Smyrna times., 1889-02-27
Important Matters Before the
Legislature.
INVESTIGATING THE SCHOOL ACcoUN-

Important Matters Before the
Legislature.
| INVESTIGATING THE SCHOOL ACCOUNT.
The much talked of deficit in the ac-
counts of eX-Superintendent Williams
assumed interesting proportions last
week by the introduction by Represen-
| tative DOwnham of resolution an
pointing committee of two on the
part OF the Senate to investigate. The
! resolution by some mistake was drawn
wrong. 1t cites among other things
that the reports of the state treasurer
and auditor indicate that there have
been large deficits in the accounts Of
the superintendent amounting to thou
sands of dollars. 1t is well for all par
ties concerned that the school book
account be investigated, for as at pres
ent shown it undoubtedly holds a
cloud over the school superintendent.
WHAT THE CHANGERS WANT.
At the legislative committee meet
ing J. Alexander Fulton presided.
There were present besides J. J. Rosa.
Wesley Webb, w. p Peach, C. G.
Brown and Representative Short, the
latter representing c. 7. Pepper, of
Georgetown, an absent member. The
other absent member of the committee
was Wilbur II. Burnite. The commit
tee endorsed the subject of free rail
road act the pending bill restoring the
whistle signal for railway crossings at
grade a projected bill to appropriate
funds for holding farmers institutes in
each OF the counties and considered
the Law and Order Society High Lii
cense and Local Option bill, with ex-
pressions of approval of any legislation
calculated to lessen the evils of intem-
perance. With regard TO the preven-
ton of the sale of Chicago beef in Del
aware, the committee proposes to try
TO get through a law requiring cattle,
hogs and sheep to be inspected on the
hoof and prohibiting the sale of meat
from animals slaughtered without
having undergone the required inspec-
ton in Delaware.
THE ADDICKs BILL AMENDED.
The Addicks bill has assumed inter
esting proportions. The joint commit
tee on private corporations made sew
eral amendments to the bill. The
principal amendment prohibits the
company from operating or construct
ing railroads, but fails to prohibit them
controlling the stock of such cOmpa-
nies. The committee voted in favor of
the bill by to 3.
The bill has 10 possible votes in the
House, 4 less than necessary. These
facts have led its opponents to awaken
and brought out the fact the bill is a
scheme Of the incOrpOrators to secuse
valuable privileges and dispose ofthem
to the highest bidder. Although caD-
ital stock of S12,OOO,OOO is possible
under the act it only requires that
-, 800 Of this stock need be subscribed
to organize the company, and the act
grants the privilege of changing its
name at any time.
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
Representative Lodge proposes to
ask for the printing of his bill in re-
latlOn to the competency of husband
and wife as Witnesses" ," and to have
copies sent to members of the bar of
the three counties. The bill reads as
follows:
Sec. l. That husband and wife shall
hereafter be competent witnesses for or
against each other in any and all suits,
actions, proceedings and matters what
soeVer, IN law or in equity, in which
any other person may be competent to
testify.
Sec. ,. That nothing contained in
section Of this act shall make a hus-
band or wife competent to testify for
or against the other in any criminal
action or proceeding, except in the fol-
lowing cases:
First-Where the cause of action
grows out of wrong or injury done by
one to the other.
Second-In any action or proceeding
for criminal conversation.
Third-In any action or proceeding
for divorce for any ground other than
adultery. When the ground is adul-
terry they shall be competent to prove
the fact of marriage only.
Fourth-In any action or proceed
ing brought by the wife against the
husband Tor failure to support her.
Sec. 3. That in no case shall husband
or wife be permitted to disclose any
one to the other during marriage
Sec. 4. That nothing contained in
section l of this act shall affect the
law relating to the attestation of lost
wills and testaments and codicils there
to, or the attestation of any other in
strument which the law requires to be
attested.
Is TTNCIE TrJuAppTED0
Last week bill to divorce Lemuel
d. and Mahala G. Tingle of DagsbOr-
ough hundred, passed both houses and
was duly enrolled, signed and deliv-
cred to the custody of the secretary of
State. Three days of actual session
having elapsed, the Senate, upon after
discovered testimony, moved to recon-
slider the bill. 1t having originated in
the House, the Senate next requested
that branch to return the bill. Speak
er Hotfecker, after obtaining legal ad-
vice, demanded and received the bill
from from Secretary Salisbury and re-
turned it 10 the Senate, where it was
referred back to the committee. The
question arises whether, inasmuch as
Jingle has been legislatively unmar-
rled since Thursday last, whether any
subsequent action by the General AS
sembly will operate to remarry him.
Suppose the recent Mr.. or Mrs. Tingle.
or both, had remarked on Friday, Sat
urday or Sunday, would he, she or
they have committed bigamyP
TALKING OVER THE CONVENTION
MEASURE.
SenatOr-elect Higgins and E. G.
Bradford, Esqs., were in consultation
with the Republican members last
week on the constitutional convention
subject. Mr.. Bradford submitted a
proposition regarding his measure,
which the Republican members will
try to unite on. This changes his orig
inal bill somewhat, as it brings the
number Of delegates up to fifty.seven
apportioned thus so that the autonomy
of the hundreds in each county is pre.