Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-03-26


joint session, At noon to-day, and per
ormed the last sot in the senatorial
rama, by formally declaring Hon. George
tray elected Uni ed States senator TO
ucceed Mr.. BAysrd. The feelings engen-
Tered by the contest are fast dying out,
md those who voted against AFR. Gray
lAve the his hest respect for that gentle
nan, and express their qualification that
he choice fell upon one whose abilities
10 eminenily at him for the position.
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Ia the Senate, this afternoon, DR..
Martin made = move for = constitutional
by introducing q bill author.
Iztpg an election to ascertain the sense Of
the voters Of Delaware concerning con-
ysniion. DR.. Martin feels thoroughly
convinced that It is impossible 10 secure
important amendments 10 the oonsti
tuition BY legislative enAclments, and
that the best plan to secure revision Of
the constitution ia by convention. The
present constitution has bsen In existence
over 30 years, aud recognising the necss
sity for radical changes, in order TO COL
form 10 the necessities Of the times, the
doctor thinks constitutional convention
Ia the only feasible plan Of relief. The
preamble Of the bill is as follows:
WHEREAS, The propriety and necessity OF
amending the constitution of this State has
been ag tated by the citizens thereof for the
past several years. and it is manifestly the
desire Of large and respectable. portion Of
the legal voters and
WHEREAS, Amendments have been pro-
posed TO parts of the constitution in one Of
the modes prescribed, but no opportunity has
been Afforded the voters to give expression
Of their views or wishes thereon, by the exer-
else Of what ia deemed and ia their constltu-
tional right at the polls aud
WHEREAS, 1t is e1pedient and proper that
such an opportunity should be given the
voters, and no better or fairer way than by
direct vote upon the propriety Of calling
convention can be had; and,
WHEREAS, The constitution provides that
no convention shall be called but by the
authority Of the people and an unexception
able mode OF making their sense known will
be for them, at special election, 10 be held
at the time therein prescribed, to vote for
or against convention; therefore, &c,
The bill requires the inspectors Of
election throughout the State 10 give
public notice OF their respective districts,
on or before the 4sh day OF April, 1885,
that &C election will be opened on the
third Tuesday of May following, between
the hours OF ard 9 o'clock In the
morning, and continue open until 6
O'Clock IN the afternoon.
The voters At said election shall deposit
. ballot, on which shall be written or
printed the words "For q Convention, -
or "AgAinst q Convention" as they may
elect. The returns shall be forwarded 70
the governor and by him delivered to the
speakers Of the house ard Senate to be
by them laid before their respective
houses 1t the frat adjourned, regular OF
special meeting thereafter. And II II
shall sppear that at euch election the
msjority Of votes required by the con
stitution were cast for q convention
1t shall bs the duty Of tht
Legislature to call = convention, to con
stat OF an equal numbsr OF delegates
ahhll elso be made for the election Of sucl
delegates, and the time and place desig
mated for their HssemblAge In convention
The election shall BE- held and conducted
the same 90 general election. The bill
Also requires the secretary Of state 10 pub
lish the entire &C, In newspapers OF sAcl
county continuously from It's pssssg
until the day Of the election.
The bill was read twice, under 9 aus
pension Of the rules, and will he called u
for final action as soon as praclica5le.
DOVER, March l9-With the idea {
ms lrft1fy amanda fnN aug
the House, today, settled down TO oar
work aud though the business tEansacte
was unimportsnt, 1t was Of considerabl
bulk. Ths usull noon recess was ala
contracted, and the afternoon sessiO
opened st 2 80 instead Of 8 O'Clock.
The members are beginning TO tai
about adjournment, and, although Il
House refused 80 conolr 10 the S ,nE
Joint resolution fixing = limit for the Il
PRODUCTION of new business, the msmbs
are none the lesa dispossd TO get throue
IS soon as possible. 1t need not BE- so
prising, therefore, II q Joint reso' ution
adopted next week, fixing the 10Th
l5lb Of April as the time for final a
| journmsnt. -..-- ..-
For the first time, this afternoon, Il
House went into com miitee OF u g Who'll
II was done for the purpose Of corsds
ing the bill for The preservation OF eau
snd game fish. The bill was amend,
and passed.
Ia Offering the resolution adopted /
the House, this morning, calling upC
the state treasurer tor information In r
gard 70 the non payment OF State tax |
railroad and canal companies, Mr.. Saul
bury, who offered II, said the iniormatiC
vAs necessary in order to know VIII
d'cal arrangements to make for the ut;
Two years.
Dover, March 2l,-The first move
lie direction Of temperance legislAtit
was made on Thursday, when Represent
i've Atkins Introduced local option b
for the hundred OF BroSdkilu, Suss,
county, which he represents. The b
provides that an election ehAll b. he
On tho third Tuesday in May, by Il
qualified v, ters Of the hundTed, TO dstv
mine whether there shall be any spirito
or termente1 liquors sold within the limi
OF tbs hundred, and II the result CT q
voting La against the sale OF lquC
II shall be prohibited after the first d
OF July next. Penalties are pYescrib
for violations OF the law. Druggists "
be allowed to sell liquor for medioir
purposes only, on the prescriptions
praeticiDg physicians, but no prescripsI
shall bs given except for oAses Of Actu
sickness, or for more than one pin. at a
one time.
1t is hardly likely this locsl opti
bill will psss. There is q very slis
temperance sentiment in the House, o.
opposed 10 Il is ArrAyed feeling Of h,
. iility agAinst ths temperance people
,, this State, for their ate mpt to unite wi
1 the Republicans 10 the last campaign
defeat the Democratic candidates for t
Legislature. The special committee
8 temperance In the House ia nov co lsid,
: lug the p tIious for general prohthito
/, ard local option Laws, bat Il ia bare
. possible that they VIII even rsceire
+. favorable report from the oommiitse.
Tue RdjoBIDnsnt question Ia now ex
ciairg the members, and there 10 6 ge1e
desire tc VIVID up the sessipn as early
possible. DR.. Martins iAio; resOlutl on
b A6j urnmeat on April 4th will probtt
:. bs extended 10 the l0Ih or 18th q
D adopted, and when the date Ia 6nA
b fixed an effort will bs mAds to firm
q adhere to It, Last session continu
until April 2l,t, and 1t 10 ssfs to 5
that the present session will not in a
{ event continue beyond that date.
y The talk a adjournment slso revi'
the subject Of Increasing the compep
4 tion OF members and limiting the sesslt
d The proposition lie to raise the per di
d 70 as, or else fig the mpeusslion
a $500 per member and limit the session
80 or 100 days. There Ia 4 uuanlmi!y
sentiment In regard to limiting the 8
> siors, in the hope that such a syst
may induce the people to prepare tn
business promptly and prevent the l.
stature from sitting idly for nearly {
: mcnths, sud then bling rushed hall