Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-17
DovEE.
The p D. & NJ. n. r. Agatn-Ehe
Rehoboth supplcment-The Con.
al Correspondence OF Every Evening.

ESQ.,, has assured Senator McWhorter that
he means business and really intends to
offer the bill to charter the Pennsylvania,
Delaware x Maryland railroad and urge
its passage. He says it is to be an air
line road from some point in the coal
regions to Lewes, and that there is plenty
of capital behind it. Fuller information is
promised shortly.
THE II. B. c. NJ. a. CHARTER.
The Senate bill amendatory OF the
charter of the Rehoboth Beach Assoca-
ton was read in the House this afternoon.
This amendment carries out the sense Of
the meeting held about IS months ago in
st. paul's Church, which was considered
at the time as settling the vexed dancing
question. The charter of the association
prohibits the practice of anything incon-
sistent with the discipline of the NJ. i.
Church, and that discipline tabooes
dancing. The amendment substitutes
Inconsistent with Christian morality"
1t is agreed that "Christian morality is
elastic enough to permit dancing.
The amendment also strikes out the
limit of five per cent. in regard to assess
ment of lot holders for improvement of
the grounds, and leaves them open to any
assessment within the discretion of the
association.
SHE DOES NOT CARE.
The Conner divorce case comes up to-
morrow morning. letter received by
Mr.. Bradford from Mrs. Conner was read
in the House this afternoon. In it She
says that she has been thinking over the
nj IN, b., M ian,
that, if the Legislature sees fit to grant
her husband divorce, she will not
trouble herself about it. She further says
he has been Of no account for the past five
years, anyhow.
The applicant for this divorce, James
A. Conner, is a comparatively young man,
a native and resident of Wilmington, and
son of the late James Conner, who carried
on the harness business for many years.
He charges that his wife has deserted and
neglected him and run around with other
men. Her maiden name was Clara d..
Rowbothaln; she being the eldest daughter
of J. 5. Rowbotham, the former we'll
known ''Cheap john of Wilmington.
Mrs. Conner is now living in Philadelphia.
NOTES.
The Holmes divorce case is still drag
ging along. More witnesses are being
examined and Robinson thinks the old
man has a pretty good show for divorce.
Representative Matthews appeared in
his seat to-day for the first time since the
day he voted for the Delaware Western
bill.
The fight between the Diamond State
Gas Light Company, which is seeking a
charter, and the Wilmington Coal Gas
Company continues in the committee
rooms, but the Senate committee has
agreed to report III favor of the proposed
| charter. The Diamond State Company
proposes to manufacture gas from
petroleum; to lay gas mains in the cities
| and towns OF the State desiring them, and
| to sell s-making machines. The com
pany also has the agency for the Maxim
electric light and the Maxim gas
| machines. 1t is Represented here by Mr..
| j. j. lIendrickson the Wilmington Gas
Company by William q. Whiteley and
| John II. Paynter, Esqs.
Mr.. Bradford introduced bill this
afternoon, giving the court the power to
remit the punishment of whipping in the
case of juvenile thieves.
| blll W
Real Estate Company has now passed both
Houses.
DOVER, March l5.--The House bill tc
| divorce Laura A. Drake from her husband
| having passed the Senate this morning
has become law. This is the first
divorce bill that has passed both houses
The bill also changes the name OF Mrs
Drake to Laura A. Wild, her family
name. The grounds OF the divorce Were
desertion for period less than three
years, the limit cognizable by the courts
| and neglect Drake having gone off anC
left his wife and child something over two
years ago and held no communication
with them since. The social standing o
the deserted wife being very good, helped
the passage of tine bill considerably.
In the House, the morning session opened
with a sparring match over another di
vorce bill-the James A. Conner case. Oh
the first vote, motion to lay on thu
table, the House stood 10 to 10, Mr.
Woodkeeper being absent. Encouraged
by this, Mr.. T. N. Williams moved for
postponement until next Wednesday morn
ing, which was carried by vote of II t.
s. Mr.. Pilling precipitated this action b,
saying that he knew nothing about tn
case and must ask to be excused from vot
ing on it, unless the evidence was rea,
before the House. As some of this evi
deuce was hardly suitable for public read
ing, this placed the divorce men in al
awkward dilemma, from which they onl.
escaped 10y postponing the bill until Mr.
Pilling should inform himself regarding
the merits of the case.
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
The Senate bill for the registration c
births, marriages and deaths in the cit.
of Wilmington, known as "Clerk Frazer
bill, !" passed the House this morning.
provides for the appointment by the Cit
Council ,on the first Thursday of July 1881
of registrar of births, marriages an
deaths, who shall also be secretary of til
Board of Health and shall hold office fo
five years. To him parents or midwife
shall report births within period {
ten days; clergymen and magistrate
shall report marriages within five days
and physicians, coroners and others sha
report deaths and take out burial permits
No corpse shall be removed for buriG
without such permit. Before removing
corpse from the city health permit mus
he obtained from the Registrar. Violation
OF any of the provisions OF this law ~
punishable by fine of SO.
EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION.
The feature OF the afternoon session i
the House was the debate and vote o
the question of Il more equitable systei
of representation.
1t was begun by Mr.. Bradford calm
: up for consideration the following resoll
ton, offered by him last Thursday an
laid over:
WHEREAS, The representation in the Ger
ernl Assembly Of the several counties of tn
I State has been for many years grossly unjui
aud unequal and
WHEREAS, Such inequality has been re
dered more glaring by the last general Gems,
and
: demands that representation should be place
upon such basis as will afford at least n
approximation Of equality of representato
Tor the people of all portions of this State
therefore belt
: Resolred By The Senate and House, dc
' That such legislation ought to be prompt
t enacted as will most speedily and fairly co
rect the inequality and injustice of the pre-
; ent system and provide for such represent
State in the General Assembly az will be ia
a and equitable.
P THE FISCAL BILL.
: As telegraphed to EVERY RvENISG, IL
Wilmington fiscal bill passed the Hou,
:. this morning, by party vote of IA to
. the Kent and Sussex members votir
t solidly for it and the New Castle mer
!, bers present as solidly against it. NJ