Daily Republican., 1881-03-30
Iso WIN TO HARD WORK.
Passage of the Railroad Bill in
the Sen aus-The . 6as Company &c,


the sepaIs.The . 6ss COMPANY &c.
Special Correspondents OF the Republican.
Dover, March 29.-The Legislature
has really bucklei down 10 hard work
The amount of business done in ths
House to-day was very considerable.
The Senate wasted no time either, and
WAS engaged nearly all the day on two
knotty questionable railroad bill
and the charter Of the Delaware
State Gas Company. Tha House took
quite q new departure from the prac.
tice OF General Assemblies heretofore,
and adopted resolution TO meet an
hour earlier morning aud afternoon, at
8 and 2 o'clock respectively. The
good example, thus set, was followed
in the Dover Senate, and a simi-
lar resolution was subsequently
adopted to that body. This will avoid
night sessions, and is altogether much
pleasauter, as night can be devoted
y COMMITTEES business IS at present.
The passage OF the DslRWar Western
supplement- through the Senate was the
big thing OF to-day. II went through
in the afternoon without much trouble
and by the vote which | prophesied in
my dispatch in the late edition OF the
REPUBLICAN, to-lay-Ayss, Nessrs. Belts,
Cosch, Conawsy, Horsey, McWhorter
and the Speaker; nays, Me5srs, Penne.
will, Cooper and Harrington. Mr. Har.
ripgton led the opposition as he did at
the morning session, and tried to tack
on a lot of amendments, the most no
ticeabls Of which was one requiring the
incorporators to deposit $500, 00e as
security against the loss to the State of
its Investment in the JuAction &Break-
water and Breakwster y FrankfOrd
Railroads through the building OF the
new compsting line.
Mr.. McWhOrtsr made an able speech
in support Of the bill. 1t now goes TO
the House, and there the big fight will
take place. An influential lobby has
made its appearance for and against the
hill. II is almost similar il compost.
tiou to that engaged in the Delaware
Western bill, and has already cOmmep,
ced TO work.
The fight which the Senate had to-
day over the charter of the Diamond
State Gas Company, has brought out
more talk than that august body has
INDUCED in on any one subject hereto
fore. TIE bill was opposed on several
grounds, the chief of which was that
the STANDARD Oh Company, that grasp.
ing monopoly, WAS at its back.
This, il seems, when We ghed against
the great need in Wilmington Of oompe-
tltlon in the matter OF gas was consider
ed enough cause not to grant the char
ter. The bill may be considered but
this il no. likely. There is sill some
hope for competition, hoRever, as the
act to incorporate the Delaware Heat,
Light and Water Company which pass
ed the House, Will be perfectly able to
remedy the evil, and give Wilmington
at least competition. The act should
pass, and gaS monopolies should not be
allowed to have things Leif own way
any more than railroad monopolies.
The war over the act to regulate
pilotsge in Delaware waters has reach,
ed the crisis, and tonight the special
committee appointed 10 consider the
measure met and heard argument. A
delegation consisting of two represeI-
tatives from each of the Commercial
Exchanges, the Board OF Port Wardens
and the Msratime Exchange came down
from Philadelphia, and opposed the
bill. The committee did not arrive at
any conclusion.
While on the subject l would like to
call attention to an attack made upon
captain Virden OF LeweS, in connection
with the bill. Captain Virden is in
favor of the act. For that matter, 30
are a large majority of the Lswes pi.
lots. The attack alluded to, appeared
in one of the Wilmington papers, and
stated that he was the only one at the
head OF the project, and that he only
advocated it to get license for one of
his sons. This, know to be an un-
mitigated faslehood, and freely brand
it as such. Captain VIrden is a pilot,
veil and fsvorsbly known.
Hs i5 the most honored man in the
business, and has always been wide
awake to pilots interests, having gone
to Harrisburg, years ago and spent
large sums of money to have laws cd
acted To benefit Delaware pilots, a few
of whom are now traduoing him and at
the same time profting by his efforts in
the past and by his generosity. Fair
play Is a thing to which Captain Vir.
den, of all men, is entitled at the
hands of the Delaware pilots,
"A bill was introduced in the House
to-day 10 incorporate the Chesapeake
and Delaware Ship Canal Company.
Its object as the nGme indicates is the
cutting of a ship canal between the two
bays commencing at some point in the
Delaware bay south of Appoquinimink
creek. The capital stock is put at $780,.
600, coo in shares OF 800 each, and
when $50, 600 is subscribed the charter
lakes effect and officers may be elected,
When the United States Government
Is prepared to take charge OF aud
the canal the present compa
ny Is TO turn over to IL all its rig hts
and interest in power over said canal
Another Big Order.