Evening journal., 1889-04-17
LOCAL OPTION PASSES
Through the House by a
Strict Party Vote.
ADDIcxs BILL REPORTED TO-DAY.


House Clerk Gum Lobbying-Ths
AEurderkin Bridge.
stan Correspondence EVENING Journal.
DOVER, Del, April 16.-The Local
Option bill was called up this
morning shortly after II o'clock.
Mr. Lodge took the floor in opposition to
it. He opposed the bill on the ground
that it had been declared unconstitu-
4ional He cited a case in Fourth Har
rington, where the case had been argued
by men Of ability and decided by court
that stands as high as any in the United |
States. Now as to my Haunting the
constitution, | will faunt it in the face
Of the House as long as any bill comes up |
here that | doubt the constitution
ality of ("
Mr.. Clark said that whenever bill Of
reform comes up some one declared II
unconstitutional
Mr.. Lodge. replied that such was not
the case with him. He believed the
constitutional convention bill was consti-
tutional and had voted for it.
Downham spoke
Mr.. Eekles asked If there was petit
tion recommending the passage Of the
bill and who had signed it.
w. Il. Davis said: t'There is no petit
tions presented, the gentleman knows, as
well as we all know that there are a great
many people who want the right to vote
upon the question" Mr.. Davis then ex-
planned at length and interestingly, the
provisions of the bin He did not see
how it could be unconstitutional The
whole matter is left to the people, II is
democratic.
Downham spoke again
Mr.. Biggs then signalized his reap
pearance in the House by an excellent
speech Ia opposition to the bill He said
In part: ~ do not wish to DO under
stood as an advocate Of the liquor traffic
That IL is an evil, no man will deny. It
is creature Of the devil, and he used II
as an instrument to do wrong. If | could
command a breath from the North Pole,
would freeze it into an icicle that would
never melt Local option is not the best
means to control the traffic / am opposed
to it for the reason that have lived
alongside of county where it is in force.
/ can take You to Chestertown and other
place where it is in force and will show
you boys 12 to 16 years Of age drunk in
the street. When you pass such a law
AS this YOU have clubs and other secret
places where boys go to play cards and
make drunkards The boats on the Elk
and Sassafras rivers running from Balti-
more formerly carried an occasional bar.
rel of whiskey. Now you find those
boats carrying it in all quantities. from a
pint To half gallons. There is more
drunkenness at the Elkton fair in one
day than there is in a week at Dover.
The only way to control the traffic is to
throw around It the strong arm of
the law and enforce the latter.
The time has not yet come for this.
cfonA nm and 4g.t mo
that the liquor traffic now is worse than
il was years ago. 1t is only seven miles
from Middletown to Summit Bridge, and
there were formerly ten places where
liquor was sold. Now between Middle
town and Newark a distance Of eighteen
miles, there is only one place. Mora
suasion that God has given us, Is th
great stay Of the American people w,
recognize in the youth Of the country Til
mighty hope Of humanity. And thes
you must educate
AT the conclusion Of Mr.. Bigg's speec
the vote was taken, and the bill wa
passed by a strict party vote as follows
Ayes Masten, w. +. Davis, Hypson
DIR. Richardson, Clark Il. A. Davis
Maull. Wallace, Morgan, Sackett, Lingo
Downham, Short and Mr.. Speaker--l4
Nays; Armstrong, Biggs, Gray, White
Absent-Brockson
General Armstrong in voting said: "
shall vote no ON this bin and in doing S,
feel that it is the proper way to vote
In every state prohibition has been
failure. In all the recent elections Il ha
lost ground.
Mr.. Hynson did not think the measure
by any means, the best that could b
offered
What the action Of the Senate win b,
on the bill is looked for with some in
terest
The Republicans did not want the bill
they passed to-day and a number of then
would not have voted for il had therl
been the slightest idea that it would b.
passed by the Senate. 1t would be rea
cruel to the Republicans in the HOUSE
should the wicked Democrats in the Sen
ate decide to pass the Local Option bill
1t would do no harm to pass the meas
ure, a great many think, as it is practi
cally imperative
The high license measure viii com
back to the House in some shape thi
week and there win be but few change
in It beyond the reduction Of the amounts
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE TAXATION
The special committee on the taxatio
of telegraph and telephone companies
presented bill to-day that passed I'll
House. 1t imposes a tax Of go cents
mile for the first wire strung, 80 CEN
for the second and 20 cents for each sui
sequent wire. The bill is the result Of
conference with the companies and is sa
to be agreeable to everybody concerne
1t win probably pass the Senate ~
bill taxing express companies has not y
been formulated, but it is understo'
that some agreement will be reached al
a tax imposed. The amount, howeve
viii be nothing like the amounts inS
Gated.
THE ADDICKs BILL.
The Addicks people are happy to-nigh
They obtained favorable report on the
bill to incorporate the Peninsula Inves
nent Company. The bill passed Il
committee by the following vote Aye
Wallace. Biggs and Masten; nays. Grs
and Clark. 1t viii be called up to-mo
row and the indications are that it vi
pass the House. 1t is said that the mel
bers stand upon the bill. about as fC
lows In favor: Biggs, Lodge, Eckle
Brockson, Richardson, r. A. Davi
Hynson. Morgan, Wallace, Lingo, Maste
W. E. Davis and Speaker Hoffecker.
Against: Armstrong, Gray, Clar
Downham, Short and Maull.
Doubtful but inclined towards III