Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-01-23
STATE LEGIsLATURE,
what Ou1 Law Makers have be.
fore them shis Week -Inersasod
Representation the Main Fec.

Representation the Maln Fel
tuEe.
Special Correspondence Of the REPUBLIcA
DovRR, Del, Jan. e2, 1888.
This afternoon the Legislature bega
the fourth week Of It's sess ion, and tfoI
present indications they will ha,
enough work to keep them busy froI
tho present time until tho claae Of tL
session. The mosI import mt mattt
that will be disc ussed Is the subject {
Increased Representation, which wa
hrat broached in the House this after
noon BY Speaker Bates, who introd uca,
resolution, submitting several impor
tant questions to the Chancellor an
Judges OF the State, in order to hav
their opinion ~ to the legality OF the
proposed increase In representation
without an amendment to the oonst1tu u
tion, and after vAcstinH the chair
spoke a. considerable length In refer
snOe to the subject and, said that he di,
not suppose that there was msm bel
here but what fully realized the imBOr
| tance OF the matter, and he W as giat
that Its weight was realized.
The members from New Castle, sait
Mr.. Bates, felt even greater interes
sban the mem bers from Kent aud Sus
sex. For many years the subject ha
been thought Of and tai god ah0u, bu,
how it was to be brought about was
question. Whether or no, the Leeisla
turs could DO 1t by direct enactment,
or whether n constitutional amendment
would have t. be ma d.. So far as biz
opinion Was concerned, he though, the
Lagislature Lad the right to make the
uact@eat without any amendment tC
The Constitution, but other lawyers
4 Uttered. In conclusion he said that In
CONSULTATION with members of both the
house and Senate, they had concluded
1t wise and prudent TO ask the opinion
Of the judiciary in the matter
Without further remarks, ths resoln.
tion as published elsew here was adopted
and ordered to the SeDats for concur
renee. U pom being subChittsd TO the
senate on motion Of Mr.. Cooper the
resolution was read, aftsr which that
gentleman said thaS II was gene..
ally believe d that under our coustit itu-
.l0u as it now is, there cannot be an
,lcrease of representation Without an
amendment to the constitution. He
also stated that in consultation with =
number Of lawyers upon the sutj ct,
many OF them were of tbs opinion thaL
1t cou Id he done by legislative auac..
ment, while some were Of contrary
opinion and consequently they Thought
best to submit the matter as ste;gQ II
the resolution, In order that the Gener-
al Assembly could act with caution, IL
order that nothing would be dono in
conflict with the Constitution.
After the rem srks Of Mr.. Cooper t1A
resolution was copCurred in by the Sc
nate and will be at once forwa, del to
the Chancellor, C@ief Justice and As
sociate Judges for their Opinions, and
their answers will be anxi0usiy looked
for by those who are anxious for the
proposal Increase in reprssen tattOn,
When the matter is brought up for cuL-
sideraticn, 1t will no doubL meet with
considerable opposition on the pars Of
the Kent and Susstx members, do to
the number of the proposed increase.
Many of them are perfectly willing tor
an increase of two or three, but beyond
that they will no doubt make a decided
stand. This will probably instil life
into the present mouotonous sess on Vi
the legislative body.
In conversation with some Of the
members on the subject they are very
reticent and will not say much. Some,
however, are in favor of giving New
Castle what she vans, but IL Is very
doubtful If she will ge, it.
OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST
Among other matters that will no
doubt occupy the attention of the Cen
Bral Assembly during the present week
Jr near future, will be an amendment
to the school laws, the passage,
il an act encouraging immigration and
10 pass judgment on the new Charter
for the city Of Wilmington. The tenn
oerance question will no doubt be re-
sived, and agita.ors in that direction
,re long be on hand with ruHberless
petitions. Local option wi. IN all
probability be revived and IS the mem
)ers at this session OF this Legislature
lEe far more temperate IN their habits
han any of their predc cessors, it may
10 safe 10 say that they will not turn u
8at ear to the temperance quest on, bat
viii no doubt give the people no e
tringeIt license law, if nothing ei'e !
Vhao dispoaition W Ill be made with the !
arious commissions asked for by the
itizens OF Wilmington, but more par
Icularly by some Democratic sore
eads, who are out Of Ctfice and desire
0 be q comu issioner Of some kind, is
My, as yet, d mere conjecture, but the
Majority CT the members have bnt
tile sympathy with these political
sbobs, and they Will no doubt be
ompelled 10 resort TO hard labor i'll
cad of living of the fat OF the land, by |
~ creation nf any new offices.
The amendments Contemplated iG the
chool Laws il one which should meet
lth the hearrv sopp0r OF every mem-
:r Of the Assembly, and Thy will 10
lubt give 1t the a;'euJiOn that It lCer.
=. In these ainenGmorts tNe mem n>rs
Ill in all probability be liberal h3,u
wards the whl.e and cplorcd schools
ID the appropriations f1r both seXrs
Ill be largely Increased TAsra IS
me talk of dividing the oolored scAoo., |
stem into districts, similar 10 the
an now in vogue in reference to
e white schools. By this cnauge the I
',ored people Of each district would
ise their own taxes elest their own
and dIeblr5s their own
nds. This action would also do away
Ith the present Society for the E(Ica-
IN of Colorsd People.
II is thought that soma matters in
terence TO legislation will be asked t
: oy Delaware College, among the
oSJ important ofswhiGh will be the !
.mation Of a State Boari of AgricGl- I
re, with the Professor OF Agriculture
the college at its head. A number -
new school districts will also be ask !,
TO- throughout the State, and tie y
.tler OF appointing Superintendent
each county, as recommended il
Stockley's inaugural address, r
II bs duly considered. :;
B GOvERNOR's FIRST APPOINT. a
hENT.
Today Governor SLockley made HIS .,
1t official appointment, by naningJ -