The daily gazette., 1879-03-05
SECOND EDITION
State Capital Gossip.

I
stu Talked dbout-DeldUdre Coiieg
sure IN State Of Fine Agitation
Tie B. d. +. r. II.
Special correspondence of the Gazette.
DOVER, March 5.-The session is now
in the food tide of its interest. Legis
lative work is slowly narrowing down tt
those matters which are of the most i'm
portance. They have been kept off this
far, in order that the sentiments OF botl
sides might be clearly expressed but
time cannot be extended much longer
This has caused grand concentration o
effort by the supporters and enemies Of
the various bills, which commenced to.
day in all its appalling and heart-rendine
vigor, and from now till the close of the
session, it will of course be continued
With so much lobbying, an occasional
breeze in the House and Senate, and the
prospect of the grand Legislative Ball
on Thursday night week, things gene
rally present an appearance which a
friend of stir and excitement, would
characterize as supremely lovely.
Speaking of the lobby, the measures
that are agitating that feature of the
State law-mill most fiercely, are, the
railroad bill, the Delaware College bill
and the new Court House measure. The
first of these-the most lifeless of the
lot, am afraid, as it now stands, but
the most talked about for all that's
still being held back and nothing new is
definitely proposed. The friends of the
bill, while anxious for some means of
relief, are really doubtful as to whether
their act has not assumed more than it is
really able to assume. While the truth
of very unjust treatment cannot be gain
said, they are undecided. MIR. Rust, the
chairman of the committee on railroad
matters, by which the bill is being con-
sidered, told me last night that he ex-
pected the subject would come up this
week.
The Delaware College bill is still
where l said it was yesterday and the
question will be decided before the week
closes, / am told. As to the new Court
House measure, much talk is being
made. Lawyers Charles B. Lore, VIM.
G.. Whiteley, l. c. Grubb, S. A. Macal-
lister, Geo. ii. Bates, Austin Harrirg on
and others were here last night and were
closeted with goodly number of the
members for an hour or more, during
which they urged the passage OF the bill
providing for the removal OF the seat of
jus ice to Wilmington.
City Treasurer Vincent showed his
portly figure and good natured counte-
nance about the corridors, yesterday,
simultaneous with the reading of the
Wilmington bills In the Senate for the
first time. He was on hand to oppose
that particular one which gives Council
the power TO impose on the Treasurer
whatever duties they may see fit and 10
compel fulfillment by penalty. The
Treasurer objects to this most emphati-
cally, and says there is no justice in the
proposed measure. He would however
submit to il were it amended SO as to
give him necessary assistance.
"Why," says he, "as that bill now
stands they could compel me to do any
work al all, or fine me for not doing so.
| am completely at their mercy" The
Treasurer, by the way, feels perfectly at
home in Dover, for here it is his boy
hood days were spent when John NJ.
Clayton was in the height of his pros
perity.
As | intimated in my letter yesterday,
movement looking to the resembling of
the resolut on to relieve the Breakw ater
and FrankforJ Railroad was set on foot.
The subject was brought up in both
Houses during the day. Early during
the morning session, Senator Pennewill
introduced joint resolution resembling
the document already alluded to and had
it referred to the Finance Committee
The original resolution provides that the
company shall pay $4,000 per year, and
over that sum all the earnings after the
expenses have been deducted. The
yearly interest amounts to Sl2,O00.-
Looking upon the facts that this road
was a great feeder of the j. X b. road,
and that in time, as the business OF the
company increased, the whole interest
might be paid, the Committee on Finan-
ces reported the resolution in question.
| The objection to this, which caused the
Introduction of the resembling resolu-
tion, was the opinion advanced by many
that the resolution was contract by
which the company could pay one-half
of the interest and let the other half go
unpaid. True, it was argued, the State
did not relinquish her right to the money,
but so long as the resolution existed they
could only be compelled to pay the
amount specified in it. The resolution
introduced by Senator Pennewill makes
the original resolution expire in 1881.
In the House, Mr.. Conaway introduced
a resolution IN regard to the same matter,
the preamble Of which recites that the
subject had not been considered or ex-
d lained when it was passed and provid-
ing for the payment Of the entire inter-
est. Mr.. Hail. the chairman OF the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, arose and ex-
planned at considerable length the lnten-
| lions OF the resolution. He resented IN a
| firm but clear manner the portion OF
the preamble saying that no explanation
| of the effect of the resolution was made
He saio ,hat full committee of Ways
and M MeaD- of the House and the Finance
Committee Of the Senate had met in joint
session and ceclded after maturely con-
sidering the nNtter to prepare the pream.
bic and resolu%son reported; and that
when they were On their final passage il
the House, he tool occasion to state ,as besl
| he could, the effec4 and intention of the
resolution, and it vas distinctly under
stood as the resolut, ,u plainly stated tha,
| Unothinp in this ,sClution conf nj n eC