The daily gazette., 1879-03-21
THIRD EDITION
State Capital GessiD.
THREE TO EIGHTEEN.


Half Way Amendments-V Very Little
Opposition to the Bill Itself.
Specially reported for the Gazette.
DOVER, Del, March 20. 1870.
Sitting in the Senate chamber this
evening, with unusual quietness reigning
all around, find, as write, some little
difficulty in recalling the exciting Incl
dents of the afternoon, while the Court
House removal bill was pending in the
House. SO great was the excitement and
so rapidly did the scenes iranspire that
ended in the ultimate rout of the oppo-
sition, that they scarce seem real, Ap-
parently it is time of much happiness.
Once in a while the Wilmington legal
gentlemen aud others who have helped
the measure along, come strolling in
with smiles of satisfaction on thelr faces,
and from the "Capi AL" just across the
green, come stealing the sounds of jubi-
liant laughter, where everybody and the
cook" appear to be making merry.
The seat OF justice that has stood on
the riverside from almost as far back as
when Peter Stuyvesant sailed up the
river and buili Fort Oliphant in the
olden days, goes TO Wilmington after a
fight of forty years that has been waged
while the population of that place has
grown from eight to forty thousand.
The scenes that took place in the House
to-day are without parallel for fresh
ness and excitement. During the fore
noon very little lobbying was to be OBJ
served, but there was powerful influ-
ence excited in quiet way by both the
supporters and the opposers Of the act
1t having been made special order for
3 3o'clock, there were many spectators on
hand, and long before that hour the lobby
was crow d.
Mr.. Fooks could scarcely wait for tie
Speaker 10 state that the bill was up for
considerations when he arose in haste " ith
his amendment to leave the whole matter
to the ballot box. Mr.. Ware SAID his say
in few and easy-to-be- -comprehended
words. Mr.. Cochran followed and with
forty parson power, complained that the
people would not be satisfied with SO
much unnecessary taxation, and raised
many other objections. When Mr.. Dean
took the floor just afterwaid, the excite
ment increased. lie worsted Mr.. Coch-
ran for once, SO far as he went. His IT.
marks were the most persuasive that be
has used during this session and the cogent
facts he cited were banded in mastery
way. Taking oil his steel trimmed z la ,ses,
he laced Mr.. Fooks' side OF the house and
spoke with ali ealnestness that brooked
no doubling. MI. Fooks smiled sai cas-
tically as though he was remarking NEIL
tally that he would soon have revenge up
on the New Castle members for opposing
his stock laws Mr.. Webb's feet slid
higher up on his desk and his head sunk
lower down the back of his chair and he
alternately slumbered aud smiled Mr.
llean looked blankly unconcerned aud
ever and anon closed his ears to the elo
quence of the member fIom White Cla,
Creek.
Mr. Laws mind seemed wandernin
away among the sweet potato vines all,
spldtter-docks of his Sussex home. On,
point made by Mr.. Dean that seemed
the strongest, was that IN which he hel,
that the amendment was unconstitution
al and had been so proved by the Della
ware Courts years ago, when the vote OF
ioNoA oBlioH az ItNt' Oll LIll
point, however, Mr.. Cochran gained
victory and apparently knocked the pin,
from under the White Clay Creek mem
Der by quoting numerous decisions OF til,
Superlour Court in which precisely sucl
an eleetions had been sustained.
Just how long the debate would hav,
continued, had not theSpeaker rem nded
them of the rules is not known. But nc
sooner was this stopped than the fur
commenced in earnest. The ayes ant
nays were called on the amendment tt
the amendment which MI. Hall hande,
IN amid anxiety that was almost painful
to wltn ss.Eyery second man you couldse
look which ever way you might was al
interested party. The vote taken OF
this virtually decided the contest. Smile
OF placid satistaCt. on sloe over the Wis
ages of the Wilmir gton folks and thos
who were the most anxious a momeu
before assumed an air of ease. Thos
on the other side Of the fence looked cor
respond II ly distressed Mr.. Samue
townsend turned on his heel and strucl
bce-liue for the depot and Messrs
Gray, Rodney and Cooper left The room
he subsequent proceedings interested
bhtii llp IliOlt.
Alr. Cochran kept Offering amendment
night readily after that and the ayes an,
nayes were called five times in almos
as many minutes. On the second vot,
Mr.. Hall came over on the Wilmington
side aud on third Mr.. Fooks, Mr.. Herr
and Mr. Webb gave up the fight. A
length when Mr.. Cochran saw the hope
lesshess of his cause and ceased in hi.
endeavor TO tack on amendments an,
when the vote reverted to the origins
question, the opposition we're completed,
routed by vote Of Is to ).
Althoush there was a sharp contest
there was in reality no opposition to tn
bAi except in the effort TO charge it an
thus to alter itintended effects. Wber
this mod. of operation was put an end +
The Kent and Sussex members with TIA,
exc 'ption of Mr.Laws cam over on th
SIDE Of the New Castle majority; Will
Mr.. Cochran and Lambson continued /
the opposition.
Much credit is due to Messrs. Dean an
Ware Of he New Castle delegation all
thanks OF the people are 50 largely du
tC some of the Kent and dSussex member
among whom are Messrs. Hall, Houston
Needlrs, Cannon and COnaway.