Smyrna times., 1877-02-21
For the Smyrna Times.
The Legislature.


House not to receive any new business after
the Goth inst, and has been concurred in
by the Senate, seems to have had the desired
effect of bringing the business in with
rush. The last two days have certainly
crowded upon us an unusual amount of
work, which has prolonged the sessions,
and makes it really appear as though the
Legislature would wind up its business by
the middle of March, which can assure
you is the wish of all but some of those who
are receiving the per diem and even some
of those want to get away.
NOT MUCH DONE.
This session of the Legislature has GER
tainly not been very productive of any very
startling business and your correspondent,
with many others, is very much of the
opinion that the usefulness of what has
been accomplished could have been as
easily done by holding no session at all.
There are many here who declare that there
has been less done at this session than at
any known for many years.
A RETURNING BOARD.
Mr.. Burnite created quite sensation in
the House yesterday afternoon by present
ing the following resolution which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Revised Statutes,
referred to the Committee on Divorces
Resolred that the committee on Revised Statutes be
and is hereby instructed to prepare and submit for
the consideration of this general assembly bill hav-
ing for its object such changes notifications in
existing election laws as will embody the following
pOns-that is to say. There shall be constituted for
the convenience of the people of this State and for the
immediate benefit of the party now in power what is
familary known as Returning Board having for
its purpose the perpetual control and management of
the affairs of this State by the party now controlling it,
The said board to consist of number sufficient to
accomplish the object hereby intended to be arrived
at and the sole qualification of its members shall be
that they confess an undying allegiance to the Demo-
cratic party and that they engage TO so manipulate
the votes of the people There can be possible
chance for any one not of the aforementioned party
to be elected. The committee are further instructed
to so frame this proposed law that the actions of said
returning hoard will he piaced beyond revision or
cannot be called in question by Congress, or the
Supreme Court or any other tribunal constituted for
that purpose. And in order that the law may be
tirely effective the existing law in the State of LOuiSi
ana is recommended to their favorable consideration
laws and all provisions of the Constitution of the
United States and of this State inconsistent with the
decisions of this returning board shall be
pealed, made null and void.
THE ODD OF FEBRUARY.
Yesterday afternoon the House went
into the Committee of the Whole to ascer-
tain the sense of the House upon an adj
ournment on the 22d of February, which
occurs on Thursday. There were numerous
quite amusing. One was that the day he
| devoted to the consideration of Mr. Bur-
| mites resolution for Returning Board
Another that the Legislature upon that
day 90 fishing. None of them, however,
prevailed, and the Committee arose with
out having arrived at any conclusion as to
how the House stood on the subject of ad-
journment that day.
REGARDING MILL DAMS.
In the Senate Mr.. Denney, has introduced
an act in relation to roads and bridges
passing over mill dams. The bill provides
that whenever any road which has been used
by the public for period Of fifteen years or
longer shall pass over any mill dam within
the State of Delaware, the Levy Court OF
the county within which such road is To-
Gated shall annually appropriate a sum Of
money sufficient to keep said road and the
flooring of bridge or bridges which may be
upon said roads in proper condition and re
pair for public travel. Said road shall be
under the care and management of an
overseer to be appointed as overseers oil
other public roads are appointed. But
nothing in the law shall be taken to make
it incumbent on any such overseer to re
pair any mill dam that may be broken, but
the owner or owners thereof in such case:
shall place the dam in proper condition fol
public travel at his or their expense. 1t i:
provided further that in case the owner O
any mill shall abandon or cease to use the
same for mill purposes he shall not be re
quired to repair such mill dam when broker
as aforesaid. The bill has been read
second time and laid on the table.
AN ERROR.
| :. LII - r l.
week that Mr.. Denney had introduced
bill for an additional Justice of the Peac,
in Smyrna. This was a mistake and should
have been for an additional Notary Public
THE BANKS AGAIN.
The way the matter stands now nobod
seems to know whether there will be al
} investigation into the banks or not
seemed at one time as though the invest
CATION was really intended, but it looks nov
as though it were going to die in the Com
. mittee. After everything had been gotte
t ready for the investigation to take plac
< with power to examine into the smal
banks, the House reconsidered its vote an
, referred the whole matter to a Specia
, Committee of ). And just here it is state
by some that the subject will die, as thos
E interested in the Smyrna bank do not wan
! Illc SJ Is vi IL pTylHg lilIO I'll
affairs of that institution,
OFFICIAL FEES.
Petitions and resolutions have been b.
y fore the Legislature for sometime askin
e that the fees of all officers in the State /
/. reduced, and that the ten cent license
r the Secretary of State be abolished. II
whole matter was killed in the Senat
yesterday by postponement to an indefini
n period. This was fight made by SUISSE
J. specially to cut down the fees of the Cler
d of the Peace in that county as species
: revenge for political disappointments
% not having a man, faction there desire
y appointed to the Office. It's strike at IL
n, Secretary of State is " to get even" wit
te the Governor, as they say for disappointir
=. them. Il
le REMARKABLE WoMEN.--Among the lar
s. number of patients who sought treatme
10 at DIR. Chisolms Free Eye and Ear Dispe
- sary in Baltimore last week, says the Bal