
this same Dover State House bell, and
the joyful news OF liberty proclaimed to all the
people. For over n century it has announced
each succeeding meeting of the Legislature, and
called the members together from day to DAY,
and no one ever thought of it except AZ an Old
Gathering bell. Indeed the commission to re-
model the State House, in instructing Senator
Shakespeare to sell all refuse material from the old
building, never once thought of reserving the
old bell. Happily, however, Senator Shakespeare,
when he came to sell the old carpets and other
useless articles, happened TO look upon the OLD
relic that had done such faithful service, and his
thoughts reverting back TO the days of '76 he i'm
mediately gave orders to
Spare that bell
strike not single bloV
A century Its charm have rung
And III protect 1t now.
Joint resolution was passed in the House to-
tay to donate the bell to the Delaware Historic
al Society, and when the resolution was present
cd to the Senate, that body concurred in the
resolution. Scarcely had this been done, how
ever than whispered conversation was held
and the subject reconsidered, and laid upon the
table.
Mr. Riddle stated that he would soon call up
the resolution and advocate its passage, as he
thought in the Historical Society rooms was the
place where it should be kept.
Mr.. Shakespeare rehearsed the services of the
bell, and thought that in the Library of the
State House, where it had no long been used,
was just the place where it should be kept and
from present appearances there is where it il
likely to be kept.
Mr.. Riddle has given notice OF a bill to provide
for
INCREASED REPRESENTATION,
Which will have a stormy road to travel, and MIR.
Ray has given notice of an act to repeal the at
tachment of wages, measure which he is heart
lily i'll favor Of
Rev. /. II. Cooper having courteousy declined
accepting the chaplancy of the House on &C
count OF his increasing age and the distance at
which he resides from the Capital, Rev. MIR. Glib
son, rector of the Episcopal Church, was chosen
in his place. This action marked the hberallty
of the members of the House, the most of whom
Methodists, and the action was appreciated
by those not members of that church.
Thara hahn nn la N ramnlpllnH StAt1
House, and the old bell referred to having been
taken down, the members, especially those hav-
ing indifferent or no time pieces, were at loss
to know how the time was going. In view OF
this Mr. Pyle has been instructed to get clock
for the House, and Mr. Shakespeare one for the
Senate.
The personel of the Legislature morally, il
far above the average, and while not wishing tc
cast any reflections upon the Legislatures of the
past, il is but right and proper to state that in
general intelligence the present body is un.
equalled. Each House has chosen well qualifiec
and courteous gentlemen for Speakers, while the
clerks are quick, accurate, courteous and will re-
fleet credit upon the stations which they fill.
Unless there is wonderful falling from
grace there will be
NO MIDNIGHT CARoUsALs
here this winter, and we opine that the arms OF
the walters will not be much strained by tug
ging keys and champaign baskets to upper cham
bers from which formerly the midnight shout OF
revery rang out over the green, to the Brea
annoyance of quiet sleepers.
Governor elect Cochran WAS present to-da,
and being admitted to the floor of each House
received the congratulations of his friends.
Hon. James Il. Lofand also here toda,
looking after the interests of the State. Thougl
not in political sympathy with the Legislature hi
WAS received none the less friendly on that ac