Smyrna times., 1879-02-26
For the Smyrna Tin
The Legislature.
DOVER, DEL, February %, lS7

DOVER, DEL, February 25, 1879.
There was pretty lively debate in the
House on Thursday of last week. Mr..
Dean had called up his resolution provid
ing for the collection of interest from Sus
sex and Kent counties upon the balance Of
back taxes due the State by those two
counties. In the course of his remarks
upon the resolution Mr.. Dean took occa-
sion to animadvert upon the swindling" "
manner in which the Auditors report had
been printed. Mr.. Houston the patriarchal
member from Sussex did not fancy this
term, especially as he understood it to re-
fer to his county, which he said had never
been accused Of swindling by any legislator
before in all the course OF his long life, and
such accusations, he continued came with
poor grace from a member who had ac-
cused the officials of his own county OF
fraud and other bad things. This made
Mr.. Dean mad and he advanced threaten.
ingly to the front of the speakers desk de-
manding that the offensive words should
be taken back or Mr.. Houston should prove
his statement, that he Mr.. Dean) had &C.
cused his county officers Of fraud. II
looked as though there would be some
fun, but the speaker made Mr.. Dean take
his seat under the 10th rule, and further
trouble was avoided. Mr.. Deans resolu
ton was defeated by the combined vote O
Kent and Sussex, the New Castle members
voting with him, except Mr.. Riggs. Thi
was about the only thing that occurred dur
ing the week out of the ordinary. busines
of passing stock laws and corporation acts
On Wednesday the following committee
was appointed to deliver to the Delaware
railroad such certificates of stock as by tn
| contract with the State the latter held as
guarantee for the payment of certain bonds
which have been paid, Messrs. Collins, Coch
ran, Fooks, Pennewell and Sharpley.
| A very important law to workingmel
has passed the House and is now befor
the Senate. The bill provides that tn
wages of all employees shall be a preferre
lien against the property of the employe
to the amount of $50. The bill as intro
duced by Mr.. Ware put the amount a
800, but the Revised Statute Committe
made the amendment at $50. 1t seem
likely to pass the Senate; that body ha
been considering a bill reducing the tur
age tax on oyster boats from So 10 $3.50
ton, and to prevent dredging upon natur;
oyster beds in the bay for two years. A bi
is now before the House to compel tn
Farmers Bank of the State to make a
annual statement TO the Governor. Th
House yesterday refused to pass the bi
reducing the pay of the captain and me
Of the oyster boats. 1t was proposed to r
duce tho captains pay from $50 to $50
month, and the men from $40 to $50.
A perfect flood of private corporatio
bills and stock laws have been introduce
during the past week, and yesterday an
to-day the shower was so ncessant that tt
clerk of the House was very nearly exaus
ed when the adjournment came. III
House this afternoon passed q bill restorir
the old sheriff sale advertising law, givir
to the sheriff the sole control of the adve
tisement of the sale of property. III
amendment to the charter of the Silv
. Run Marsh Company after heing battle
about between the two Houses and aft
being passed once was recOnsldered al
voted down in the House to-day, but
may be revived and pull through yet.
The two days of the present week ha
! been busy ones, the fear that the Sena
= would rot agree to rescind the limitati'
} resolution providing that no business W
i be received after to-day has haStened t
}. introduction of numerous bills, and DO
, Houses have been busy listening to motto
= of introductions of bills with little time
do anything else, although Mr.. Dean d
IS get time to have an investigation Co
n mittee appointed upon the strength of
q long memorial from New Castle Coun
asking for an exanination into the fees
o the officers of that county. The commit
is Messrs. Dean, Doran and LambsoP.
The railroad bill is not likely to come
for some days yet, and there is every in
y cation Of lively contest oyer the matt
y One of the most persistent promoters of
Of scheme, Mr. VIM. Green, thinks that t
~ Assembly will be in session two mont
more over the measure,
Il The two Houses passed Joint resoiuti
d. limiting the days Of receiving new busin
10 to the 5th of March.
if The committee on Temperance legis
- ton have not yet made their report, but
y seems to be pretty we'll understood IL
in there will be little change in the prest
be law, but stronger measures OF enforcing
Their principal recommendation it is